Orsino Character Essay Flashcards
Spell my full name (the author of the play)
William Shakespeare
What is the title of the play (spell it correctly)
Twelfth Night
How do we indicate the title when writing a literature essay?
Underline it
What is Orsino’s official title?
The Duke of Illyria
Give two adjectives that describe Orsino at the start of the play
self-absorbed, lovesick
Orsino longs for the love of which character?
Countess Olivia
What does Orsino do about his love for Olivia?
He doesn’t think of doing anything about this love other than sending letters expressing his love and moping around his castle
Orsino’s relationship with which character alters his personality?
Viola/Cesario
By the middle of the play Orsino is a more likeable character, though he is still _________
Arrogant
In the final act of the play when Orsino discovers which character’s real gender?
Viola’s/Cesario’s
What does Orsino do when he discovers Viola’s real gender?
he instantly and easily switches his affections to Viola
How does the audience react when he switches his love for Olivia to Viola?
The audience questions Orsino’s loyalty
How does Orsino’s changable attitude provide a comic ending to the play?
He marries Viola
Describe Orsino in Act I Sc I
He clearly a character who is more in love with the idea of love than with any individual person.
Complete the quote
“If music be the __________ of ___________, play on”
Food love
“If music be the food of love, play on”
What is the language feature?
Imperative
“If music be the food of love, play on”
What does this imperative show us about Orsino’s personality?
He is bossy and demanding
How does Orsino view Olivia in Act I Sc I?
He idolises her
she “purged the air of pestilence”
What is the language feature?
Hyperbole
she “purged the air of pestilence”
What does this hyperbole suggest about Orsino’s feelings for Olivia?
He thinks she is so incredible that she has magical/divine powers
How many years is Olivia going to spend mourning her brother’s death?
7
How does Orsino feel when he finds out that she is going to spend 7 years mourning her brother’s death?
he interprets this as a sign of how intensely she will love him when he has won her heart
How do we know that Orsino is more in love with the idea of love than with Olivia herself?
Orsino is actually quite content to complain about his love rather making any real effort to win Olivia’s heart.
In which scene does Orsino become a slightly more likeable character and why?
By Act II Scene IV, Orsino’s interactions with Viola/Cesario
Orsino has developed an intense affection for his servant ‘______________’
Cesario
As a result of Orsino’s intense affection for his servant Cesario, Orsino’s opinions about __________ and __________ have been changed
Love and women
Orsino tells Viola that “no ____________’s sides / Can bide the ___________ of so _____________ a _______________”.
Woman’s Beating Strong Passion
Orsino tells Viola that “no woman’s sides / Can bide the beating of so strong a passion”.
What does this reveal to the audience?
Orsino believes that his emotions are superior to any woman’s emotions and therefore more important.
Orsino tells Viola that “no woman’s sides / Can bide the beating of so strong a passion”.
What is the language feature?
Metaphor
Orsino tells Viola that “no woman’s sides / Can bide the beating of so strong a passion”.
What is the sound device?
Sibilance
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?
This shows us that Orsino is still quite self-centered and superficial as a character.
When Orsino discovers the truth about Viola’s gender in Act V, what does he immediately do?
Transfer his love from Olivia to Viola
When Orsino finds out about Viola’s real gender, does he treat her differently?
No, he still calls her Cesario and uses imperatives like “Cesario come”
“Cesario come” What is the langiage feature
Imperative (command)
We know that Orsion realises that Viola is the perfect woman for him when he calls her his ______ ________ in Act V Sc 1
“fancy’s queen”
What is meant by the term “fancy’s queen”?
Viola is the queen of his fantasies
“fancy’s queen” - what is the language feature
Metaphor (Viola is not literally a queen)
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 ______ ________
Real person
Orsino is certainly a more likeable character by _____________________than he was when we first met him in Act 1 Scene 1.
Act V Sc 1
What is the main reason for Orsino’s change?
Viola
What does Orsino’s relationship with Viola teach him?
That love can also be based on mutual affection and respect
By Act V Sc 1, Orsino has changed enough to be deserving of _____________ ______________
Viola’s love
