This assignment requires students to read the play, Twelfth Night; or What You Will, and choose one of five contexts to research. Students will consult the works of historians and literary scholars in order to develop an original argument about the play.

Deliverables

Research paper (1250 to 1500 words)

Activity Details

Perform the following tasks.

Step 1: Research a specific context and develop an original argument.
Select one of the following five contexts in which to research the play:

Textual history
Author
Genre
Reception
Cultural background

Consult at least five approved sources, including the works of historians and literary scholars, as part of your research. Incorporate these resources into an original argument to help understand the play better.

You must start by analyzing the play's themes and characters. Develop your own interpretations BEFORE you go and start doing research. If you don't, it will be easy to accept the numerous interpretations you find. Once you decide on a crucial theme or character, decide which context would best help give that theme and character meaning.

Consider these questions when you work on your paper:

Which characters do you think Shakespeare most identified with? Why?
How does Twelfth Night play with the conventions of theatrical comedy?
How the play was initially received? Where was it first performed? What does that say about its purpose?
How do the play's representations of gender reflect or comment on Elizabethan ideas of gender?

Compose your essay using Microsoft Word. Your final essay should be between 1250 and 1500 words in length. For more specific details on this assignment, refer to the Twelfth Night Research Paper Specifications handout.

Twelfth Night Research Paper Outline

I. Thesis Statement:

Is Twelfth Night Predominantly a Romantic Comedy or Predominantly a Satire? The comic plot that involves Malvolio turns out to be a perverse reflection of the romantic plot between the Duke and Olivia.

II. Explain the romantic plot.

PART A: An aristocratic man falls in love with a countess.

1. The Duke has set his eyes on Olivia and desires to be with her.
2. The Duke initially expresses his feeling using poetic lines.

PART B. Cesario acts as a link between Olivia and the Duke.

1. Cesario practically compliments the Duke's romantic behavior.
2. Cesario plays a major role in wooing Olivia on behalf of the Duke.

PART C. The Duke's love faces rejection from Olivia.

1. Olivia finds it hard to love the duke while mourning her brother's death.
2. Oliviafalls in love with Cesario.

III. Explain the comic plot.

PART A: Maria plots to gull Malvolio.

1. Malvolio's love has no genuine source; it is as a result of scheme.
2. The letter that Maria left is falsified.

PART B: Malvolio finds the falsified letter.

1. The falsified letter seems to be in Olivia's hand.
2. The letter commands Malvolio to adopt peculiar behaviors.

PART C: Malvolio proceeds under the influence of a devious trick.

1. Malvolio thinks Olivia is in love with him.

IV. Malvolio's love is a perversion of the Duke's and Olivia's.

PART A: Malvolio's love is an artificial fantasy

1. Olivia has no intention of loving Malvolio

PART B: Orsino is truly in love with Olivia.

1. The love feelings of Orsino towards Olivia have a genuine source.
2. Orsino has an effort of truly courting a woman.

PART C: Malvolio winds up humiliated.

1. Malvolio isolates himself with a sense of being abused.
2. Malvolio finally finds himself humiliated

V. Conclusion

To the extent that the schemers are cruel, Malvolio's love for Olivia is perverse. Love cannot thrive in an atmosphere of ill will. Although one may argue that Twelfth Night contains many features that are typical of romantic comedies, it can be more accurately described as a satire, parodying such conventions. Shakespeare has purposely written a romantic comedy with the intent of highlighting the absurdity of the genre. It could be said that Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy but the term ‘satire' is more fitting as the play exposes the stupidity of techniques associated with romantic comedy.