When reading a play it is easier to recognize the different characters. The play shows when each scene is changing opposed to chapters in a novel. If twelfth night were a novel it would be easier to understand without being in old english. When watching the movie it makes the play come to life, delivering it in a different way. The movie and play are more similar because they are both acted out, bringing the book to life.

Character analysis

Analysis of character: Olivia

Olivia plays a large role in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Without the character of Olivia, there would be no secondary plot to the story. Olivia is a very wealthy countess whom has many servants working for her. Duke Orsino says “…her sweet perfections, with one self king.” (Shakespeare Ii). Many of Olivia’s servants think they are in love with her. In Twelfth Night, Orsino and Malvolio are in love with Olivia. Malvolio says “…if you prized my lady’s favor…” (Shakespeare II iii), referring to how much he loves Olivia as a person. Throughout the book, Malvolio will do many different things to get Olivia’s attention. Malvolio does things like wear long yellow stockings or being demanding towards the servants because he is told as a prank that those are things she likes.

Olivia seems to be oblivious about what her servants do around her house but not all of the time. When they are not working for her, they stay up late at night drinking with the other servants at the house. “My lady bade me tell you that, though she harbors you as her kinsmen, she’s nothing allied to your disorders. If you can separate yourself and your misdemeanors, you are welcome to the house; if not, and it would please you to take leave of her, she is very willing to bid you farewell.” (Shakespeare II iii).  Olivia is generous and forgiving, even though she knows that sometime her servants are loud and disrespectful, she still lets them stay in her home. Olivia’s many characteristics make her more appealing to the other characters in Twelfth Night.

Childhood best friend

Friends no matter how close usually get into fights. Jen and I have known each other for about four years and have never fought once. We were different best friends, ones that no matter what would never get tired of each eachother. Spending almost every day together, sitting outside talking, and eating family dinners with each other were only a few things that brought us together. We were the closest friends a sixth grader could ask for. Sometimes after a ling day of school we would go to the tree in-between her house and her neighbors and climb to talk for what felt like hours.

Jen and I first met in sixth grade at lunch when one of our friends had introduced us. When we figured out we had science together and started to talk and become better and better friends. Jen and I decided to try out for cheer and both loved it, it brought us even closer. We were two little inseparable best friends that thought it would always be that way. Even though things change we still love each other like were family.

We don't talk to each other as much as we used to but that will never come between how close we were. She is still like a sister to me like four years ago. Every time I see Jen, its like we are as close as we were in sixth grade.

The Story by Brandi Carlile

          The story by Brandi Carlile is a story composed as a song that has many emotions in it. These emotions are brought out through the was the singer sing the song. Hidden meanings are made with many literary devices like metaphors. The story is about how one person understands her and can relate to her problems.

           Brandi's song has hidden meanings that were expressed with different literary devices. "All of these lines across my face tell you the story of who I am" has a hidden meaning perhaps that all of the pain and feelings she's had is shown through her appearance.  The verses " and they don't know know what I've been through like you do, I was made for you" shows that they know each other like no one else can see. "And how I got to where I am" tells that she has gotten through tough times. "But these stories don't mean anything when you got no one to tell them too" makes a point that stories have no meaning or worth when no one else is able to know them. Like many songs The Story tells a story an has hidden meanings within the song.

          Like many other songs, The Story uses many literary devices to show a deeper meaning. "I climbed across the mountain tops" is a metaphor used to show that she went through obstacles. "I crossed over lines..." is metonymy because there were no physical lines that she crossed over. The lyrics "you made me feel like a million bucks" is a simile because it is a comparison to her feeling special in a time when she was not viewed that way by many people.  "My mouth is hiring the words that don't come out" is a metaphor for her being speechless. In this song the lyrics are mostly made of metaphors to express Brandi's feelings.

          This song has a sad feel when it is read and not put into a song form. The Story has a good  interpretation when it is put into song. Songs are poems, most change when they are put into a musical form. The artist has the ability to change the feel of the song with the tone in their voice. Brandi expresses her lyrics in a positive way majoring the feel of her song more comforting.

Odysseus, an epic hero?

          Odysseus has one main goal, to get back to Telemachus and Penelope. His long journey consists of overcoming many obstacles and getting to the next one. Odysseus is very confident in himself and believes he can achieve almost anything. He leads his crew with courage and not showing doubt when facing a problem. In chapter nine, when stuck at he is quick to think when Polyphemus asks about Odysseus' name he finds a response that will work in his favor. While the crew was worried Odysseus stayed strong and comforted his crew. Odysseus is highly intelligent, he is quick to think in tricky situations. 

          In tough situations, Odysseus occasionally consoles to the gods. Occasionally Odysseus is given insight to his journey ahead. He is not a very loyal leader in chapter twelve when he does not tell his crew of the syclla. Odysseus was right and wrong about not telling his crew because he did not want to start an  uproar amongst the crew, but the death of six men might have been able to be prevented. Odysseus is an epic hero, but has his flaws like many other heros.

Hero Analysis

           Odysseus is very confident in himself. He is not as modest as he maybe should be. Sometimes his confidence gets him into trouble. In The Odyssey chapter nine, If Odysseus had not called out to
Polyphemus, he and his crew wound not have had to face Poseidon's wrath. When Odysseus was
taunted by a prince in the games, he was quick to stand up to him and beat him. Odysseus is not like
many other heroes, he is very cocky. An ideal hero would be humble, and try to stick to his main goal or journey instead of taking longer than the journey should have.
          Odysseus does not try as hard as another hero might in his situation. When on the island with Calypso, he did not make it his best efforts to move on with the journey. Odysseus wants to return home to his family, but he might not have as much of a drive because he might fear what he will come back home too. He is not certain that his family is still even alive until chapter eleven when the ghosts tell him. Odysseus has his flaws that make him weaker as a hero but he still holds heroic characteristics.

Heroes

        The heroes today are very similar to those in history. Most heroes follow the same story line having to go through a journey. In a story,  a hero always has at least one villain that they have to battle. The heroes usually over come the villain in both history and modern day tales. In modern media today, sometimes the heroes will loose against the villain unlike in history the were the triumphant ones. The Journey that modern heroes go through involves achieving a goal, or self fulfillment and saving humanity. With the heroes in history, they fight for people and a balanced system in society, and to try and keep everyone in their best interests.

Characteristics of modern stories have not changed much for centuries. All modern heroes go through a journey and a way of finding their strengths and weaknesses. There is something a hero is good at and all have a weakness that has the ability to change the story. Many heroes have an alliance or sidekick that helps them through their problems. When there is a super hero, most have concealed identities to protect themselves and people associated with them. A hero if likely to make sacrifices for a good cause in the story. 

Traits have also changed in modern media. Heroes in history were godlike and most were invincible, with eternal life. In modern media, most heroes were human and had an object that protected them. Old heroes have protected themselves with powers given to most by gods. People have looked up to heroes almost since they have existed. Heroes have the ability to inspire and push people to make a change. 

Most modern heroes are not very attached to people or family unlike in the Odyssey, the story is driven by Odysseus and Telemachus fighting to make the family a whole again. Family plays a larger role in older stories than in modern media. In both the Odyssey and modern media, there was always a weakness to a hero wether it is a power of a person. Most stories have the same story outline, and many similarities. Over time stories of heroes have not changed as much as other things have. Many good stories have the same story line to please their audience.