Characters:

Understanding who is who and their relationships

Name Who is this person (their job/role in the play/who they Who do they love
are)

Viola Viola appears as a servant of the Duke of Orsino with  Duke Orsino
male disguised (Cesario). She loves Duke Orsino.

Disguised as Cesario – a page boy

Orsino Powerful nobleman  Lady Olivia

Bachelor – Duke – Lord of Illyria Lady – Countess Olivia
Viola

Lady Olivia Countess  Cesario

Niece/ Cousin of Sir Toby
Lady Olivia is a beautiful lady, she is wealthy.
Noble brith who lives in Illyria

Cesario  Disguise as a young man named Cesario after being  Olivia

shipwrecked.

Malvolio  Head of servant  Olivia

Maria’s boss
 

Language devices:
Device Definition Effect

Metaphor Suggests that something is Think about what comparison is being made and
something else. how these two ideas link positively or negatively.
How might it exaggerate the characters emotions
or relationships with others. How might it
highlight the significance of this 'something' that is
being spoken about metaphorically.

Personification Gives human characteristics to
non-human objects/ideas.
Think about what comparison is being made and
how these two ideas link positively or negatively.
How might it exaggerate the characters emotions
or relationships with others. How might it
highlight the significance of this non-human
object/idea.

Similes Compares something to Think about what comparison is being made and
something else using 'like' or how these two ideas link positively or negatively.
'as'. How might it exaggerate the characters emotions
or relationships with others. How might it
highlight the significance of this 'something' that is
 being spoken about figuratively.

Alliteration The occurrence of the same
letter or sound at the beginning
of closely connected words
(doesn't just have to be in the
same sentence though).
Often used to highlight the importance of a
particular idea or to create a sense of emotion or
rhythm. Can reflect how the speaker is really
thinking about the topic that they are speaking
about.

Emotive Language that creates or shows Can often be used to express an emotion or
language a strong emotion. feeling, to create a sense of significance on the
idea/thing that is being described. It may try to
effect the audience too.

Imagery When an image is created by a Can often be used to express an emotion or

clear and poetic description of feeling, to create a sense of significance on the
something. idea/thing that is being described. It may try to
effect the audience too.

Rhyming Where two words at the end of Often poetic/associated with love or strong
couplets a line rhyme/have a similar emotion. Also, it can highlight these words that
sound. rhyme, suggesting they are important to the
speaker.

Symbolism When an object or thing is used Can often be used to express an emotion or
to talk about a different idea. feeling, to create a sense of significance on the
idea/thing that is being described. It may try to
effect the audience too.

Repetition When a word is repeated Often used to highlight the importance of a

particular idea or to create a sense of emotion or
rhythm. Can reflect how the speaker is really
thinking about the topic that they are speaking
about or how they cannot find any other word, as
they feel so strongly.

Punctuation Commas, full stops, dashes etc. Can give you an indication of how the character is
speaking with emotion or their thoughts on a
specific topic/person. If there is a dash, it even
suggests that character has been cut off.

Pronouns Words like my, I, they, she, he. These can show selfishness, selflessness, strong
emotions towards oneself/other people etc. If
pronouns like she/he are used they could present
negative feelings as they cannot bare to say the
person's name.
 Dramatic irony When the audience knows
something that the characters
don't.
Often used so that the audience react emotionally
e.g. laugh. Can present certain characters in a
particular way e.g. as not to be trusted or as being
in an awkward situation or as being silly because
they are unaware.

Rhetorical When they ask a question but This is because they know the answer but cannot
question don't expect an answer. understand it, perhaps out of
disbelief/disgust/shock or some other emotion.
They feel strongly about the topic for the question
and want to understand why it is this way or
perhaps they don't like the answer and are trying
to think of something different.

Lists A number of connected items
or names written or printed
consecutively, typically one
below the other.
Quotation From and what is happening
Lists are used to further the description of
something or to highlight a specific emotion
towards something. Consider what is being listed
and how it adds to the description within the
scene. What ideas or feelings it highlights.
Language and effect

‘My master loves her Act 2, Scene 2- Viola speaking about how  
dearly, / And I, poor ________ loves ________ but
monster, fond as ____________ loves her.
much on him, / And
she, mistaken, seems
to dote on me.’

'I left no ring with Act 2, Scene 2- Viola speaking about how  
her. What means this _________ gave her a _________ to get her
lady?' to ___________ her again.

'By maidhood, Act 3, Scene 1- Olivia is speaking about how  

honour, truth and she ____________ Viola and how Viola
every thing,/ should ____________ her back and not
I love thee so, that, worry about her _________________ to
maugre all thy Orsino.
pride,/
Nor wit nor reason
can my passion hide.'

'By innocence I Act 3, Scene 1- Viola is speaking about how  

swear, and by my she doesn't ________________ Olivia and
youth/ swears that she _____________ will.
I have one heart, one
bosom and one
truth,'
 
Further revision if needed:
https://www.rsc.org.uk/shakespeare-learning-zone/twelfth-night/language/analysis