Lesson Overview

In this lesson, students will explore how director Trevor Nunn used lighting in his 1996 film adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.  

For this assignment, students will review the text of the play Twelfth Night and discuss its themes. They will then watch Nunn’s film version of Twelfth Night. You may want to point out beforehand that Nunn decided to place the setting in Victorian England and that he added an opening scene showing the shipwreck and the separation of Viola and Sebastian. While watching the film, students should watch closely for the ways Nunn uses lighting to convey thematic moods and emotions.

Materials

  • Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
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  • Twelfth Night directed by Trevor Nunn, Renaissance Films/BBC Films, 1996

Lesson Objectives

1. Students will discuss the themes of the passion of love and the suffering caused by love in Twelfth Night. 

2. Students will identify the ways in which lighting is used to convey thematic moods and emotions in Nunn’s Twelfth Night.

Instructional Sequence

This activity is designed to be completed after students have read the whole text of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. 

1. Have students discuss Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night as it relates to the themes of both the passion of love and the suffering caused by love. What moods are suggested by these themes? What emotions? 

2. Share the following information with students: 

A film director and his or her cinematographer choose lighting carefully. Often, comedies are brightly and evenly lit—a style called high key—that reflects the “light” and “bright” nature of the material. Director Trevor Nunn, choosing to include the suffering and melancholy caused by love and loss in Twelfth Night as well as its comedic aspects—used darkness as well as light in order to convey these “dark” emotions. This style of lighting—called low key—diffuses shadows and pools light.  

3. Distribute the worksheet Nunn’s Twelfth Night—Light and Dark. Have students read the lighting terms and techniques listed on the worksheet. 

3. Present Nunn’s film to the class. Remind students to pay close attention to how Nunn uses lighting to convey mood and emotion.  

4. Pause at these times to show students examples of lighting techniques. These examples are listed on the students’ worksheet as well. Discuss the effects with students.  

  • 14:39—Viola and Orsino pass through a doorway.
    Strong backlighting: Near silhouettes are created. We focus on the two characters as a couple, going together into the light of day, suggesting closeness. 

  • 17:25–17:42—Maria and a servant (Fabian) hurry outside to find Sir Toby.
    Bright natural outdoor light: The bright light accents the humor of the scene. 

  • 20:38—Malvolio appears in the background.
    Strong backlighting in background of doorway; soft side lighting in foreground on Sir Andrew. Our eyes are drawn to Malvolio, even though he is small and in the background. He appears sinister. 


5. At the end of the following scene, replay it, pausing at intervals to discuss with students the effects as the key light shifts from face to face in Olivia’s dark room, ending with Viola’s entrance. Have students note the results of the discussion on their worksheets. 

  • 26:14–30:06— Feste (called Fool in No Fear edition), Sir Toby, Malvolio, and finally, Viola are in Olivia’s room. 


6. Pause at these times and have students note on their worksheets the lighting and its effect in each scene. 

33:18–33:34—Olivia removes her veil; Viola opens the curtain.
54:40–55:08—Maria tells Sir Toby and Sir Andrew of her plan to write a letter.
57:15–58:21—Orsino is in a bathtub; Viola enters and washes his back.
1:19:09–1:19:44—Orsino and Viola listen to Feste’s love song.
1:48:15—Malvolio is imprisoned.  


​​​​​​​7. At the end of the film, have students share their findings and interpretations from the worksheet as a class or in small groups.

Differentiated Instruction

This activity can be modified to help all students access learning.
Decrease difficulty

Before students watch the movie, be sure they understand the lighting techniques. If possible, show examples online of spotlighting, side lighting, backlighting, and silhouettes. 

Have students work in pairs to complete the worksheets.

Increase difficulty

Have students write a critique of Trevor Nunn’s Twelfth Night. Do they agree with his lighting choices to convey the darker themes and emotions of the play? Why or why not? Students should use examples from their worksheets in their essays.

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