Just outside Olivia’s house, Malvolio has caught up with Viola (still disguised as Cesario). He gives Cesario the ring that Olivia has sent with him, scolding him for having left it with Olivia. Viola realizes Olivia’s deception and plays along with it, pretending that she did indeed give the ring to Olivia. She tells Malvolio that Olivia took the ring and insists that Olivia must keep it. Malvolio throws the ring onto the ground and exits. Alone, the confused Viola picks up the ring and wonders why Olivia has given it to her. She wonders if it means that Olivia has fallen in love with Cesario.

1. TWELFTH NIGHTSCENE BY SCENE GUIDE

2. Where does the play open? Use a quote to support your answer.
Describe the Duke's feelings about love.
What news does Valentine bring the Duke? How does he respond to this
news?
ACT 1 SCENE 1

3. ACT 1 SCENE 2
What country has Viola arrived in?
What does Viola think has happened to her brother? What hope does the
Captain provide in response to this?
What does Viola already know about Orsino?
What does Viola propose she shall do for the Duke?
Why might she need to disguise herself as a man in order to do this?
E X T E N S I O N
What might Viola's need to disguise her gender suggest
about the role of women in Elizabethan England?

4. ACT 1 SCENE 3
Describe the character Sir Toby. Use quote/s to support your answer.
What reasons does Maria give for Toby being in trouble with Olivia?
What does Maria think of Sir Andrew? Give two quotations from the text
that show this.
Why does Sir Andrew say he might as well go home?
E X T E N S I O N
In this scene we are introduced to three new characters.
What purpose might these characters serve during the
play?

5. ACT 1 SCENE 4
Who is Cesario?
Provide a quote which demonstrates the Duke's affection for Cesario.
What does the Duke ask Cesario to do and why does the he think that
Cesario is right for the job?
Define the term 'aside'.
What new information do we find out about Viola at the end of the scene
through an aside?

6. ACT 1 SCENE 5
What does Feste imply about the nature of Maria and Sir Toby's relationship
in order to win the argument?
Why doesn't Olivia want to see Feste or have him around?
What does Feste say when Olivia asks her servants to take him away? (line
34)
What does Malvolio think of Feste? How does Feste feel about Malvolio? Use
quotes to support your answers.
Who does Olivia send to the gate to get rid of the stranger?
When Malvolio returns, why does he say he is unable to get rid of the
stranger?

7. ACT 1 SCENE 5
How does Malvolio describe Cesario?
Why do you think Viola might want to see Olivia's face?
How does Olivia respond to what "Cesario" has to say about the Duke's love?
Define the term Soliloquy.
After Cersario/Viola exits what does Olivia confess to herself?
What does Olivia send Malvolio to do and why might she do this?
CONTINUED

8. ACT 2 SCENE 1
What new discovery does the audience make about Sebastian's relationship
to Viola?
What good service has Antonio done for Sebastian? Provide a quote to
support your answer.
Why is Antonio worried about following Sebastian to Illyria?

9. ACT 2 SCENE 2
Just outside Olivia’s house, _________________ has caught up with Viola (still disguised
as Cesario). He gives Cesario the _________________ that Olivia has sent with him,
scolding him for having left it with Olivia. Viola _________________ Olivia’s deception and
plays along with it, _________________ that she did indeed give the ring to Olivia. She
tells Malvolio that Olivia took the ring and _________________that Olivia must keep it.
Malvolio throws the ring onto the ground and exits. Alone, the _________________ Viola
picks up the ring and wonders why Olivia has given it to her. She wonders if it means
that Olivia has _________________that in love with Cesario. If such is the case, Viola
reflects, then events have indeed taken an ironic turn, because Olivia has unknowingly
fallen in love with another woman. Apparently loved by Olivia and in love with
_________________, who loves Olivia, Viola expresses her hope that time will
_________________these problems since she certainly cannot figure out how to solve
them.
Insists, realises , Malvolio, ring, pretending, confused, Orsino, untangle, fallen

10. ACT 2 SCENE 2
Imagine you are the director of this scene. What advice would you give to
Cesario during this scene? Make reference to at least three different lines
that the actor says.
Consider: Tone of voice, Facial Expressions, Gestures and other
movements.
continued

11. ACT 2 SCENE 3
Describe the opening of the scene. Consider the attitudes and behaviours
or Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Feste. Use at least one quote in your answer.
How does Malvolio respond to the ruckus? Refer to at least one language
technique in your answer. (Line 80 onward)
How does Malvolio respond to Maria's presence? Who does he intend to
inform of her behaviour?
Outline Maria's plan to seek revenge on Malvolio. Use quotes to support
your answer.
Read Luke 6:35. With this in mind how do you think a Christian
should respond in Maria and Sir Toby's situation? Do you agree with
their response? Why/Why not?
E x t e n s i o n

12. ACT 2 SCENE 4
What is dramatic irony?
How does Shakespeare use dramatic irony in this scene for comedic
effect? Use a quote as evidence
Identify the langauge technique used in the quote below.
During this scene Duke Orsino reveals his attitude towards women and
understanding of love. Describe Orsino's attitude. Does he consider
women as capable of love as men? Consider the quote above as well as
his monologue beginning line 91.
For women are as roses,
whose fair flower
Being once displayed, doth
fall that very hour.

