Twelfth Night Theme Essay

Question 1

In William Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night, an important theme is ___________

Answer 1

Disguise

Question 2

What does the theme of disguise mean?

Answer 2

someone’s outer appearance doesn’t always match their inner character

Question 3

How does Shakespeare convey this theme?

Answer 3

through characters who disguise themselves in various ways.

Question 4

What is the first example of disguise? (Physical)

Answer 4

Viola disguises herself as Cesario in order to work for Duke Orsino.

Question 5

What is the second example of disguise? (Metaphorical)

Answer 5

Sir Toby pretends to be friends with Sir Andrew

Question 6

What is the third example of disguise? (Metaphorical)

Answer 6

Orsino makes himself believe that he loves Olivia.

Question 7

What is the most obvious example of disguise in Twelfth Night?

Answer 7

physical disguise

Question 8

Where do we see physical disguise in the play?

Answer 8

when Viola disguises herself as a young man, which causes Countess Olivia to fall in love with her, and this is a clear illustration of someone’s outer appearance not matching their inner character which creates a lot of confusion in the play

Question 9

When Olivia falls in love with ‘Cesario’, Viola tries to warn her not to by telling Olivia ____________________

Answer 9

“I am not what I am”

Question 10

when Viola tells Olivia “I am not what I am”, what does she mean?

Answer 10

Viola is attempting to explain to Olivia that her external appearance is not the same as her inner character

Question 11

Another example of disguise in Twelfth Night is _________ ___________ where characters trick other people using their words or actions.

Answer 11

emotional disguise

Question 12

What emotional disguise does Sir Toby use in the play?

Answer 12

when Sir Toby pretends to be Sir Andrew’s friend so that he can laugh at him behind his back, which shows the difference between Sir Toby’s outer appearance and his inner character.

Question 13

In Act 1 Scene 3, Sir Toby calls Sir Andrew “Sweet _______ ___________”

Answer 13

Sir Andrew

Question 14

In Act 5 Scene 1 Sir Toby says Sir Andrew is “a ____________ ________, a gull”

Answer 14

thin-faced knave

Question 15

In Act 1 Scene 3, Sir Toby calls Sir Andrew “Sweet Sir Andrew” but in Act 5 Scene 1 Sir Toby says Sir Andrew is “a thin-faced knave, a gull” - what does this show the audience?

Answer 15

Sir Andrew is gullible for ever believing that Sir Toby was truly his friend.

Question 16

So another way that Shakespeare conveys the theme of disguise is through characters who disguise their ______________ in order to fool other characters.

Answer 16

emotions

Question 17

A final example of disguise in the play is emotional disguise, but more specifically when characters fool ____________ rather than fooling other characters.

Answer 17

themselves

Question 18

Orsino fools himself that he is in love with ____________

Answer 18

Olivia

Question 19

Orsino fools himself that he is in love with Olivia, but we know that this is not really true because _____________________

Answer 19

he falls in love with Viola so quickly when he finds out she is a woman.

Question 20

In Act I Scene I, Orsino says “if music be the food of love, __________ ______”

Answer 20

play on

Question 21

When Orsino says “if music be the food of love, play on” what does he mean?

Answer 21

Orsino thinks he can make himself sick of love so that he is not obsessed by Olivia any more.

Question 22

But in the final scene of the play, he says to Viola “Give me thy hand, and let me see thee in thy ________ __________”

Answer 22

woman’s weeds

Question 23

When Orsino says to Viola “Give me thy hand, and let me see thee in thy woman’s weeds” what does this show the audience?

Answer 23

he is able to switch his love immediately from Olivia to Viola.

Question 24

What does the quote “Give me thy hand, and let me see thee in thy woman’s weeds” show us about the theme of disguise?

Answer 24

Orsino has disguised his real feelings from himself up until the point when he acknowledges his love for Viola

Question 25

What are the three types of disguise in the play?

Answer 25

physical disguise, emotional disguise when you fool others, and emotional disguise when you fool yourself

Question 26

What is the first example of disguise?

Answer 26

Viola disguises herself as Cesario,

Question 27

What is the second example of disguise?

Answer 27

Sir Toby tricks Sir Andrew into thinking that he is his friend

Question 28

What is the third example of disguise?

Answer 28

Orsino tricks himself into thinking that he is in love with Olivia