Product Description

A new edition of this popular play which takes into account the work of the Shakespeare and Schools Project, the national curriculum for English, developments at GCSE and A-level, and the probable development of English and Drama throughout the 1990s. Cambridge School Shakespeare considers Twelfth Night as theatre and its text as script, enabling students to inhabit the imaginative world of the play in an accessible, meaningful and creative way. It approaches the play in a new way, encouraging students to participate actively in examining it, to work in groups as well as individually, to treat the play as a script to be re-created, and to explore the theatrical/dramatic qualities of the text. The editorial comments cater for pupils of all ages and abilities, providing clear, helpful guidelines for school study. The format is also designed to help teachers, whether experienced or inexperienced.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #408980 in Books
• Published on: 1993-10-14
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
One of Shakespeare's finest comedies, Twelfth Night was written at the same time as Hamlet and Troilus and Cressida, and whilst it shares their fascination with sex, death and confused identities, its exuberant comedy and linguistic inventiveness rises above the introspection of these plays. Viola and her twin brother Sebastian are separated in a storm, which washes them both up at different points on the shores of Illyria. Believing each other to be dead, both attempt to survive by using their wits. Viola cross-dresses and enters the service of the lovesick Orsino, in love with Olivia, an heiress in mourning for the loss of her brother. Orsino's saucy young page Cesario (Viola) soon falls in love with "his" master, who tells "him", "all is semblative a woman's part". Unfortunately, whilst Viola falls in love with Orsino, Olivia falls in love with her alter ego, Cesario, whilst also being pursued at the same time by her pompous servant Malvolio. Olivia's house is also turned upside down by the antics of her drunken uncle, Sir Toby Belch, and the whole crazy situation reaches boiling point when Sebastian reappears.

Despite the madcap plot, Twelfth Night remains one of Shakespeare's most complex and inventive comedies, fascinated with questions of cross-dressing, gender confusion, language and inversion, as well as retaining a darker edge to some of its laughter. --Jerry Brotton

From the Back Cover
A popular, light-hearted and musical comedy, Twelfth Night continues to delight audiences all over the world. In this comedy, concealed identities bring out some very funny human foibles.

The CliffsComplete Twelfth Night is a revised and expanded study edition. It contains Shakespeare's original play, a glossary and expert commentary in a unique, 2-column format. To enhance your learning, notes and definitions appear directly opposite the line in which they occur and a review section follows the play. This edition also introduces you to the life, works and times of William Shakespeare.

About the Author
Roger Warren is Senior Lecturer in English at the University of Leicester. He has worked with the RSC, at Stratford Ontario, and in particularly with Peter Hall on the season of late Shakespeare plays at the National Theatre, and on recent RSC productions. Stanley Wells, General Editor of the whole Oxford Shakespeare series, is Chairman of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon.

Customer Reviews

A fine play and a user friendly edition.
This is the edition if you are new to Shakespeare. It presents the play in an easy to understand way with useful notes and commentary. However it is overtly simplistic and lacks the in depth analysis that this great play deserves.
This is one of Shakespeare's most interesting and entertaining comedies. Enjoy.

An Excellent Shakespeare
As an A-level student I wasn't particularly looking forward to studying yet another Shakespeare... but this one really is great. Full of so many twists and the love triangle between Viola, Olivia and Orsino, an excellent and not too difficult read, with a happy ending as well

Recommended - and I'm not really a fan.
I have always found Shakespeare very difficult. The scenarios are unusual, the humour often completely escapes me and things have changed a great deal since the days of Mr. Shakespeare, both in terms of language and society. 'Twelfth Night' was unlikely to win my affection. Where this book scores is in its dedication to putting this play into a context that we can understand today. It offers definitions of words no longer in the English vocabulary (and believe me, there are plenty!) and the book also gives us background information about Shakespeare; his era, his methods and the fictional world in which he set his plays, Illyria. In spite of all this, though, I am still pretty baffled by this play. Maybe you will feel differently.