Shakespeare Twelfth Night: Love Triangle

TWELFTH NIGHT

By Sandra Gaton

Put the correct names in the love triangle that has been formed in Act One of the play:

Read the following passage and underline the words and phrases that tell you something about Sir Toby.

Sir Toby:
What a plague means my niece, to take the death of
her brother thus? I am sure care's an enemy to life.

Maria:
By my troth, Sir Toby, you must come in earlier o'
nights: your cousin, my lady, takes great
exceptions to your ill hours.

Sir Toby:
Why, let her except, before excepted.

Maria:
Ay, but you must confine yourself within the modest
limits of order.

Sir Toby:
Confine! I'll confine myself no finer than I am:
these clothes are good enough to drink in; and so be
these boots too: an they be not, let them hang
themselves in their own straps.

Answer the following questions in your exercise books:

What does Sir Toby think of Olivia’s rules about not staying up late?
What does Maria try and encourage Sir Toby do?
Think about the way Sir Toby acts in the play. Which modern TV or film star do you think would play him well? Give a reason for your choice.
Read the following quotes from Sir Andrew and Sir Toby. Sir Toby seems to be singing Sir Andrew’s praises. How does this compare to how Sir Andrew actually acts? In your books, write down the differences you notice between what Sir Toby and Sir Andrew say. List 4 words to describe each character.

What Sir Andrew says:

By my troth, I would not undertake her in this
company. Is that the meaning of 'accost'?

Methinks sometimes I have no more wit
than a Christian or an ordinary man has: but I am a
great eater of beef and I believe that does harm to my wit.

What is 'Pourquoi'? do or not do? I would I had
bestowed that time in the tongues* that I have in
fencing, dancing and bear-baiting: O, had I but
followed the arts!

*’I would I had bestowed that time in tongues’
Sir Andrew is saying here that he wishes he had learned different languages.

What Sir Toby says about Sir Andrew:

Fie, that you'll say so! he plays o' the
viol-de-gamboys*, and speaks three or four
languages word for word without book, and hath
all the good gifts of nature.

*viol-de-gamboys
a musical instrument.