Twelfth Night Literary Devices

Transferred Epithet Definition: A transferred epithet is a figure of speech in which an epithet (or adjective) grammatically qualifies a noun other than the person or thing it is actually describing. Example: “A brother’s dead love” (I.i.31)Explanation: Here, “dead” is used to qualify love instead of Olivia’s brother. This emphasizes the emotional impact of the brother’s loss by directly contrasting love with death. This is also significant as it juxtaposes Orsino’s metaphor of love as being both musical and appetizing, which serves to underscore the disconnection between these two characters.
Apostrophe Definition: In literature, apostrophe is a figure of speech sometimes represented by exclamation “O”. A writer or a speaker, using an apostrophe, detaches himself from the reality and addresses an imaginary character in his speech.Example: “O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou,” (I.i.9).Explanation: By directly addressing love and personifying it as quick and fresh, Shakespeare creates an excited tone which emphasizes Orsino’s infatuation for Olivia. This line works in conjunction with Orsino’s preceding and proceeding proclamations of love.
Aphorism Definition: In literature, brief sentences or phrases that are statements of wisdom and truth. Example: “cucullus non facit monachum” (1.5.43-44)Explanation: This statement means “Don’t judge a book by its cover” which is a statement of wisdom Feste makes to prevent Olivia from judging someone by their appearance. This adds onto Feste’s strong characterization as we realize that he/she is an intelligent and wise character.
Catechism Definition: A series of fixed questions, answers or precepts used for instruction. Example: “Good madonna, why mourn’st thou?” to “The more fool, madonna, to mourn for your brother’s soul being in heaven. Take the fool away, gentlemen” (1.5.54-57) Explanation: This exchange between Olivia and Feste serves as a way to develop Feste’s character as that of a ‘wise’ fool. Although his occupation is of an jester, which is normally associated with someone with a lower level of intelligence, the way Feste uses logic and catechisms as a way to show Olivia that her mourning is senseless characterises him as exceedingly witty and intelligent, at times even more so than the noble, learned characters in the play. It also serves the purpose of making the play humorous.
Aptronym Definition: A character’s name that is amusingly appropriate for their personality or occupation.Example: “Sir Toby Belch”, “Sir Andrew Aguecheek” (1.3)Explanation: Sir Toby is characterised as a drunkard who isn’t courteous. The name ‘Belch’ is oddly apt for him because it depicts his drunken haze and the fact that he isn’t particularly polite. Similarly, the name ‘Aguecheek’ connects with a disease depicting that Sir Andrew is probably unpleasant.Example: Sir Topas (4.2). The stone, Topaz, was believed in Elizabethan times to cure lunacy. Ironically, Sir Topas is instead trying to induce it, playing cruel mind tricks on Malvolio. Credit to Manav D. for his research!
Malapropism Definition: The use of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound for comedic effect Example: Sir Toby Belch: By this hand, they are scoundrels and subtractors that say so of him.Explanation: Here, Sir Toby replaces the word detractors with subtractors. Detractors is someone who puts others down which he describes what Maria does to Sir Toby. It contributes to a character’s building, as malapropism is often someone of low intellect would indulge in. Sir Toby is a drunk as well as a fool, so this technique contributes to the development of his character.
Chiasmus Definition: A rhetorical device in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order.Example: “Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit.” (1.5.30)Explanation: Feste reverses the order of the words he says, in order to emphasise on how this changes the meaning that they convey. Here, Feste says that a fool that is witty is better than wit which is foolish. Therefore, he is indirectly mocking Maria, by calling her wit foolish, and is relegating her witty nature in comparison to his.
Antithesis Definition: a rhetorical or literary device in which an opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed.Example: Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage. Explanation: The quote refers to how a “good hanging” will prevent a bad marriage which are oppository emotions.(Anoushka)
Allusion A reference to a text outside of the text itself, often to a myth or a person.Example: “That instant was I turned into a hart,And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,E’er since pursue me” (1.1.20-22)Explanation: In this example, Orsino references the Roman myth of Artemis and Actaeon. Artemis turned Actaeon into a deer after he saw her bathing nude (or in some versions, tried to rape her). Actaeon, in deer form, was later torn about by Artemis’ hunting dogs.
Soliloquy A literary device in which a character literally “speaks their mind,” sharing their direct thoughts with the reader. These occur when no other characters are present. Example: “I left no ring with her… It is too hard a knot for me t’untie.” > lines 14 to 38, Act 2 Scene 2.Explanation: Viola has realized that she is stuck in the middle of Orsino and Olivia.
