Twelfth Night

Question 1

When was Twelfth Night written?

Answer 1

c. 1600 or 1601

Question 2

What is Twelfth Night?

Answer 2

The last evening of Christmas celebrations. Twelfth Night was known as a “feast of misrule.” For the day, kings and nobles were to be treated as peasants, and peasants as kings and nobles.

Question 3

What is Viola’s alias?

Answer 3

Cesario

Question 4

Who is the Duke of Illyria?

Answer 4

Orsino

Question 5

Who is Orsino?

Answer 5

The Duke of Illyria

Question 6

Who is Viola’s twin brother?

Answer 6

Sebastian

Question 7

Who is Malvolio?

Answer 7

The stuck-up steward at Olivia’s house. Maria, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Feste trick him into believing Olivia is in love with him.

Question 8

Who are Viola’s and Sebastian’s respective allies from the shipwreck?

Answer 8

Viola is helped and befriended by the Captain of the ship, and Sebastian is aided by Antonio, a sailor from Illyria.

Question 9

Where does Twelfth Night take place?

Answer 9

Illyria

Question 10

Why won’t Olivia hear Orsino’s suits?

Answer 10

She is in mourning for her brother.

Question 11

What is the name of Olivia’s uncle?

Answer 11

Sir Toby Belch

Question 12

Who is Sir Andrew Aguecheek?

Answer 12

A hapless suitor of Olivia’s

Question 13

What is the name of Olivia’s serving woman?

Answer 13

Maria

Question 14

What is the name of the fool?

Answer 14

Feste

Question 15

Why does Orsino think Cesario will be able to convince Olivia of his love?

Answer 15

Because Cesario is effeminate in appearance

Question 16

What is Viola’s objection to wooing Olivia?

Answer 16

She is in love with Orsino

Question 17

What is Malvolio’s main flaw?

Answer 17

Too much self-love; he’s pompous

Question 18

What causes domestic strife at Olivia’s house?

Answer 18

Sir Toby Belch is often drunk and loud

Question 19

What token, by way of Malvolio, does Olivia give to Cesario?

Answer 19

A ring (symbol of sex and marriage). Upon receiving the ring, Viola realizes the complex love triangle that has developed.

Question 20

What is Maria’s main physical characteristic?

Answer 20

She is short

Question 21

How does Maria propose they trick Malvolio?

Answer 21

She boasts that she can imitate Olivia’s handwriting perfectly. She proposed they write a love letter telling him Olivia is in love with him and asking him to do ridiculous things.

This is another kind of twinning.

Question 22

Why does Malvolio want to marry Olivia?

Answer 22

He wants to rise in rank and be rich

Question 23

What are the four ways “Olivia’s” letter requests Malvolio shows his affection?

Answer 23

• Being surly with the servants
• Wearing yellow stockings,
• Crossing his garters at the knee
• Smiling all the time.

Question 24

What kind of stockings does Malvolio wear to please Olivia?

Answer 24

Yellow and cross-gartered

Question 25

Who says "I am not what I am"?

Answer 25

Viola (as Cesario) explaining why she cannot return Olivia's love

Question 26

What does Sir Toby convince Sir Andrew to do to win Olivia's affection?

Answer 26

Challenge Cesario to a duel

Question 27

Why does Antonio have to stay in hiding?

Answer 27

He once fought in battle (very successfully) against Orsino. He is a wanted man - and he does get arrested.

Question 28

What affect does Malvolio following the instructions of the letter have on Olivia?

Answer 28

She is annoyed at first, and then becomes concerned that he might be going mad.

Question 29

Why does Sir Toby want Sir Andrew to stay in town (and hence why does he go to all the trouble of his duel machinations)?

Answer 29

He wants to continue leeching off of Sir Andrew's money

Question 30

What is Cesario's reaction to Sir Andrew's challenge?

Answer 30

That he is too cowardly for a fight, and didn't mean to offend anyone.

Question 31

Who interrupts Sir Andrew and Cesario as they are about to duel?

Answer 31

Antonio, who mistakes Cesario for Sebastian

Question 32

When does Olivia marry Sebastian?

Answer 32

After she comes across him dueling Sir Andrew. Mistaking him for Cesario, Olivia intervenes. Unlike Viola, Sebastian has no objections to Olivia's affections.

Question 33

Who is Sir Topas?

Answer 33

Sir Topas is the "great scholar" Feste imitates while the servants have Malvolio locked away.

Question 34

What second trick do Maria et al. play on Malvolio?

Answer 34

They lock him in a dark room and gaslight him hardcore.

Question 35

How does Malvolio try to extricate himself from the situation in the dark room?

Answer 35

He writes a letter, which he then begs Feste to deliver to Olivia. It works; she says that the letter does not sound like it was written by a mad person.

Question 36

What is "most wonderful"?

Answer 36

That Sebastian and Viola are twins; everyone else is shocked at the seemingly miraculous similarities between the two. Said by Olivia.