Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Hot gossip!
TWELFTH NIGHT… OR ALL THE
GOSSIP
Fresh in murmur
‘What great ones do the less will
prattle of’
So much happens
in the first few acts
of Twelfth Night
that the audience
are thrown into
the events and
swept along with
what is going on in
Illyria.
Your task is to write
an article in the
style of a popular
gossip magazine,
filled to the brim
with exciting and
important details of
the rich and
illustrious people in
Illyria.
Illyria is an exotic
place. Orsino and
Olivia, the most
prominent people in
Illyria, have both
shut themselves
away (but for
different reasons).
As a journalist, your
job is to inform
your readers about
what is happening
behind closed
doors.
Gossip magazines
or websites allow
readers to find out
what is currently
going on and what
might happen in the
future. They tend
to be filled with
speculation, rumor,
predictions and
gossip and should
be fun and
entertaining to read.
You should use the
text to help you find
ideas and quotations
to include. Think
about:
what the
audience knows
so far and what
might happen to
the characters
what would the
people or visitors
to Illyria really
want to know?
5 Illyrian pence
ideas to include
♦ Refer to Orsino, the
ruler of Illyria, who is
wallowing in his love
for Olivia.
♦ Olivia’s sadness and
love for her brother.
♦ The terrible weather
and signs of a
shipwreck.
♦ The mysterious arrival
of Curio.
♦ New fashion trends:
black is everywhere
and wearing Veils—a
trend inspired by
Olivia—is the next hot
thing.
♦ Your own ideas.
USEFUL PHRASES
If you are writing in
the style of a gossip
magazine, you will
need to think about
the language you
use. The writing
tends to be very fast
moving and filled
with details about
people’s ages,
appearances and
roles in life.
For example:
Curio, 18, dashing,
blond-haired servant
of Orsino, stated…
© 2008 www.teachit.co.uk
To give a sense of
urgency, use time
connectives:
recently
lately
at the moment
currently
meanwhile
To make the
information seem
important:
it is rumored
insiders believe
a source revealed
murmurs of...
friends close to…
have said…
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Try to use some
quotations in your
writing—look in the
text to get ideas, for
example:
‘he did seek the
love of fair
Olivia’
‘twas fresh in
murmur’
Overall, keep your
style light and
entertaining but
make sure that you
keep to the text and
inform readers
about what is
happening in Illyria.
Inside this issue:
Festive fun—
2
where to find the
hottest parties
this Twelfth night
What (and not)
to wear this
season
3
Letters page
4
Horoscopes—is
love in the stars
for you?
6
1
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Hot gossip!
great
hat the .
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t
e
the dir
re insid
We dish do! Read mo
ones
Twelfth NIGHT… or all
the gossip
Wedding bells for
the duke?
Weather warning
STORMS
PREDICTED!
Ships warned of
turbulent conditions and gale
force winds
AVOID TRAVEL
if at all possible.
More inside page
2
** Your stars **
Scorching hot! Our
sources at the castle
have just revealed
that Duke Orsino is
crazy about the
gorgeous Countess
Duke Orsino’s
Olivia.
imposing home
The countess’s life
was recently torn
apart by tragedy when her beloved
brother died unexpectedly (see below).
In light of this calamity, Orsino’s love
plans are looking pretty unlikely as Olivia
is currently refusing to see any visitors.
Despite this, the Duke remains hopeful
that he’ll win his lady’s heart. Earlier
today he told us: ‘When mine eyes did
see Olivia first, Methought she purged
the air of pestilence!’. Strong words
indeed!
Duke Orsino has vowed never to give
up on his love and is determined to
pursue Olivia until she agrees to
marry him. His love strategy consists
of sending messengers to the castle
and showering the lucky lady with
expensive, elaborate gifts. And
you’ve got to hand it to him, that
seems like a sure-fire way to a win a
woman’s heart (even if she has been
swept away on the tides of tragedy).
So, what are the odds for an Orsino/
Olivia wedding later this year?
Only time will tell...
Tuesday service reveals countess Olivia’s raw
grief at brother’s tragic demise
As Tuesday dawned, the weather
turned drizzly and dismal—a fitting
backdrop for the funeral of the young
brother of Countess Olivia.
He was buried
in the family
plot next to
his father.
Countess
Olivia led the
funeral
© 2008 www.teachit.co.uk
procession and appeared
inconsolable in her grief.
A close family friend said: ‘That
for the dear love of her brother she
hath given up the company and
sight of men.’
A spokesperson has requested that
family members be granted a little
privacy at this time of great
sadness.
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What does the future hold for you?
Is love on its way?
Are you going to
be lucky this year?
Read page 5 to
find out...
Special points
of interest:
• Shock! Globe
theatre burns
down
• New play by
William
Shakespeare
in the pipeline
• Stratford: a
stunning
place to visit—
find out more
in our TRAVEL
section.
• fashion...
what’s hot
and what’s
really not
2