KS2 / KS3 English Literature: A retelling of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare - animation

Video summary

An animated version of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” in a retelling of the classic play set to modern music.

The twins Viola and Sebastian are separated in a shipwreck.

Fearing that Sebastian is dead, Viola disguises herself as a boy, calls herself Cesario and takes up service with Duke Orsino.

She falls in love with him but cannot do anything about it because of her disguise.

She also discovers that Orsino has fallen in love with Olivia but, following the death of her brother, she rejects him.

Orsino sends Viola to Olivia to try and win her round but, thinking Viola is a boy, Olivia falls in love with him.

Meanwhile Olivia’s steward, Malvolio, is trying to keep order in the house but, her uncle Sir Toby Belch and his friends have other ideas.

They convince Malvolio that Olivia is in love with him and make him look extremely foolish – Olivia thinks her servant has actually gone mad.

When she sees Sebastian, who has survived the shipwreck, she naturally thinks he is Cesario and promptly marries him.

Orsino is furious when he finds out but, once Viola and Sebastian meet and reveal their true identities, there is a happy ending – for everyone but poor Malvolio.

This is from the series: Shakespeare in Shorts.

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Teacher Notes

Key Stage 2:

This clip could be used as an introduction to the play, consolidation of key aspects or for revision of the plot and characters.

It could also provide a springboard for pupils to write their own modernised versions of this or another Shakespeare play perhaps using music or linked to developing artwork.

Key Stage 3:

This clip could form the basis for some improvisation work by students or for learning and delivering sections of text.

It could also be used as a stimulus for creative writing tasks involving the inner thoughts of specific characters.

This clip will be suitable for teaching English at KS2 and KS3 in England, KS3 and English Literature GCSE in Wales, KS1, KS2 and KS3 in Northern Ireland and 2nd, 3rd and 4th level in Scotland.

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