Twelfth Night: Character Analysis
In 2-3 TYPED pages address the following:
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Introduction – Who is your character and what is your scene about? (Be sure to mention
the author and title of the book, and give a brief summary of the plot.)
1st body - What does your character want (What is the subtext/motivation)? (MUST
include evidence from the text- 1 quote)
2nd body - Does the character get what he/she wants? If so, how? If not, how does your
character handle the complications? (MUST include evidence- 1 quote)
3rd body – What is noticeable about the way your character speaks? (2 quotes total)
o Does your character speak in verse or prose? Why does he/she use that
medium? (Do they switch between the two? Why?) (1 quote)
o If you speak in verse, does your character break from perfect iambic
pentameter? If so, on what word and why? OR Are there any short lines or
shared lines? Why? (1 quote)
o If you speak in prose, do you use any rhetorical devices? (antithesis, puns,
malapropisms, repetition, rhetorical questions, similes, metaphors, stichomythia,
hyperbole, etc)? Why does you character use them and what effect do they
have? (1 quote)
4th body - What is noticeable about the way your character speaks? (2 quotes total)
o Are your character's thoughts long drawn out or short and choppy (look at the
punctuation)? (1 quote)
o Does your character use formal/informal pronouns or language (you vs. thou)?
(1 quote)
Conclusion
o Overall, what do you think about your character? What did you learn from
playing that role?
Be sure to use MLA format. Be sure that your body paragraphs have a clear Topic
Sentence. Be sure to cite evidence properly and lead into quotes with Background (see
handout). All quotes should have sufficient analysis afterwards. Remember the TBEAR
format.
T – Topic Sentence
B – Background – what is the context of the situation, and who is the speaker?
E – Evidence - the quote
A – Analysis – sentences that explain what the quote shows
R – Return to thesis/topic sentence – concluding statement about the point you are making
Sample paragraph
With the way Lord Capulet is speaking in Act 1 Scene 5, the reader can see he is clearly
upset. Although he typically speaks in perfect iambic pentameter at the start of the scene, he
begins to break the rhythm when speaking to his nephew Tybalt. For example, after Tybalt sees
Romeo at the party, he wants to fight him, but Lord Capulet refuses to allow it. When Tybalt
dares to question his uncle's decision, Capulet says, "I'll make you quiet. What! -- Cheerly, my
hearts" (I.v.89)! The break from iambic pentameter on the word "Cheerly" shows how flustered
he is. He is simultaneously yelling at Tybalt while trying to seem jovial to his guests,
encouraging them to have a good time. He is trying to keep up a good appearance, despite the
anger he is feeling, and that throws him off a bit. Furthermore when Tybalt dares to tell
Capulet, "I'll not endure him," Capulet immediately responds with, "He shall be endured"
(I.v.77). This perfectly shared line of iambic pentameter indicates the speed of his response. He
refuses to tolerate disobedience and disrespect, and quickly puts an end to the conversation. At
the end of this scene, one realizes that Lord Capulet is not a man to be contradicted.