Twelfth Night-Act 2 Quiz

Question 1

What is Sebastian’s reason for refusing Antonio’s company?

Answer 1

Sebastian’s reason for refusing Antonio’s company is that he has had very bad luck lately and he believes his fate may affect Antonio’s. Sebastian also says he wants to deal with his misfortunes alone.

Question 2

What does Sebastian wish would have happened long before the shipwreck?

Answer 2

Sebastian wishes that he was in a different situation, that all of this never happened and that he and is sister would have died similarly.

Question 3

How does Sebastian describe Viola?

Answer 3

Sebastian describes Viola as a lady who greatly resembles himself. He says she was considered beautiful on the inside and out.

Question 4

Antonio offers to be Sebastian’s servant, what would Sebastian have him do?

Answer 4

If Antonio was Sebastian’s servant, Sebastian would have Antonio kill him.

Question 5

Antonio debates going to Orsino’s court because the Duke is an enemy. What does he decide to do?

Answer 5

Antonio decides t go to Orsino’s court because although he is enemies with the Duke, Antonio is so fond of Sebastian that he decides the danger will seem like fun.

Question 6

What does Viola mean when she says “Disguise, I see, thou art a wickedness,/Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.”?

Answer 6

When Viola says “Disguise, I see, thou art a wickedness,/Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.” she means that her disguise as a man is wicked and it gives ample scope to the devil and his work. She believes this because of 2 ways. The Duke believes Viola is a man while she is in disguise, therefore he can not love her the way she loves him. Also, Olivia believes Viola is man when she is in her disguise and Olivia is falling for Viola/Cesario.

Question 7

What does Viola mean when she says “How easy it is for the proper-false,/ In women’s waxen hearts to set their forms!/ Alas, our frailty is the cause not we! For such as we are made of, such we be.”?

Answer 7

When Viola says “How easy it is for the proper-false,/ In women’s waxen hearts to set their forms!/ Alas, our frailty is the cause not we! For such as we are made of, such we be.” she means that it is so easy for good-looking yet dishonest men to met the hearts of susceptible women. Viola also explains that it is not women’s fault but their weakness that is the cause. Women can’t help what they are made of.

Question 8

How does Viola show sympathy for Olivia? Cite the lines.

Answer 8

Viola shows sympathy for Olivia by saying “I am the man; if it be so, as ‘tis/ Poor lady, she were better love a dream.” (lines 22-23)

Question 9

Which lines show that Viola’s love for Orsino is useless because she is in disguise?

Answer 9

Lines 33-35 show that Viola’s love for Orsino is useless because she is in disguise. It reads “What will become of this? As I am man,/ My state is desperate for my masters love;/ As I am women - now alas the day!”

Question 10

What is Viola referring to when she says “O time, thou must untangle this, not I!/ It is too hard a knot for me to untie!”?

Answer 10

When Viola says”O time, thou must untangle this, not I!/ It is too hard a knot for me to untie!” she is referring to the love triangle. Viola loves Orsino, Orsino loves Olivia and Olivia loves Viola/Cesario. She is saying that only time can untangle this mess, not herself. It is too much of a mess for her to figure out herself.

Question 11

Maria enters, what does she predict will soon happen?

Answer 11

When Maria enters, she is predicting that Olivia has told Malvolio to kick Sir Andrew, Feste and Sir Toby out of the house because they are making so much noise.

Question 12

How effective is Malvolio in telling Maria to stop serving the men? Who does that suggest she is loyal to?

Answer 12

Malvolio is not very effective in telling Maria to stop serving the men because he is just made fun of afterwards. This suggests she is loyal to Sir Toby and his companions, Sir Andrew and Feste.

Question 13

Maria explains why no one can get along with Malvolio. What does she say?

Answer 13

Maria says that the reason nobody can get along with Malvolio is because sometimes he is kind of a puritan, a time server and a very affected ass that has a very high opinion of himself.

Question 14

What does Maria decide to do to Malvolio and why?

Answer 14

Maria decides to drop some love letters in Malvolio’s path. She does this to get revenge on Malvolio for being so rude to Maria and the others by making him believe that Olivia loves him.

Question 15

Do you think Malvolio is being unfairly treated? Why?

Answer 15

No, I do not think Malvolio is being unfairly treated because he is very stuck up, he thinks he is superior to everybody else and he unfairly treats everybody else. Therefore, i think Malvolio deserves a taste of his own medicine.

Question 16

What purpose does Orsino say his music serves?

Answer 16

Orsino says his music serves him the purpose of reliving him of his strong feelings for Olivia.

Question 17

How does the Duke describe love?

