Orsino Character Essay

Question 1

Spell my full name (the author of the play)

Answer 1

William Shakespeare

Question 2

What is the title of the play (spell it correctly)

Answer 2

Twelfth Night

Question 3

How do we indicate the title when writing a literature essay?

Answer 3

Underline it

Question 4

What is Orsino’s official title?

Answer 4

The Duke of Illyria

Question 5

Give two adjectives that describe Orsino at the start of the play

Answer 5

self-absorbed, lovesick

Question 6

Orsino longs for the love of which character?

Answer 6

Countess Olivia

Question 7

What does Orsino do about his love for Olivia?

Answer 7

He doesn’t think of doing anything about this love other than sending letters expressing his love and moping around his castle

Question 8

Orsino’s relationship with which character alters his personality?

Answer 8

Viola/Cesario

Question 9

By the middle of the play Orsino is a more likeable character, though he is still _________

Answer 9

Arrogant

Question 10

In the final act of the play when Orsino discovers which character’s real gender?

Answer 10

Viola’s/Cesario’s

Question 11

What does Orsino do when he discovers Viola’s real gender?

Answer 11

he instantly and easily switches his affections to Viola

Question 12

How does the audience react when he switches his love for Olivia to Viola?

Answer 12

The audience questions Orsino’s loyalty

Question 13

How does Orsino’s changable attitude provide a comic ending to the play?

Answer 13

He marries Viola

Question 14

Describe Orsino in Act I Sc I

Answer 14

He clearly a character who is more in love with the idea of love than with any individual person.

Question 15

Complete the quote

“If music be the __________ of ___________, play on”

Answer 15

Food love

Question 16

“If music be the food of love, play on”

What is the language feature?

Answer 16

Imperative

Question 17

“If music be the food of love, play on”

What does this imperative show us about Orsino’s personality?

Answer 17

He is bossy and demanding

Question 18

How does Orsino view Olivia in Act I Sc I?

Answer 18

He idolises her

Question 19

she “purged the air of pestilence”

What is the language feature?

Answer 19

Hyperbole

Question 20

she “purged the air of pestilence”

What does this hyperbole suggest about Orsino’s feelings for Olivia?

Answer 20

He thinks she is so incredible that she has magical/divine powers

Question 21

How many years is Olivia going to spend mourning her brother’s death?

Answer 21

7

Question 22

How does Orsino feel when he finds out that she is going to spend 7 years mourning her brother’s death?

Answer 22

he interprets this as a sign of how intensely she will love him when he has won her heart

Question 23

How do we know that Orsino is more in love with the idea of love than with Olivia herself?

Answer 23

Orsino is actually quite content to complain about his love rather making any real effort to win Olivia’s heart.

Question 24

In which scene does Orsino become a slightly more likeable character and why?

Answer 24

By Act II Scene IV, Orsino’s interactions with Viola/Cesario

Question 25

Orsino has developed an intense affection for his servant ‘\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_’

Answer 25

Cesario

Question 26

As a result of Orsino's intense affection for his servant Cesario, Orsino's opinions about __________ and __________ have been changed

Answer 26

Love and women

Question 27

Orsino tells Viola that “no \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_’s sides / Can bide the ___________ of so _____________ a \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_”.

Answer 27

Woman's Beating Strong Passion

Question 28

Orsino tells Viola that “no woman’s sides / Can bide the beating of so strong a passion”. What does this reveal to the audience?

Answer 28

Orsino believes that his emotions are superior to any woman’s emotions and therefore more important.

Question 29

Orsino tells Viola that “no woman’s sides / Can bide the beating of so strong a passion”. What is the language feature?

Answer 29

Metaphor

Question 30

Orsino tells Viola that “no woman’s sides / Can bide the beating of so strong a passion”. What is the sound device?

Answer 30

Sibilance

Question 31

If Orsino believes that his emotions are superior to any woman’s emotions and therefore more important at the end of Act II Sc IV, what does this show us about his character?

Answer 31

This shows us that Orsino is still quite self-centered and superficial as a character.

Question 32

When Orsino discovers the truth about Viola's gender in Act V, what does he immediately do?

Answer 32

Transfer his love from Olivia to Viola

Question 33

When Orsino finds out about Viola's real gender, does he treat her differently?

Answer 33

No, he still calls her Cesario and uses imperatives like “Cesario come”

Question 34

“Cesario come” What is the langiage feature

Answer 34

Imperative (command)

Question 35

We know that Orsion realises that Viola is the perfect woman for him when he calls her his ______ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ in Act V Sc 1

Answer 35

"fancy's queen"

Question 36

What is meant by the term "fancy's queen"?

Answer 36

Viola is the queen of his fantasies

Question 37

"fancy's queen" - what is the language feature

Answer 37

Metaphor (Viola is not literally a queen)

Question 38

By the end of Act V Sc 1, Orsino is no longer just in love with the concept of love, he is in love with a ______ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Answer 38

Real person

Question 39

Orsino is certainly a more likeable character by \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_than he was when we first met him in Act 1 Scene 1.

Answer 39

Act V Sc 1

Question 40

What is the main reason for Orsino's change?

Answer 40

Viola

Question 41

What does Orsino's relationship with Viola teach him?

Answer 41

That love can also be based on mutual affection and respect

Question 42

By Act V Sc 1, Orsino has changed enough to be deserving of _____________ \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Answer 42

Viola's love