Act 5

Overview/Analysis of Act 5

View the video to catch things you might have otherwise missed, to review, and to gain additional insights that will help you with the questions below.

Read Act 5 in Twelfth Night Navigator so that you can better use and understand the original language. As needed, consult No Fear Shakespeare.

Scene 1

1. How successful is Feste in dealing with Orsino (5.1.8-49)? Why is the Duke there?

2. What happens when the officers bring Antonio to Orsino (5.1.50-96)? How long ago did the ship carrying Viola and Sebastian sink (5.1.94)? Does this amount of time match what you feel has happened in the play?

3. What do you expect will happen when Olivia enters at 5.1.97? What happens to Olivia as she and Orsino talk (5.1.101-116)? Why might she be surprised at Cesario's answers? What does Orsino threaten to do to Viola/Cesario and why (5.1.117-131)? How does Viola/Cesario respond (lines 132-133)? But what has Orsino revealed that he has not said (or perhaps realized) before (lines 126 and 130-131)?

4. How does line 144 change the situation? What has happened to Viola's hopes for Orsino by line 172?

5. Based on what Sir Andrew says when he enters at line 173, what has happened offstage? What revelation can we expect soon? But first, what happens between Sir Toby and Sir Andrew at lines 198-208?

6. What happens when Sebastian enters at line 209? Who first recognizes him? Whom does he first recognize?

7. How long does it take for Viola and Sebastian to recognize each other? Why doesn't she just say who she is at line 242? Is it really taking this long, or are they playing it out?

8. How does Sebastian explain what almost happened to Olivia (5.1.259-263)?

9. What's going to be the problem in getting Viola dressed like a woman? (See lines 254-255 and 274-277.)

10. How is Malvolio's situation resolved? How is the captain's situation resolved? Is Malvolio placated?

11. How does Feste explain his part in tricking Malvolio (5.1.370-377)? What does Feste mean by lines 376-377?

12. What weddings will take place, or have taken place? (See lines 316-326 and lines 362-364.)

Act 4-5 Quiz Study Guide

The quiz will consist of:

9 multiple choice questions and 1 short answer question on facts about character, plot, narrative, literary devices, primarily form Act 4 and 5 but some considering the whole play thus far. Narrative devices will be based on the whole play while literary devices will be based on the passages below, so your best method is to study these and identify any literary devices used. Devices you should be familiar with are: antecedent action, character foil* (think through who are character foils and how they are), verisimilitude, mood, theme, parallelism, indirect characterization, analogy, allusion, blank verse, prose, iambic pentameter, imagery, motif, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, metaphor, hyperbole, irony, pun. Use literarydevices.net to ensure you know these.
1 quote analysis question (you will be given 3 options on the quiz from the list below and need to respond to 1; you will need to identify: 1. who said it, 2. the context in which it was said, 3. what it means, and 4. why it's significant for one or more of the play's themes):
- "These /wise men that give fools money / get themselves a good report—after fourteen years' purchase." (4.1.21-23)
- "What relish is in this? How runs the stream? /Or I am mad, or else this is a dream. /Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep; /If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep!" (4.1.60-64)
- "Well, I'll put it on, and I will dissemble myself in't;/ and I would I were the first that ever dissembled / in such a gown." (4.2.4-6)
- "Why it hath bay windows transparent as/ barricadoes, and the clerestories toward/ the south north are as lustrous as ebony; / and yet complainest thou of obstruction?" (4.2.36-39)
- "Fool, there was never a man so notoriously abused; /I am as well in my wits, fool, as thou art." (4.2.87-88)
- "...For though my soul disputes well with my sense, /That this may be some error, but no madness, /Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune /So far exceed all instance, all discourse, /That I am ready to distrust mine eyes /And wrangle with my reason that persuades me/To any other trust but that I am mad..." (4.3.9-15)

1 long answer question (you will be given 2 options from the list below) worth 5 marks (hint, you should have at least 5 sentences, each full of insight, and might also consider these to help you come up with a thesis for your CRT!):
- Although the play is a comedy, not all characters receive a happy ending. Which characters are left out of the happiness? What might this suggest?
- Consider each of the 3 marriages that occur at the end of Twelfth Night. To what degree will each marriage endure and why? What does Shakespeare suggest about the nature of love?
- Why is there such a pronounced difference between characters' perceptions (the way things seem to be) and reality as the audience knows it (the way they really are)? What does Shakespeare suggest about the nature of perception versus reality?
- Consider the Fool's words and actions throughout the play in contrast with at least two other main characters. Who is wise and who is foolish? What might Shakespeare be implying about the nature of folly and wisdom?
- Consider the many instances and means of disguise in the play, including physical disguises, adopting new/different personalities, and even disguising language through puns, sarcasm, and innuendos. Are they helpful? Harmful? What does Shakespeare suggest about the nature of disguise?

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