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[Facts] Shakespearean Names
I'm looking for the definitions of a few names from Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." The male names are Orsino, Antonio, Curio, Malvolio, and Feste. The female name is Viola. I would greatly appreciate either the definition or the url of a website that can give it to me. Thank you very much!
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Shakespearean Names-CapuletMy son's Freshman English teacher has asked him to write about what the name "Capulet" means. He (and I) have been unable to find a meaning. Is it possible Shakespeare just made it up or used a name he had heard at one time? Others in my son's class were unable to find info, so they made up info by breaking down the syllables.
Thanks,in advance, if anyone can help.
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Click on any blue links which you see below.Orsino (Italian) "little bear". See OrsonSee Antonio .Curio (Italian; Latin) "priest"; from the Latin word "curio", a priest of a curia -- one of the 30 divisions into which the Roman patricians were divided by Romulus . "Curia" was also the name given to the meeting-place of the senate at Rome.See Malvolio . The meaning of this name is especially apt for the character created by Shakespeare.Feste (Italian). See Faustus .
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Disagree with equating Feste and Faustus . Feste was a clown character, hence "festive" or "festal." This word derives from the same roots as "feast" or special day. In other words, Feste's name equates him with party time!
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Abashedly tossing confetti...You're absolutely right about Feste. My mind must've been roman' off somewhere... :)-- Nanaea
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Viola is here too--just click on the name.
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Yikes! How could I have missed Viola? Thanks, BTN Melissa! :)P.S. Hope you don't mind me calling you "BTN Melissa" for the moment. Right now, I've just got to do something to differentiate you from the 'butt's Melissa. You're way too cool and smart to be sharing the same name with her, and I find that so infuriatingly unfair.-- Nanaea
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LOL~~I actually worried for a while that people would confuse us. I was even compiling this mental list of ways to prove I'm not
Melissa-butt;). Too bad I never got to use it, it would have been sort of entertaining to make a total monkey of myself. (Well, no..then I guess she and I would have more in common than just the name. Never mind!)So, I don't mind being BTN Melissa at all. It definitely beats Haggisbutt Melissa. Or Bob.;)
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