13. ACT 2 SCENE 5
Create a comic strip of this scene. Your comic strip needs to include at
least 6 panels and use direct quotes from the play.

14. ACT 3 SCENE 1
Why has Cesario come to see Olivia?
What does Olivia reveal to Cesario and how does he respond? Provide a
quote/s to support your answer.
Identify one dramatic or language technique used in this scene and
explain its effect.
Shakespeare regularly uses fools as characters in his plays. Research and
list at least two other famous Shakespeare fools.
E x t e n s i o n
Research the role of the Shakespearean fool?
What purpose/function do they serve? Are they
just for comedic relief?

15. ACT 3 SCENE 2
Back in Olivia’s house, Sir Andrew tells Sir Toby that he has decided to _____________.
He says that he has seen Olivia fawning over Cesario in the orchard, and he seems to
_____________ at last that Olivia is not likely to _____________ him. But Sir Toby—who
wants to keep Andrew around because he has been ____________ Sir Andrew’s money
—tells Sir Andrew that he ought to stay and show off his manliness for her. Fabian
helps Sir Toby in his persuasion, assuring Sir Andrew that Olivia might only have been
___________ him and trying to make him jealous. Sir Andrew agrees, and Sir Toby
encourages him to challenge Cesario to a ____________, in order to prove his love for
Olivia.
Maria comes in and reports that Malvolio is behaving like an absolute ass—he has been
doing everything that the letter has asked him to do. He is wearing
___________stockings and crossed garters and will not stop smiling—all in all, he is
more ___________than ever before. Sir Toby and Fabian eagerly follow Maria to see
what is going on.
teasing, marry, leave, realise, duel, yellow, ridiculous, spending

16. ACT 3 SCENE 3
Copy the following summary into your books.
Sebastian and Antonio have at last arrived in Illyria. We
However, Antonio is not safe in Illyria: it seems that Duke Orsino’s men are hostile to
him, for many years ago Antonio was involved in a sea fight against Orsino in which
he did them much damage.
Antonio’s love for Sebastian has caused him to defy the danger and come with
Sebastian to Illyria.

17. ACT 3 SCENE 4
Why does Olivia call for Malvolio?
Describe the behaviour of Malvolio. Provide a quote to support your answer.
Who does Olivia ask to look after Malvolio? Why might this be a bad thing for
Malvolio?
What reason do Toby, Maria and Fabian invent as an explanation for Malvolio's
madness?
Describe how the plan to 'treat' this sickness.
What does Sir Toby tell Andrew he thinks of his letter? What does he really think?
How do we know this? Refer to a specific dramatic technique.
How does Viola respond to Sir Toby's challenge from Sir Andrew? Provide a quote
to support your answer.
Sir Toby does not tell Sir Andrew the truth about Viola's/Cesario's response. What
does he say and why might he say it? (line 243).

18. ACT 3 SCENE 4 continued
How does Antonio respond to the duel? Why? Provide a quote to support your
answer.
What does Viola being to realise as Antonio is being taken away?

19. ACT 4 SCENE 1
What is the problem between Feste and Sebastian?
Why does Sebastian say this? What is in response to?
What happens when Olivia sees Sir Toby and Sebastian? Who does she mistake
Sebastian for?
What does Olivia ask Sebastian and how does he respond?
"Are all the people mad?"
Imagine you are the director of this scene. In your book
create a storyboard which shows how the actors would
move for the fight between Sebastian, Sir Andrew and Sir
Toby.
E x t e n s i o n

20. ACT 4 SCENE 2
Who does Feste dress up as and why?
Does Malvolio view himself as mad at this point?
What does Feste do in order to convince Malvolio that he is mad? Provide quotes to
support your answer.
Why is Sir Toby starting to 'second guess' this prank?
Ironically, Malvolio believes he now has a true friend in Feste. What does he agree to
do for Feste in exchange for paper and ink?
Is this scene comedic or tragic? Or is it a bit of both? Has this joke crossed the line?
Justify your answer with evidence from the text.

21. ACT 4 SCENE 3
What does Sebastian think of Olivia and his situation?
What proposition does Olivia offer and how does Sebastian respond?
Imagine you are Sebastian. Write a letter to Antonio explaining your current
situation.

22. ACT 5 SCENE 1
The final scene of the play begins with great confusion. In dot points outline what
causes this confusion. The first one has been done for you.
"One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons!" Explain what Orsino is responding
to here.
How does Sebastian ensure that Viola is really his sister? Provide quotes to support
your answer.
How does the Duke respond to this 'unveiling' of Viola? How does his proposal differ
from his previous confessions of love earlier in the play. Use quotes to support your
answer.
Describe Olivia's reaction to the discovery of Malvolio's mistreatment.
Do you think her response is appropriate? Should she have done more/less?
Why/Why not?
How does the play end? Do you like the ending? Why/Why not?
Orsino is confused by Antonio return and supposed relationship with Cesario (who he
believes in Sebastian).