Twelfth Night

Title: Twelfth Night

Author: William Shakespeare

Publisher: Oxford /Barron’s Educational Series

Number of pages: 248

Type of Book: Classic, Fiction, Play

Age: 8+

Buy it here: http://product.chelisbookazine.com/product/shakespeare-made-easy-twelfth-night/; http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812036042/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0812036042&linkCode=as2&tag=shakespearmadeea&linkId=BMMVT7LQHMDWJHSK; free download here (unabridged version for older readers): http://shakespeare.mit.edu/twelfth_night/full.html

Price: N1440; $6.99

MY SUMMARY

Yet another play featuring a shipwreck, twins and a comic case of mistaken identity. Viola and her twin brother Sebastian are lost at sea after a shipwreck. Viola lands at Illyria and disguised as a boy (Cesario) goes to work for and falls in love with Duke Orsino. The Duke meanwhile is madly in love with the Countess Olivia and sends his trusted servant Cesario (Viola) to woo her on his behalf. In an interesting turn of events, the Countess falls in love with Cesario (Viola) creating a comic love triangle. Read the book to see how this love triangle is resolved and the chaos that ensues when Sebastian shows up at Duke Orsino’s court!

THUMBS UP AND DOWN

UP: Humour! As usual, the case of mistaken identity caused by identical twins made for hearty laughter. The characters made this book a delightful read. The major highlight was Viola. Her asides were entertaining. The love-struck Duke Orsino was a highlight too. His silliness was comical. A noteworthy feature of this book is the use of simple, modern English (instead of Shakespeare’s Elizabethan English) thus making it an easy read for young readers. Again, I recommend for all the members of the family.

DOWN: None

RATING

5 Stars

TRIVIA

There was a love ‘triangle’ in this play? Viola loved Duke Orsino who loved Olivia who loved Viola (Cesario).
Who was Cesario? Viola dressed as a boy.
Why was the Countess Olivia uninterested in the Duke’s affection/suit? Because she had lost her father and brother and was determined to mourn for 7 years!
This person wore yellow stockings cross, was rude to the servants and smiled like a fool at Olivia because he believed Olivia had written a love letter to him. Malvolio, Olivia’s annoying and pompous steward
Who wrote the love letter in No. 4 and who conspired with her? Maria, Olivia’s servant; Sir Toby, Olivia’s drunken uncle; his friend Sir Andrew, and Feste, Olivia’s clown.
Why was this play written? As entertainment for the Twelfth night of Christmas (the end of the Christmas season) in either 1601/1602[1]

Visit William Shakespeare here: http://www.shakespeare-online.com

CHALLENGE: Twelfth Night

CREATE (WRITE a Story/Poem OR DRAW)

Write a 600-word essay on love triangles. (8 – 9 year olds)

Write a 1000-word essay on the Twelve days of Christmas (10-12 year olds)

Send your answers to ugochinyelu.anidi@gmail.com

Entry requirements: Entrants must be within the 8-12 age range. The first correct entry will be announced on this page and will win a copy of this book.

Answers must be submitted before 12:00am on Sunday, May 22^nd 2016.

Next Book of the Week:

A WINTER’S TALE by William Shakespeare