How does Shakespeare make use of comic conventions in Twelfth Night?

Comic conventions are utilised in a number of ways typical of Shakespearean comedies in Twelfth Night. The most obvious traditional Shakespearean conventions all appear in Twelfth Night, these include marriage as a central focus and concluding scene, festivities, music and disguise. The characters all partake in various plots which have humorous consequences and much of the comedy in the play derives from mistaken identity as well as the more obvious comedic witticisms. The characters themselves provide comedy through their personalities, Malvolio through his façade of puritanism, Olivia and Orsino through their fickle personalities, Feste through his role as witty fool and Sir Toby and Sir Andrew through their idiotic drunken behaviour. 

MB
Answered by Miriam B. English tutor

6378 Views

See similar English A Level tutors

Related English A Level answers

All answers ▸

What purpose should an introduction serve?


‘Any claim for the novel as being politically progressive is undermined by its underlying misogyny?’ How far do you agree with this statement?


Do cowardice and paralysis dominate Hamlet's character in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' ?


Consider the view that “spiritual or otherwise, Donne’s poems are consistently grounded in the physical world of his time.” [40]


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning