When was the Twelfth Night written?
1601
Twelfth Night/Date written
Why did Shakespeare write 12th night?
Scholars think Shakespeare wrote Twelfth Night sometime in 1601. It is thought that the monarch at the time, Queen Elizabeth I, commissioned the play to be written so it could be performed as part of her festivities to celebrate the Christian holiday of Twelfth Night.
When was Twelfth Night written and first performed?
Shakespeare probably wrote Twelfth Night in 1601–02; its earliest recorded performance was in February 1602. It appears in the 1623 First Folio. Sources include Plautus’s Menaechmi and “Apolonius and Silla” in Barnabe Riche’s His Farewell to the Military Profession.
Why does Twelfth Night have two titles?
Regardless of whether or not Shakespeare was being dismissive or flippant, the second title seems to invite the audience to make “what [we] will” of the play – what it means, why it matters (if it matters at all), and so forth.
What does 12th night signify?
The title of Twelfth Night refers to the twelfth night of Christmas, also referred to as the eve of Epiphany, a day that commemorates the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus and is often celebrated with a temporary suspension of rules and social orders.
Who was on the throne when Twelfth Night was written?
Twelfth Night had its world premiere probably in 1601. No less than England’s reigning monarch at the time, Queen Elizabeth I, commissioned the play from William Shakespeare as part of her festivities to end the Christmastide season. This final celebration of the holidays was known as Twelfth Night.
What is the love triangle in Twelfth Night?
The love triangle is complete: Viola loves Orsino, Orsino loves Olivia, and Olivia loves Cesario—and everyone is miserable.
What is Twelfth Night’s alternate title?
Twelfth Night, or What You Will
Twelfth Night is about illusion, deception, disguises, madness, and the extraordinary things that love will cause us to do—and to see. Twelfth Night is the only one of Shakespeare’s plays to have an alternative title: the play is actually called Twelfth Night, or What You Will.
What kind of comedy is Twelfth Night about?
For a discussion of this play within the context of Shakespeare’s entire corpus, see William Shakespeare: Shakespeare’s plays and poems. 1597–98), and Twelfth Night (1600–01)—are comedies of intrigue, fast-moving, often farcical, and placing a high premium on wit.
When was Twelfth Night written by William Shakespeare?
Twelfth Night, or What You Will is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night’s entertainment for the close of the Christmas season.
Who are the main characters in Twelfth Night?
Named for the twelfth night after Christmas, the end of the Christmas season, Twelfth Night plays with love and power. The Countess Olivia, a woman with her own household, attracts Duke (or Count) Orsino. Two other would-be suitors are her pretentious steward, Malvolio, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek.
Who is Viola in the play Twelfth Night?
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.