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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. The Captain tells Viola that he was born how many hoursof travel from the place they stand in Act I Scene II?

2. Viola states in Act II Scene II, “As I am man, My state is desperate for” what?

3. Viola states in her soliloquy in Act II Scene II, “I am the man: if it be so, as 'tis, Poor lady, she were better love” what?

4. What is the true identity of Cesario in the play?

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

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

3. What incident leads the merrymakers in the play to plot revenge on Malvolio in Act II Scene III?

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

5. What is Orsino’s station in Illyria? What news does he receive in the beginning of Act I Scene I?

6. Where are Sebastian and Antonio when they are introduced in Act II Scene I? What are Sebastian’s circumstances in this scene?

7. What disguised identity does Viola take on in Act I? What is her appearance like in this disguise?

8. How are Sir Toby Belch’s feelings for Maria illustrated in the play?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the character of Feste the Clown in the play. What is Feste’s role in Olivia’s household? What does he represent symbolically in the play? How does Feste stand out amongst the other main characters?

Essay Topic 2

Define literary allusion and discuss examples of allusion in Twelfth Night. What is Shakespeare alluding to in citing Troilus, Pandarus, and Cressida in Act III Scene I? What Roman and Greek myths are referenced in the play? How well would Shakespeare’s audience have known and understood these literary and mythical allusions?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the staging of Twelfth Night during Shakespeare’s lifetime as discussed in the Introduction. How would set changes have taken place? How was the audience arranged in relation to the actors on Shakespeare’s stage? When was the play first performed? At what venue?

(see the answer keys)

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