Twelfth Night

HUMOUR & COMEDY After surviving a shipwreck off the coast of Illyria, Viola disguises herself as a boy to get a position at the court of Duke Orsino, who is in love with beautiful Olivia. Unknown to Viola, her twin brother Sebastian has also survived the shipwreck. When he too arrives in Illyria, confusion and misunderstandings follow. After many cases of mistaken identity, who will be lucky in love? The lovesick Duke, mournful Olivia or practical Viola? Dossiers: The Meaning of Twelfth Night Shakespeare and Elizabethan Theatre

This volume includes the text of Twelfth Night as prepared and annotated by David Swain for The Broadview Anthology of British Literature, and is accompanied by the excellent introduction and supplementary materials from the anthology. The diverse and extensive appendices acquaint readers with Shakespeare’s sources and contextualize the play within Elizabethan society. The appendices include an excerpt from Barnabe Riche’s “Of Apollonius and Silla,” Shakespeare’s primary source of inspiration for the play; selections from Galen, Plato, and others illustrating Elizabethan attitudes toward gender and sexuality; excerptions illuminating contemporary moral discomfort with the theatre, such as Philip Stubbes’s “Of Stage-plays and Interludes, with their wickedness”; and pieces on music and duelling that illustrate cultural conventions important to the interpretation of Twelfth Night. This is one of several Broadview Anthology of British Literature Editions being released this year; those wishing to teach the text will have the option of including the convenient stand-alone book as part of a specially-priced shrink-wrapped package together with a volume of the anthology.

Twelfth Night is a comedy in five acts written by William Shakespeare. This play was written about 1600–02 and printed in 1623. Regarded by many as one of Shakespeare’s finest comedies, Twelfth Night appeared before the playwright went on to pen several tragedies and serious plays. Play begins with the scene in which Sebastian and Viola, the twins, are separated during a shipwreck. Each one believes the other dead. Viola disguises herself as a boy named Cesario and enters the service of Duke Orsino, who thinks he is in love with the lady Olivia. Orsino sends Viola-Cesario to plead his cause to Olivia, who promptly falls in love with the messenger. Viola, meanwhile, is in love with Orsino, and, when her twin, Sebastian, is rediscovered, many comic situations of mistaken identity ensue. Twelfth Night deals with some serious themes and various forms of love, romantic, family and even the love of love are all presented. At the same time, there is the question of appearance and reality which is shown through the actions of Olivia’s steward Malvolio.

Shakespeare's classic comedy specially retold for children growing in reading confidence and ability. When Viola is left shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, she must disguise herself as a boy for protection. But when she becomes a page for Duke Orsino, things start to get a little complicated. "Crack reading and make confident and enthusiastic readers with this fantastic reading programme." - Julia Eccleshare

A retelling in rhymed couplets of Shakespeare's comedy about the loves of the twins Viola and Sebastian is accompanied by illustrations created by second-graders