Twelfth Night Essays

Use the models below to help you reframe your essays. Many of you were too vague in your introductions, which led to essays without enough depth of analysis. Once you have added more substance to your introduction, then you can use that precise argument to add more specificity to your topic sentences and more depth to your commentary/analysis.

1. Theme of Love

Model Introduction

As Shakespeare’s play, Twelfth Night, plunges into a state of widespread misperception and disorderly behavior, the power of love rescues the unruly characters from the chaos and restores order to their lives and to their kingdom. Before the misguided characters learn moderation and accurate perception, they reveal their opposing perceptions of love. Shakespeare weaves these diverse views of love into the overall chaos and then reconciles the opposing pairs in the final act with three marriages. Through the general clamor, the contrasting views of Viola and Duke Orsino emerge as the focus of the play. The Duke, wallowing in the misery of his unrequited love for Olivia, must learn how misguided his understanding of love is in order to find himself a proper queen and to reestablish his rule of Illyria. Viola, disguised as a the page Cesario, teaches the Duke the truth about love and ultimately fills the position as Duchess of Illyria.

Sample Outline

I. Introduction: (see the model above)

II. Definition of Romance

a. topic sentence

b. keep your definition focused on topics that you will cover in the essay, but be sure to include the basics (see the first paragraph in the Romance Key Concepts link)

III. The Duke’s misperception of love

a. topic sentence

b. intro to the quotation (background info)

c. specific example or quotation (use something from his conversations with Viola where he reveals his superficiality, like when he insists that Cesario love a younger woman because her beauty will fade when she’s older or when he argues that men love more passionately than women)

d. commentary/analysis (3 to 4 sentences)

i. your commentary should add depth and layers to the central argument you have proposed in your introduction

IV. Viola’s constancy

a. topic sentence

b. intro to the quotation (background info)

c. specific example or quotation

d. commentary/analysis (3 to 4 sentences)

i. your commentary should add depth and layers to the central argument you have proposed in your introduction

V. How Viola educates the Duke

a. topic sentence

b. intro to the quotation (background info)

c. specific example or quotation

d. commentary/analysis (3 to 4 sentences)

i. your commentary should add depth and layers to the central argument you have proposed in your introduction

VI. You might add one other view of love (like Feste’s or Olivia’s (if you choose someone besides Feste, move the paragraph to a spot earlier in the essay))—This paragraph is an extra if you want paragraph

a. topic sentence

b. intro to the quotation (background info)

c. specific example or quotation

d. commentary/analysis (3 to 4 sentences)

i. your commentary should add depth and layers to the central argument you have proposed in your introduction

VII. The Politics of Romance (if not covered in your second paragraph)

VIII. Conclusion

2. Feste

Model Introduction

Feste, the fool, is central to Shakespeare’s play, Twelfth Night, because his witty words reveal the truth even if they also create disorder and chaos. Ironically, the rampant disorder of Illyria would never be reined in without Feste; the Duke would never be able to reestablish his position as the rightful ruler of Illyria without the slanted, yet piercingly perceptive words of the fool. As Feste sparks frustration, love, and disorderly behavior, he also pushes the major characters along the path of education and knowledge leading to the final resolution of order and marriage.

3. Irony & Opposites

Model Introduction

Shakespeare bases his entire play, Twelfth Night, on the discrepancy between appearance and reality. The ensuing ironies, paradoxes, and reversals not only add humor, but complexity to the play; the rampant disorder of Illyria can only be remedied through the leadership of a perceptive, focused, balanced duke, or perhaps a countess in disguise. Shakespeare brings resolution to the chaos by revealing the truth behind the central irony of the heroine’s disguise as Cesario, a young page to the Duke.

Sample Outline

I. Introduction: (see the model above)

II. Dramatic Irony

a. topic sentence

b. intro to the quotation (background info)

c. specific example or quotation (Viola conversing with the Duke or Olivia)

d. commentary/analysis (3 to 4 sentences)

i. your commentary should add depth and layers to the central argument you have proposed in your introduction

III. Foils or Paradox

e. topic sentence

f. intro to the quotation (background info)

g. specific example or quotation

h. commentary/analysis (3 to 4 sentences)

i. your commentary should add depth and layers to the central argument you have proposed in your introduction

IV. Reversal

i. topic sentence

j. intro to the quotation (background info)

k. specific example or quotation

l. commentary/analysis (3 to 4 sentences)

i. be sure that your commentary discusses how the reversal leads to the final resolution of the play. With the reversal, the ironies are reconciled and order is restored.

ii. your commentary should add depth and layers to the central argument you have proposed in your introduction

V. Conclusion