Hyperbole Definition: A figure of speech that involves an extreme exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis or humor. Example: “things for bird-bolts that you deem cannon-bullets:” (line 79, Act 1 Scene 5)Explanation: This is a hyperbole as bird-bolts are short blunt arrows that can pierce but not kill birds whereas cannon-bullets can cause mass destruction. This is an exaggeration because something of the value of a bird-bolt has been considered a cannon-bullet – she is making fun of Malvolio’s perception of the fool’s comments by saying that he is taking them too seriously.
Pun Definition: A play on words in which a humorous effect is produced by using a word that suggests two or more meanings or by exploiting similar sounding words having different meanings. Example: “dry fool drink” (line 35) Explanation: Two-layers of meaning: [1] Olivia calls Feste a “dry” fool → referring to his bad sense of humour. [2] The word “drink” alludes to alcohol → when an event is “dry” (boring,) there is a need for alcohol. By using this pun, not only does Feste refute Olivia’s comment that he has a dry sense of humour (by cracking a joke) but he also takes a jibe at how Olivia’s house is a bore.
Aside Definition: A brief remark or passage in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but is supposed to be unheard by the other characters in the play. Example: Viola- I’ll do my bestTo woo your lady—(aside) Yet, a barful strife—Whoe’er I woo, myself would be his wife. (Act 1, Scene 4)Explanation: Viola uses an aside to enlighten the audience on her thoughts of her infatuation with Orsino.
Personification Definition: The attribution of human characteristics to something non-humanExample: ‘let them hang themselves in their own straps’ (1.iii.10)Explanation: The boots cannot actually hang themselves by their laces. Flowery language like this from Sir Toby make the play interesting, and provide comic relief.
In medias res Definition: Latin for “into the middle of things”, it usually describes a narrative that begins, not at the beginning of a story, but somewhere in the middle — usually at some crucial point in the action.Example: Act 1, Scene 5 – Maria and Feste are in the middle of an argument with no prior context given to the audienceEffect: The scene opens with Maria and Feste arguing about his absence which may be crucial later on since Feste is one of the only characters with a presence at both Duke Orsino’s court and Lady Olivia’s household, making him an omnipresent character. Some adaptations of Twefth Night even suggest that he was aware of Viola disguising herself as Cesario from the very beginning of the play.
Blazon Definition: A literary blazon (or blason) catalogues the physical attributes of a subject, usually female. [in this case, male]Example: Line 215, Act 1, Scene 5: “In voices well divulged, free, learned, and valiant, and in dimension, and the shape of nature..”Effect: This convention of Elizabethan poetry emphasizes Olivia’s strong feelings towards the Duke.
Ecphonesis Definition: An emotional and exclamatory phrase.Example: Line 7, Act 1, Scene 2: “O, my poor brother!”Effect: The use of ‘O’ grabs the attention of the audience and exemplifies Viola’s grief at the loss of her twin brother.
Metonymy Definition: Replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated.Example: “I say to you this house is dark” (4.2.33). Explanation: Metonymy is a form of symbolism. Here, Malvolio moves beyond literal darkness to imply that those around him (who live in the house) are dark or evil people. He extends this comparison to “hell” (37), stating in hyperbole that “there was never man thus abused.” All of this goes to emphasize that this “knavery” or trick has gone too far.
Blank Verse Definition: Un-rhyming verse (poetry) written in iambic pentameter (iamb meaning a stressed-unstressed pattern, pentameter meaning five iambs or ten syllables).Effect: Art elevates and distills the everyday; writing in blank verse helps sharpen that distinction. Blank verse, as opposed to prose, is used mainly for passionate, lofty or momentous occasions (tone) and for introspection; it may suggest a refinement of character (characterization). Example: ‘Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white / Nature’s own sweet and cunning hand laid on. / Lady, you are the cruell’st alive, / If you will lead these graces to the grave, / And leave the world no copy” (1.5.195-199)Explanation: Until these lines, Cesario (Viola) has addressed Olivia in prose. It is only when Olivia removes her veil that he knows that she might listen to his plea from Orsino. Cesario then changes to blank verse, elevates his speech, in an attempt to convince Olivia of Orsino’s love.
Paradox Definition: a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly, but which may include a latent truth. It is also used to illustrate an opinion or statement contrary to accepted traditional ideas. A paradox is often used to make a reader think over an idea in innovative way.Example: Viola: “Then you think right: I am not what I am” Olivia: “I would you were as I would have you be” (3.1.126-127)Explanation: The use of paradox in these lines heightens the tension and confusion in the predicament Olivia and Viola find themselves in. While Olivia is disappointed that Cesario will not yield to her proclamations of love, Viola feels trapped by her disguise. Furthermore, Viola’s proclamation, while paradoxical, is true. Cesario is actually Viola, which again creates dramatic irony.
July 2, 2019