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Table of Contents | Printable Version THE TITLE OF THE PLAY Shakespeare is known for giving fanciful titles to his fanciful plays, and the title of this play is open to several interpretations. Since the events and ending of the play turn out happily, it is "As You Like It." Shakespeare also seems to be saying that this play is so complicated and filled with impossible incidents, the audience can call it and interpret it anyway it wants. He tells them by title to see it and call it "as you like it." Most importantly, in the Epilogue Rosalind appears on stage to tell the audience to applaud the play in proportion to their approval - "As You Like It." Table of Contents | Printable Version QUESTIONS The entire play is built on a series of comparisons and contrast. Give complete comparisons and/or contrasts of the following: a. Orlando and Oliver b. Duke Senior and Duke Frederick c. Rosalind and Celia d. The court and the Forest of Arden e. Touchstone and Jaques f. The theme of love and the theme of hate g. The love of Orlando/Rosalind and the love of Touchstone/Audrey h. The love of Orlando/Rosalind and the love of Oliver/Celia i. The true pastoral characters of the forest and the visitors to the forest j. The real Rosalind and the disguised Rosalind (Ganymede) k. Oliver at the beginning of the play and Oliver at the end of the play 1. Explain the different types of love developed in the play. Which one(s) is obviously the most important to Shakespeare? 2. Explain the various meanings of the play's title. 3. How is humor developed in the play? 4. In spite of the various plots, how is the play unified? 5. How does Shakespeare tie up all the loose ends at the end of the play? Table of Contents | Printable Version | |
