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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Olivia’s lips are compared to those of whom from Roman mythology in Act I Scene IV?

2. Maria tells Sir Toby Belch that his “quaffing” and what will undo him in Act I Scene III?

3. Orsino states in Act I Scene I, “If music be the food of ___, play on…”

4. The Captain tells Viola in Act I Scene II that he last saw her brother clinging to what?

5. What is the setting of Act II Scene I?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are Orsino’s feelings about music illustrated in Act I Scene I? How do these feelings change in the course of the scene?

2. With whom is Orsino preoccupied in Act I Scene I? How does this preoccupation manifest in his character?

3. Describe Antonio’s relationship with Sebastian. How is this relationship illustrated in Act II?

4. Who originates the idea of the prank on Malvolio in Act II? Why?

5. How does Olivia feel about Orsino in Act I? How are these feelings illustrated?

6. What is an “aside”? Give an example of an aside in Act I.

7. What discovery does Viola/Cesario make when Malvolio catches up with her in Act II Scene II?

8. What do Orsino and Viola/Cesario discuss in Act II Scene IV?

9. Where is Viola when she is first introduced in Act I Scene II? What has just taken place?

10. How is Malvolio’s character perceived by Fabian, Sir Toby Belch, and Feste?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the characters of Sebastian and Antonio. Where did these characters meet? How long have they known one another when they are introduced in the play? How old is each of these characters? How does Antonio demonstrate his loyalty to Sebastian in the play?

Essay Topic 2

Identify and analyze the theme of language and wordplay in Twelfth Night. How is this theme exemplified by Maria, Sir Toby Belch, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek? How does Feste illustrate this theme? How is subtext related to the theme and what characters engage in using subtext?

Essay Topic 3

Friendship in Twelfth Night

a. Discuss the theme of friendship in the play. Through what characters does Shakespeare develop this theme? How is friendship defined in the play?

b. Compare and contrast friendship and romance in Twelfth Night. Which of these concepts is of the greatest importance to the main characters? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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