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Presents the original text of Shakespeare's play side by side with a modern version, with marginal notes and explanations and full descriptions of each character.

SHAKESPEARE FOR THE MODERN READER Presented by John Burfeind Twelfth Night is a riotous romp on the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Beautiful Olivia, plucky Viola, and maudlin Orsino clumsily romance one another, while steering clear of the inebriated prankster Sir Toby Belch and his idiotic comrade-in-arms Sir Andrew Aguecheek. When Viola's twin brother unexpectedly shows up in the midst of one of Sir Toby's booze-fueled practical jokes, confusion and laughs abound! Familiarity with the plays of William Shakespeare has long been a sign of cultural literacy. For centuries, refined readers and theatergoers worldwide have savored the beauty of his poetry and drama. For the first time in 400 years, the meaning of his plays is accessible to the general public in Shakespeare For The Modern Reader. This unique new presentation allows the reader to enjoy a Shakespearean play in its original language with complete comprehension. Grab this book, set aside a few hours on a weekend, and have a wonderful time with the greatest writer in history!

1602 TWELFTH NIGHT; OR, WHAT YOU WILL by William Shakespeare DRAMATIS PERSONAE ORSINO, Duke of Illyria SEBASTIAN, brother of Viola ANTONIO, a sea captain, friend of Sebastian A SEA CAPTAIN, friend of Viola VALENTINE, gentleman attending on the Duke CURIO, gentleman attending on the Duke SIR TOBY BELCH, uncle of Olivia SIR ANDREW AGUECHEEK MALVOLIO, steward to Olivia FABIAN, servant to Olivia FESTE, a clown, servant to Olivia OLIVIA, a rich countess VIOLA, sister of Sebastian MARIA, Olivia's waiting woman Lords, Priests, Sailors, Officers, Musicians, and Attendants SCENE: A city in Illyria; and the sea-coast near it ACT I. SCENE I. The DUKE'S palace Enter ORSINO, Duke of Illyria, CURIO, and other LORDS; MUSICIANS attending DUKE. If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken and so die. That strain again! It had a dying fall; O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound That breathes upon a bank of violets, Stealing and giving odour! Enough, no more; 'Tis not so sweet now as it was before. O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou! That, notwithstanding thy capacity Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there, Of what validity and pitch soe'er, But falls into abatement and low price Even in a minute. So full of shapes is fancy, That it alone is high fantastical. CURIO. Will you go hunt, my lord? DUKE. What, Curio? CURIO. The hart. DUKE. Why, so I do, the noblest that I have. O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, Methought she purg'd the air of pestilence! That instant was I turn'd into a hart, And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds, E'er since pursue me. Enter VALENTINE How now! what news from her? VALENTINE. So please my lord, I might not be admitted, But from her handmaid do return this answer: The element itself, till seven years' heat, Shall not behold her face at ample view; But like a cloistress she will veiled walk, And water once a day her chamber round With eye-offending brine; all this to season A brother's dead love, which she would keep fresh And lasting in her sad remembrance. DUKE. O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame To pay this debt of love but to a brother, How will she love when the rich golden shaft Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else That live in her; when liver, brain, and heart, These sovereign thrones, are all supplied and fill'd, Her sweet perfections, with one self king! Away before me to sweet beds of flow'rs: Love-thoughts lie rich when canopied with bow'rs. Exeunt

Shakespeare everyone can understand--now in new DELUXE editions! Why fear Shakespeare? By placing the words of the original play next to line-by-line translations in plain English, these popular guides make Shakespeare accessible to everyone. They introduce Shakespeare's world, significant plot points, and the key players. And now they feature expanded literature guide sections that help students study smarter, along with links to bonus content on the Sparknotes.com website. A Q&A, guided analysis of significant literary devices, and review of the play give students all the tools necessary for understanding, discussing, and writing about Twelfth Night. The expanded content includes: Five Key Questions: Five frequently asked questions about major moments and characters in the play. What Does the Ending Mean?: Is the ending sad, celebratory, ironic . . . or ambivalent? Plot Analysis: What is the play about? How is the story told, and what are the main themes? Why do the characters behave as they do? Study Questions: Questions that guide students as they study for a test or write a paper. Quotes by Theme: Quotes organized by Shakespeare's main themes, such as love, death, tyranny, honor, and fate. Quotes by Character: Quotes organized by the play's main characters, along with interpretations of their meaning.

From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories, named 'the outstanding children's non-fiction author of the 20th century' by Books For Keeps _______________ Ideal for readers aged 7+ Jane and John have uncovered a wicked plot to steal the throne from Queen Elizabeth I of England while she watches a play. Can they stop it in time? Meanwhile, on stage, Olivia loves the boy Caesario, who is in fact not a boy but a girl, Viola. Viola loves Orsino but Orsino loves Olivia. What a tangle, what a jumble... Terry Deary's Shakespeare Tales explore the fascinating world of William Shakespeare through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. Join master storyteller Terry Deary for a trip back in time to Queen Elizabeth's court, where everyone is up to something and they could be up to no good! This edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period. _______________ 'Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical' - Books For Keeps

In the kingdom of Illyria, a love triangle has everyone on edge. Orsino loves Olivia, a bereaved noblewoman who is in mourning for her dead brother. Olivia loves Cesario, who is actually a woman named Viola. Viola had dressed as a man in order to gain employment in Orsino's household. Viola, of course, falls in love with Orsino, and he has no knowledge of the true identity of his "male" servant, Cesario. A romantic romp full of tricks, twists, and happy reunions, this unabridged version of William Shakespeare's classic comedy was first published in England in 1623.

