TWELFTH NIGHT

1. "With the exception of Feste, all the inhabitants of Illyria strike us as being very
foolish."

Write an essay in which you discuss the nature of the folly that grips Olivia,
Orsino, and Malvolio and show each of these individuals the folly of their
behaviour. You should explain how Feste contributes to the prevailing comic
tone of the play.

2. "Much of the comedy in Twelfth Night depends on disguise, mistaken identity,

and false posturing."

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Write an essay in which you explain why Viola puts on a disguise, and identify

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TWO problematic (and humorous) situations the disguise creates for her. You
should show how Viola's disguise serves to reveal the truth about each of

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these characters to the audience, if not to themselves; Sir Andrew, Olivia and
Orsino.

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3. Shakespeare's Twelfth Night focuses on the use of disguise.

Write an essay in which you describe two different incidents in the play in
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which disguise is used. In this essay, choose one of the incidents and describe
the dramatic effect it has on the play and discuss one dramatic technique that
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Shakespeare employs to add to the dramatic effect.

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4. Twelfth Night's major theme is love.

Write an essay in which you highlight two different kinds of love. In your essay,
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you must also explain the effect of one type of love on the characters involved
and discuss the dramatic effect the situation, in which the type of love
described above, has on the play.
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5. Viola is very significant to the development of the play.

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Write an essay in which you describe Viola's role in the play and discuss the
dramatic effect her character has in the play and discuss one theme that
comes out of her character interacting with other characters in the play.

6. Feste the jester has been called the mastermind and controller of the play.

Write an essay in which you discuss the role of Feste in the play. In this essay,
you must also discuss the extent to which you agree with the statement above
and what dramatic effect Feste has in the play.

7. Twelfth Night is more of a comedy than a love story.

 Write an essay in which you describe one incident of comedy and one incident
of love. In your essay, discuss to what extent you agree with the statement
above.

8. Music plays an integral role in the play.

Write an essay in which you describe two instances in which music is used in
the play. In your essay, choose one of the selected instances and discuss the
dramatic effect it has on the scene and discuss one theme that comes out of
that event in which music is used.

9. Twelfth Night is a painful comedy.

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Write an essay in which you describe two different instances of comedy. In this

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essay, discuss the effect that humour has on the audience in each instance
described stating to what extent you find the play is actually a painful comedy.

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10. Twelfth Night's major theme is deception.

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Write an essay in which you describe two different instances of deception. In
this essay, discuss the effect that one type of deception has on the play and
discuss one dramatic technique Shakespeare employs to help develop the
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theme of deception.
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11. Twelfth Night is a play that displays the theme of journey by means of
experience and maturity.
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Write an essay in which you identify two characters who were initially blinded
by their own limitations and in this essay show how they changed at the end.
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Finally, discuss the dramatic effect of one of the characters' journey on the
play.

12. Malvolio indeed has been notoriously abused.

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Write an essay in which you describe how Malvolio is humiliated in the play.
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Discuss how far you agree with the statement and examine one theme that
comes out of his humiliation.
ANANSI

Write an essay based on one of the following questions.

1) “Anansi is a trickster character who occupies a morally ambiguous position in

many tales.”
Write an essay in which you describe TWO instances in the Forest of Stories that
proves Anansi’s moral ambiguity. You must also analyse how the TWO tales are used
to suggest that Anansi’s wit is something positive in the play. Finally, comment on
Campbell’s use of ONE device to characterise Anansi as a trickster.
35 marks

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2) "Anansi is a play that is built on the depiction of binary opposites.”
Write an essay in which you describe TWO contrasts in the play. The essay must also

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explore TWO similarities between the enslaved Africans and the English crew. Finally,
analyze the playwright’s use of ONE device to expose the depravity of the slave trade

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system.

35 marks

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3) “The characters in Campbell’s Anansi are connected by the web of stories.”
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Write an essay in which you describe TWO Anansi stories in the play. The significance
of EACH tale to the Girl on board the ship must be analysed. Furthermore, ONE
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Anansi tale and ONE English story presented in the play must be contrasted.
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35 marks

4) “History serves as an inspiration for Campbell’s Anansi.”

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Write an essay in which you describe the historically significant description of the
treatment of the enslaved Africans on the ship. In this essay, the description of the
enslaved Africans by the English and the irony of the name of the ship, The Good
Ship Hope crew must be analysed.
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35 marks
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5) “History and Literature have a didactic purpose; teaching important moral

lessons.”
Write an essay in which you describe TWO events in the play, Anansi by Alistair
Campbell, that has a moral lesson for the reading audience. In your essay, ONE rebel
character must be described and how their rebellion is significant. Finally, comment
on the playwright’s use of the spider web to explore the significance of stories.

35 marks
6) “Power is a major theme in Campbell’s Anansi.”

Write an essay in which you describe TWO incidents in which power and authority are
used in the play. In this essay, you must also discuss how ONE of the Anansi stories
furthers the exploration of the use of power. Finally, examine one dramatic technique
used by the playwright to explore the issue of power.

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7) “Rebels are the people who refuse the seen for the unseen."

Write an essay in which you describe TWO incidents in which characters in the play

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favoured the unseen over the seen. In this essay, you must also discuss how this
form of rebellion affects ONE character and comment on the effectiveness of ONE

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device used by Campbell in the play to explore the theme of rebellion

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8) "Anansi goes beyond a creative retelling of history to explore the common
traits of humanity."

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Write an essay in which you compare TWO characters in the play and highlight their
commonalities and differences. In this essay, you must also discuss how what
characters say about Christianity how religion is used to both justify and challenge
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the slave trade system. Finally, comment on the effectiveness of ONE device used by
Campbell in the play to explore the oppression of the enslaved Africans.
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9) Write an essay describing TWO incidents in which conflict is presented with the
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hero or heroine in the play. In this essay, you must also discuss how the hero or
heroine is affected by ONE of the incidents and identify ONE dramatic technique that
Campbell uses to highlight the theme of power and manipulation in the play.
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10) Write an essay in which you describe the relationship between TWO females in the
play. In this essay, you must also discuss how the relationship between TWO male
characters compares to theirs. In one of the relationships described, examine ONE
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dramatic technique that Campbell uses to present the nature of the relationship in the
play.
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11) “Survival is a dominant theme in Campbell’s Anansi.”

Write an essay in which you describe how TWO different characters plan to survive. In
this essay, discuss how ONE character uses Anansi stories to help them to survive.
Finally, comment on the effective use of ONE dramatic device used to explore the
theme of survival.

12) “Campbell’s manipulation of setting is central to the creation of meaning in the

play, Anansi.”
Write an essay in which you describe the two juxtaposed settings in the play and
discuss the significance of the Forest of Stories. Finally, comment on how the setting
helps develop one theme in the play.

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