Answer 17

The Duke describes love as something that brings sweet agony and that makes you unstable and fickle in everything except the thing you love. He explains this through song.

Question 18

What is ironic about Viola/Cesario’s description of the women he/she loves?

Answer 18

It is ironic that Viola/Cesario’s description of the woman that he/she loves is relating to the Duke’s features, because the Duke is actually the person Viola loves.

Question 19

What advice does the Duke give Viola/Cesario and what does this advice tell us about his views of women?

Answer 19

The duke tells Viola/Cesario that he/she needs to find someone younger to love or else he/she won’t be able to maintain her feelings because the Duke believes women are harder to love as their beauty fades and it is easier to love a younger women because their beauty lasts longer. This tells us that the Dukes views of women are stereotypical and obnoxious. He says that the main reason men love women is for their beauty. Therefore, I can infer that he loves Olivia for her beauty as it sys Olivia is very pretty in the book.

Question 20

What is Viola/Cesario’s response?

Answer 20

Viola/Cesario’s response is that he/she agrees with the Duke by saying “I think it well, my lord.” and she agrees that women’s beauty fades over time by saying “And so they are.” I believe Viola doesn’t really care about the Duke’s views on women because she fits the Duke’s standards of being younger than him.

Question 21

What is Orsino’s response to Viola/Cesario’s suggestion that Olivia might not love him? What does that tell us about his love for Olivia and his character?

Answer 21

Orisno’s response to Viola/Cesario’s suggestion that Olivia might not love him is “Make no compare between that love a women can bear me/ And that I owe Olivia.” He tells us that his love for Olivia is different than another love. He makes the metaphor of “It is as hungry as the sea and can digest as much.” This tells us that his character perseveres until he gets what he wants and does not give up when things get tough.

Question 22

In lines 106-109 Orsino contradicts himself. What does he say and what is his contradiction?

Answer 22

Orsino says that his love makes him sad, but his contradiction is that he can’t live without the love and he won’t let Olivia turn him down. The love brings him happiness and sadness at the same time.

Question 23

Viola/Cesario tells a story of “his” sister and her unrequited love. What is she trying to tell Orsino.

Answer 23

Viola/Cesario is saying that if he/she were a women, he/she would love just as much as the Duke does Olivia. Cesario is trying to tell Orsino that women can love as much as men do, as well as telling him secretly that she loves the Duke herself.

Question 24

When Viola/Cesario says “I am all the daughters of my fathers house,/ And all the brothers too; and yet I know not” what is she saying?

Answer 24

When Viola/Cesario says “I am all the daughters of my fathers house,/ And all the brothers too; and yet I know not” she is saying that she can understand both sides of her family: both the girls and the boys feelings.

Question 25

What does Malvolio’s talk tell us about the way he views himself?

Answer 25

Malvolio’s talk tells us that Malvolio views himself as someone Olivia respects more than everyone else. He also views himself as someone who is Olivia’s “type”. He is very confident and full of himself.

Question 26

What is Malvolio’s fantasy?

Answer 26

Malvolio’s fantasy is to be married to Olivia and to have the power to order everybody else around.

Question 27

The letter is not signed by Olivia nor does it directly state Malvolio as the beloved, why might he assume it is from Olivia to him?

Answer 27

Malvolio assumes that the letter is from Olivia to him because it appears to be in Olivia’s handwriting with her personal seal on it. He believes it is written to him because the rhyme on the the letter is unfinished and he believes only his name would complete it. Also some of the letters of his name are written in the letter: M O A I. It also reads “I may command where I adore” and Malvolio realizes that Olivia commands him!

Question 28

What does the letter request of Malvolio?

Answer 28

The letter requests of Malvolio to wear yellow-stockins (a colour Olivia hates), dress cross-gartered (a fashion Olivia detests), to be rude to others and smile at Olivia (which would be rude considering she is mourning her brother). This will make Malvolio appear to be a fool.

Question 29

Describe Malvolio’s feelings about love and compare them to Orsino’s.

Answer 29

Malvolio’s feelings about love are more aggressive and he loves Olivia for all of her features, inside and out. Orsino has a more subtle feelings about love. Although his love is very passionate, Orsino sends others to express his love to Olivia and Orsino believes love is attached to beauty and youthfulness.

Question 30

What is in the love letter that Malvolio receives?

Answer 30

The love letter that Malvolio receives is a riddle/rhyme. It contains information such as some of the letters of Malvoilio’s name, suggestions to what Malvolio should do to express his love for Olivia and other hints written by Maria to make Malvolio make a fool of himself. In order to convince Malvolio the letter is from Olivia, Maria has mimicked her exact hand writing and writing “voice” and used Olivia’s personal seal.