Study Questions
1. Do we meet Olivia in this scene?

2. What is Sir Andrew’s relationship to Sir Toby?

3. What did Maria hear about Sir Andrew’s purpose for being in the house?

4. What does the presence of Maria and Sir Toby as characters imply?

5. Who brings in a note of competition to the scene?

6. Does Sir Andrew seem an appropriate suitor for Olivia?

7. What else do Sir Toby and Sir Andrew illustrate in the play?

8. How does Shakespeare reveal Sir Toby’s free spirit?

9. What is “ploce”?

10. What type of imagery does Sir Toby introduce at the end of the scene?

Answers
1. No, we do not meet Olivia in this scene.

2. They are friends.

3. Maria heard that Sir Toby brought him to the house to woo Olivia.

4. They imply that love is for all kinds of people, no matter what their status is.

5. Sir Andrew brings in a note of competition.

6. No, the scene leaves us with the impression that Sir Andrew may not be an appropriate suitor for Olivia.

7. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew illustrate the party-and-fun atmosphere, as implied in the title’s holiday.

8. Shakespeare reveals Sir Toby’s free spirit through the language.

9. “Ploce” is the repetition of a word in a different sense.

10. Sir Toby introduces a succession of “dance” images.