Gilbert: Freshman Studies: Fall 99: Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

Gilbert: Freshman Studies: Fall 99:
Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

Discussion questions for Friday, November 12:

OK. Here's the deal. I have to be at an all-day meeting in Milwaukee (although I'd much rather be here). What I'd like you to do is meet without me and discuss the following questions (or as many as you can get to in 70 minutes). Then I'd like each of you (by 7am on Monday the 15th) to send me an e-mail containing, 1) a summary of the discussion, and 2) your responses to the questions (whether or not you get to them on Friday).

What did you learn about the work of the actor during our session on Wednesday?

What surprised you during the session?

Have your feelings about Feste and Malvolo changed?

Matt focused on Act 4, Scene 2. Are there other scenes that would work as well to demonstrate what he wished to demonstrate? What scene(s) (if any)?
How would you stage Act 4, Scene 2?
Some things to consider (but not answer specifically): Why can't Malvolio see Feste? Is Malvolio hanging on the wall? Is the stage dark? Where are the two in relation to one another? Would you play Sir Topas as a televangelist? Do you want the audience to pity Malvolio or jeer at him?

And left over from last week:

From the start, it's clear that love is a major theme of the play. What do these main characters (Orsino, Olivia, Viola, Malvolio) have to say about love? Do their actions consistently reflect their words?
Orsino loves Olivia who doesn't love him. Olivia loves Viola who loves Orsino. Malvolio falls in love with Olivia and really wants to believe she's in love with him. What's going on with these people? Does Orsino really love Olivia? If so, why? If not, who (or what) is he in love with? Why does Olivia suddenly fall in love with Viola/Cesario? Why is Viola (after only three days) set on Orsino? What's with Malvolio?

revised: 10-Nov-1999