End your struggle with the Bard’s prose and indulge in a romantic comedy that’s better than a soap opera. Shakespeare on the Double! Twelfth Night includes an easy-to-understand modern English translation alongside the original Shakespearian text so that you can read only the translation, read the translation with the original text, or tackle the original text, referring only to the translation when you’re stumped. A comprehensive character list describes the traits of each major character, a visual map depicts relationships, and review questions reinforce important information so you won’t miss the action.

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. In CliffsNotes on Twelfth Night, you follow several separate groups of characters whose stories are flawlessly woven together to produce one of Shakespeare's lightest, most popular, and most musical comedies—full of intricate plots and subplots and witty banter that only Shakespeare could write. Summaries and commentaries take you through Shakespeare's masterpiece, and character analyses of such memorable characters as Viola, Olivia, and Duke Orsino clue you in on their motivations. You also get these additional features: A section on the life and background of William Shakespeare A review section that tests your knowledge A selected bibliography Classic literature or modern-day treasure—you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

The Shakespearean plays contain a stunning breadth and depth of knowledge about English history, European royal history, classical and contemporary literature, and about the complex relationships between the various royal courts of the day. Authorship by the Elizabethan Court is therefore discernible based on content alone, that is, by what the plays revealed and just as importantly, what they threatened to reveal about international royal affairs if the will of Elizabeth was not respected. One of the most significant (and surprising) functions of the plays was to act as a type of "Defense Program" for Queen Elizabeth's throne against her European rivals. However, the plays also served to instill solidarity in the members of the Elizabethan Court and to inspire the English people as well. The plays accomplished all of this without coming across as overly pedantic. They were not merely great works of literature, but a brilliant expression of Elizabethan foreign and domestic policy! The story of Shakespeare turns out to be the story of Don Juan of Austria, from his princely legitimization as a boy; to liaisons with royals ladies from his teens; to being hailed at the age of 24 as “Savior of Europe” at the Battle of Lepanto (1571); to his suppression by jealous males of the Habsburg royal family (1578); and to his rehab by Queen Elizabeth under the English identity of George Carey. As George Carey, Don Juan had been present at the christening of his true son King James in Scotland (1566) and in command of the strategic Isle of Wight during the invasion of the Spanish Armada (1588). He was intimately involved in the founding of the Shakespeare Company both before and after becoming Queen Elizabeth’s “Lord Chamberlain.” The rise, fall and rising again of this international man of mystery was the central theme of the Shakespeare plays. He and Queen Elizabeth appear again and again in the plays, and under such character names as Claudio and Isabella in Measure for Measure; Claudio and Hero in Much Ado About Nothing; Claudius and Gertrude in Hamlet; Bassanio and Portia in The Merchant of Venice; Duke Theseus and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Petruchio and Kate in The Taming of the Shrew; and even Falstaff and Mistress Quickly of the Henry IV plays. Don Juan was the love of Queen Elizabeth’s life and she found a way to keep him near. Together they not only founded the Stuart Dynasty but became the progenitors of future generations of European royalty.

The Shakespearean plays contain a stunning breadth and depth of knowledge about English history, European royal history, classical and contemporary literature, and about the complex relationships between the various royal courts of the day. Authorship by the Elizabethan Court is therefore discernible based on content alone, that is, by what the plays revealed and just as importantly, what they threatened to reveal about international royal affairs if the will of Elizabeth was not respected. One of the most significant (and surprising) functions of the plays was to act as a type of "Defense Program" for Queen Elizabeth's throne against her European rivals. However, the plays also served to instill solidarity in the members of the Elizabethan Court and to inspire the English people as well. The plays accomplished all of this without coming across as overly pedantic. They were not merely great works of literature, but a brilliant expression of Elizabethan foreign and domestic policy! The story of Shakespeare turns out to be the story of Don Juan of Austria, from his princely legitimization as a boy; to liaisons with royals ladies from his teens; to being hailed at the age of 24 as “Savior of Europe” at the Battle of Lepanto (1571); to his suppression by jealous males of the Habsburg royal family (1578); and to his rehab by Queen Elizabeth under the English identity of George Carey. As George Carey, Don Juan had been present at the christening of his true son King James in Scotland (1566) and in command of the strategic Isle of Wight during the invasion of the Spanish Armada (1588). He was intimately involved in the founding of the Shakespeare Company both before and after becoming Queen Elizabeth’s “Lord Chamberlain.” The rise, fall and rising again of this international man of mystery was the central theme of the Shakespeare plays. He and Queen Elizabeth appear again and again in the plays, and under such character names as Claudio and Isabella in Measure for Measure; Claudio and Hero in Much Ado About Nothing; Claudius and Gertrude in Hamlet; Bassanio and Portia in The Merchant of Venice; Duke Theseus and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Petruchio and Kate in The Taming of the Shrew; and even Falstaff and Mistress Quickly of the Henry IV plays. Don Juan was the love of Queen Elizabeth’s life and she found a way to keep him near. Together they not only founded the Stuart Dynasty but became the progenitors of future generations of European royalty.