Twelfth Night In class writing assignment 6/6/11

 

Close Analysis – Act II scene II “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare

Write and essay of about 250 words or more to explain the speech.

1. I left no ring with her; what means this lady?
2. Fortune forbid my outside have not charm'd her!
3. She made good view of me; indeed, so much,
4. That methought her eyes had lost her tongue,
5. For she did speak in starts distractedly.
6. She loves me, sure: the cunning of her passion
7. Invites me in this churlish messenger.
8. None of my lord's ring! why, he sent her none.
9. I am the man; —if it be so,—as 'tis,—
10. Poor lady, she were better love a dream.
11. Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness
12. Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.
13. How easy is it for the proper-false
14. In women's waxen hearts to set their forms!
15. Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we;
16. For such as we are made of, such we be.
17. How will this fadge? My master loves her dearly,
18. And I, poor monster, fond as much on him;
19. And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me.
20. What will become of this? As I am man,
21. My state is desperate for my master's love;
22. As I am woman, now alas the day!
23. What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe!
24. O time, thou must untangle this, not I;
25. It is too hard a knot for me to untie!

Guidelines: Your essay should include responses to each of these questions

1. Who is speaking?
2. Who is being addressed?
3. What ring is being referred to?
4. What does the statement, “her eyes had lost her tongue” mean?
5. Why is it interesting that Shakespeare would use the word ring in the first line and charme’d in the next line?
6. What does “She made good view of me” mean?
7. What does it mean to speak in starts?
8. What is Shakespeare saying about the difference between appearances and reality in line 11.
9. Who is the speaker referring in lines 15 and 16?
10. What is Shakespeare saying about the true power of womanhood?
11. What are thriftless sighs (line 23)?
12. Explain lines 24 – 25
13. How does this part of the play relate to the final outcome of the plot?
14. If beauty is only skin deep, is Shakespeare saying, through the play “Twelfth Night” that gender is a mask?
15. Some characters fall in love with the mask, some with the person behind the mask.  Which characters in the play fall in love with the disguise, which with the natural person?

In your writing, be sure to address the Six Traits of Writing [Presentation not included]:

·       Ideas [Overall Purpose/Main Idea; Handling of the Prompt]

·       Organization [and Development]

·       Voice [Details, Imagery, Tone]

·       Word Choice [Use of Language]

·       Syntax [Sentence Structure]

·       Conventions [Grammar and Usage]