... the Christmas celebration. During this time period, this celebration consisted of people turning everything up side-down, much like the world of the Twelfth Night. This play is considered to be one of Shakespeare's transvestite plays. Female characters dress up as males and vice versa. These disguises add much confusion to the play. Most critics are very interested about Shakespeare's homoerotic references in ... make it again ingratiating (Wilson, 1962). He is able to penetrate all the masks of the others, and he succeeds in keeping his own. In addition to all the interesting character...

• Word Count: 3301
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography

Critical Analysis of Twelfth Night William Shakespeare Précis Characters: Orsino, Duke of Illyria. Is madly in love with Lady Olivia. He is a kind and gentle man. Viola/Cesario, Young girl who has found herself in Illyria after being shipwrecked. ... herself. There is apparent excessive sadness and longing in Olivia's mourning over her brother. Sebastian bemoans his sister's death in Act II, scene I. And it shows just how dearly these characters love one another. There is also some contemptuous feelings floating around in the scenes that portray Malvolio as a uppity sort, thus evoking hostili...

• Word Count: 4931
• Approx Pages: 20
• Grade Level: High School

... Days, an 8th-century (B.C.) description of rural life. 42. morning coat: a formal coat with tail. 52. dying fall: love-sick Duke Orsino's opening line in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, "That strain again! It had a dying fall" (I.i.1), referring to a piece of music. Cf. "Portrait of a Lady," line 122. 60. butt-ends: the ... courtiers. 117. high sentence: a phrase from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, meaning "elevated, serious and moral thoughts expressed formally." 119. the Fool: Shakespeare's plays have several characters called "the Fool," including the king's loyal servant and critic in King...

• Word Count: 6460
• Approx Pages: 26
• Grade Level: High School