Sunday, March 22, 2015

262 Quiz Answer

“Twelfth Night” is a reference to Epiphany, or the twelfth night of the Christmas celebration.  In Shakespeare’s day, this holiday was celebrated as a festival in which everything was turned upside down—much like the upside-down, chaotic world of the play.
As for the calendar, Twelfth Night was actually January 6th.
(Also for Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "K" is for "Karma")

You like convoluted plots?

Of course you do; everyone likes a little convolutedariness in their plots.

Well, this is the plot of a glorious play, the story of a petite young woman whom we’ll call Girl One, or G1.  She had been in a shipwreck and found herself alone in the land.  If you’ve ever been in a shipwreck you know how depressing that can be.

In those days, 4 or 5 hundred years ago, a female might find it a bit dicey to walk about alone.  So our friend G1 dressed herself as a male, a bloke, and went to get a job.  She was hired as a servant of a certain Duke.

She learns that the Duke, who is otherwise a fairly normal person as far as Dukes go, has a problem.  Seems he has managed to convince himself that he is in love with a noblewoman whom we’ll call Girl Two, or G2.

She is a very different type of person from G1.  She is of high noble rank, she’s beautiful and she’s affluent, a technical fiduciary term meaning she’s loaded.

Turns out the Duke is crazy about G2; he doesn’t hold any of the above - beauty, nobility, lots of money - against her.  She, however, is chilly towards him and doesn’t reciprocate, Duke or no Duke.

He has a brilliant idea: he’ll have this young chap who recently joined his staff serve as an intermediary to carry the good news to her of how enamored he is. 


If you’re familiar with the story, G2 forgets all about the Duke, who she wasn’t thinking so much about anyway.  For her, it’s karma, fate, that she should meet and fall for the young intermediary guy.

To top things off, Girl One, though skillfully dressed in masculine duds, has managed to fall in love with her boss, the Duke.  So what you have now is the familiar theatrical device known as a love triangle, though a bit different from the usual.  Duke loves G2; G1 loves Duke; G2 loves G1.

Once you’ve got all that straight, the play is ready to begin.

It was first produced a few weeks after Christmas, which actually had a lot to do with how it was named.

What was the name of the play?

(The answer will be posted Saturday.)

 

 

32 comments:

naturgesetz said...

"Twelfth Night"

Thanks for this: "It was first produced a few weeks after Christmas, which actually had a lot to do with how it was named."

Berowne said...

Naturgesetz leads us off with the first correct answer.

CHummelKornell said...

This is not an answer to your quiz, but the plot (twisted in another direction) sounds very similar to Yentl.

i b arora said...

while i can't guess, i envy your style,great

Doctor FTSE said...

Surely Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night"?

Berowne said...

Another right answer, this time from Doc FTSE

Kathe W. said...

12th Night?

Berowne said...

Kathe W has the right answer, too.

Ninot said...

When I saw the image, Sir Berowne, I was hoping for a Shakespeare quiz - it's Twelfth Night for sure.

Altonian said...

Can only be Twelfth Night.

Berowne said...

Ninot and Altonian have stepped up with the correct answer.

Rommy said...

LOL, this is going to drive me nuts. I know the answer isn't Cyrano de Bergerac but that's the only thing I can think of!

21 Wits said...

Could it be the, Twelfth Night?

brudberg said...

Sounds something like the 12th night...

Berowne said...

Two more "winners." Karen S and Bjorn Rudberg have the right answer.

Silent Otto said...

I always knew Joan of Arc was a Libran ....

Roger Owen Green said...

Well, the Christmas reference suggests Twelfth Night, though there seems to be a lot of that comedic mistaken identity in Billy Shakes.

Meryl said...

Twelfth Night. Love the play.

Berowne said...

Meryl and Roger Owen Green have both coughed up the correct answer.

kaykuala said...

Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

Hank

ChrisJ said...

Think the answer is The Tempest by Will Shakespeare, Berowne.

Berowne said...

The right answer has just come in from kaykuala.

Trubes said...

This has to be...

Twelfth Night; (or What you Will).

by William Shakespeare.

best wishes,

Di.
ABCW team.

Reader Wil said...

Hi! It could be the Tempest by Shakespeare. I have my doubts if the G1 is a reliable go-between.
I must read it again.
Thanks for the quiz.
Wil, ABCW

Jae Rose said...

Like Chris I thought the Tempest..but there was no love affair in that if I remember so you foil me once more Berowne!

Berowne said...

Trubes has just stepped up with the right answer.

Sheilagh Lee said...

Twelfth Night

Old Egg said...

This sounds a lot like Shakespeare's "The Tempest".

Berowne said...

Chalk up another correct answer, this time from Sheilagh Lee.

Old Egg said...

I must learn to read others comments first then I wouldn't jump in and look stupid!

Berowne said...

You never look stupid, O E.

Anita Sabat said...

I didn't know the date of the 12th night :)
Thanks for the info.

No clue about the play!
Have a great week!

 
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