Introduction
Before we start reading the play we need to know something about Shakespeare’s life and times, and also the kind of theatre his plays were performed in.
The document below contains a list of research topics. You will be the expert in your chosen topic; you owe it to the rest of the class to present them with the best and most detailed information you can find – they are depending on you!
Your teachers usually tell you that you should never watch the film until after you have read the book. But for ‘Twelfth Night’ we will make an exception.
A recent film version (below) has been chosen for the quality of its interpretation and the skill of the actors. We will watch this in two parts; the second period will be partly spent on a class discussion in which you will be expected to talk about your observations of character and plot. To do well in this, you could always keep your notebook handy in which to note down observation, ideas or questions.
Finally, here is the complete text of ‘Twelfth Night’ – in case you forget your book!
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Reading Tasks
Notebook
It is very important to keep your notebook up to date as we read through the play. We will focus especially on character – how the things people say and do, and the things that other people say about them – give us important information about the personalities, motives and changes in the play’s characters.
Your knowledge of this will be tested later both in class discussions, a final essay, and in your own performances of scenes from the play.
Your teacher will check your notebook on a regular basis. Here is one simple technique that will help you to stay in control of important information, locate evidence you need to back up your statements, and keep your teacher happy.
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Dialectical Journal
Download this document, or divide a page in your notebook into two columns, and keep a list of quotes for each character.
Twelfth Night Dialectical Journal
You will need one journal for each of these characters:
Viola/Cesario, Sebastian, Olivia, Orsino, Feste, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Maria, Antonio, Malvolio
You could also compare characters, using a grid. An example of one of these is below.
Character Grid (Orsino & Olivia)
Your Dialectical Journal will be important for presentations on the major characters that we will do once we have read the whole play. In groups, you will focus on one of the main characters (one of those listed above) and compile a presentation that will describe the personality traits of each character, and also the opinions of other characters about the one you have chosen. For every point you make, you must have at least one quote to support your point of view – No quote, No point!
Watch Veracross for the date of the presentations.
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Act 1
Make sure you answer the following questions in your notebook.
Sometimes, we need to look closely at a short scene to really understand what is going on. Try these questions on Act I, Scene 5.
Close Reading Questions Act I Scene 5
Act 2
Make sure you answer the following questions in your notebook.
Act 2 is a crucial act in which the major plot developments are all advanced. We need to pause here and make sure we have followed everything so far. Do you know who said the quotes below?
Let’s stop and think about acting a part of this play (which you will all be doing later!). We will focus on the ‘letter scene’ – Act 2, Scene 5. Use the two documents below to help.
Act 2 Scene 5 Prep Act 2 Scene 5 Plan & Performance
Here are some further activities from a dedicated ‘Twelfth Night’ website.
Act 2 Twelfth Night Site Activities
Act 3
Here is a collection of Reading Questions on the play so far. Answers in notebooks.
Twelfth Night Reading Questions Acts 1 – 3
Act 4
Summarise the events of Act 4, paying particular attention to the changes you observe in the dynamic characters.
Act 5
Here is a collection of Reading Questions on Acts 4 and 5. Answers in notebooks.
Twelfth Night Reading Questions Acts 4 & 5
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Character Work
Now that we have reached the end, we need to sum up our opinions about some of the main characters in the play. To do this, we need to use the evidence we have been building up in our Diacritical Journals.
Use some or one of these documents to help you to do this. We will look at each one of these in turn in class.
Twelfth Night Character Summary Twelfth Night Character Adjectives
You could also summarise the play here, in comic form.
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Assessed Tasks
Essay
At the end of this unit you will write an analytical, or literary, essay on aspects of ‘Twelfth Night’. This will normally be done as your Semester 2 exam, in class during Exam Week. The topic may change from year to year, but below is a useful essay scaffold that you could use to plan your essay. We will go through this in class before your exam.
Watch Veracross for essay information.
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Performance
The best way to appreciate Shakespeare is to perform a play. Only by doing this can you really understand how the language works and how the characters can come to life. This will be the final assessment for this unit. Details are below.
Twelfth Night Performance Instructions
The best performances will be presented to the school, on stage, in the end-of-year literary festival!
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