Twelfth Night Final Exam

“Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare

Part One

Final Test – Due June 14

Matching - Identify the speaker (Each letter may be used more than once.)

1. That that is, is.

2. Once, in a sea-fight, against the count his galleys

3. I am not of your element. You shall know more hereafter

4. Nothing that is so is so.

5. If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep!

6. More than I love these eyes, more than my life,

More, by all mores, than e’er I shall love wife.

A. Antonio

B. Sebastian

C. The Clown

D. Malvolio

E. Viola

Part Two

Multiple Choice

7. The following passage from the play is an example of:

“Confine? I’ll confine myself no finer than I am: these clothes are good enough to drink in;”

A. sarcasm

B. pun

C. irony

D. metaphor

8. The Clown says “Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.” in Act I Scene V of this play.

What typical Shakespearean device does it illustrate?

A. Shakespeare’s comic plays end with a marriage.

B. Sometimes the fool or clown in Shakespeare’s plays serves to wisely educate the

audience about the true motivations of the characters.

C. The nobility in Shakespeare’s plays speak in verse.

D. Both A and B

9. Which of the following incidents from the play is an example of slapstick or physical

comedy?

A. Sir Toby encourages Sir Andrew to dance.

B. Antonio is arrested by the Duke’s men.

C. Malvolio threatens to tell Olivia that Maria is part of Sir Toby and Sir Andrew’s

drunken party.

D. Olivia asks Sebastian, who she thinks is Viola/Cesario, to marry her.

10. The following speech by Malvolio is an example of:

“‘Tis but fortune; all is fortune. Maria once told me she did affect me: and I have heard

herself come thus near, that, should she fancy, it should be one of my complexion.

Besides, she uses me with a more exalted respect than any one else that follows her.

What should I think on ‘t?”

A. irony. It is ironic that Malvolio, a servant, is in love with Olivia.

B. slapstick comedy. It is slapstick comedy because Malvolio does not realize Sir Toby,

Fabian, and Sir Andrew are listening to him speak.

C. a soliloquy. Malvolio is revealing his thoughts to the audience, but is not speaking

directly to them.

D. an aside. Malvolio is speaking directly to the audience, not to the other characters in

the play.

11. Which of the following characters in the play help to illustrate mature and unselfish love?

A. Viola/Cesario

B. the Duke

C. The Clown

D. Sebastian

12. “How with a sportful malice it was follow’d

May rather pluck on laughter than revenge;

If that the injuries by justly weigh’d

That have on both sides pass’d.”

In this speech Fabian is suggesting to the audience that:

A. love can lead to excessive behavior.

B. foolishness is part of human nature.

C. people must learn to laugh at themselves.

D. it is best to marry a younger woman because her beauty soon fades.

13. Shakespeare probably selected “Twelfth Night” as the title for this play because

A. the Duke pines away for Olivia for twelve nights until he finally stops sending

messengers and goes to see her in person.

B. In Elizabethan times the twelfth night of the Christmas season is a time for

masquerades and parties.

C. There are twelve characters in the play who are so confused they do not know if it is

night or day.

D. Both A and B

14. It is clear to the audience that Olivia is a caring person because

A. she sends the Clown to look after Sir Toby even though she does not approve of his

drinking.

B. she sends Sir Toby to look after Malvolio even though Malvolio is behaving very rudely.

C. Malvolio and the Duke are in love with her.

D. Both A and B

15. Which of the following incidents best illustrates how the audience must be willing to

accept the deceptions on the stage for the plot lines to work?

A. Viola and Sebastian look enough alike to be mistaken for each other.

B. Sir Andrew is so stupid that he is easily manipulated by Sir Toby.

C. Sebastian is willing to marry Olivia after only knowing her for a short time.

D. The Clown can successfully masquerade as Sir Topas.

16. Viola begins to believe her brother is alive when

A. Sir Andrew challenges her to a sword fight.

B. Antonio mentions the name Sebastian when he is complaining about being betrayed

by his friend.

C. Olivia insists she and Viola are married.

D. Both A and B

17. Which of the following characters believes he is “Öthe better for my foes and the worse

for my friends”?

A. The Clown

B. Malvolio

C. Sir Andrew

D. the Duke

18. Once the Duke realizes Olivia is in love with Viola/Cesario he

A. threatens to kill Olivia.

B. threatens to kill Viola/Cesario.

C. cries his tale of woe to the audience in a long soliloquy.

D. Both A and B

19. Which of the following incidents from the play is an example of excessive behavior?

A. The Duke keeps changing the subject back to love because he is in love with being

in love.

B. Olivia states that she is going to stay in mourning for her brother for seven years.

C. Sir Toby needs to keep Sir Andrew around because of Sir Andrew’s money.

D. Both A and B

20. Which of the following characters speaks only in prose in this play?

A. Maria

B. the Duke

C. Fabian

D. Viola when she is disguised as Cesario.

Essays (Answer any two)

1. The overall theme of this play is the confusion between appearance and reality. Cite incidents from the play to show in what ways the following list of characters are not always what they appear to be.

• Viola,

• Malvolio,

• the Duke,

• The Clown

2. There are five forms of love relationships in this play: romantic love, friendship, family love, mature love, and self love. Cite incidents from the play demonstrating how love, in each of its five forms, can make the characters behave foolishly.

3. Discuss how the two practical jokes in the play help to unify the comic subplot with the main romantic plot.

4. Shakespeare’s comedies usually end with a marriage. List the marriages that take place at the conclusion of this play and comment on whether or not you believe each couple are well suited for each other. Cite incidents from the story to support your conclusions.

Part Three

Twelfth Night Test Key- will be furnished upon request!