Sources and Influences

The Twelfth Night "is based mainly on the tale of Apollonius and Silla in Barnabe Riche's Farewell to Military Profession" (ORO). Riche's story is further based on Gl'ingannati, An Italian comedy, and Matteo Bandello's Novella. Looking into these other stories gives us a better understanding of Shakespeare's script.

"Twelfth Night"   A Dictionary of Shakespeare. Stanley Wells. Oxford University Press, 1998. 
        Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press.  Central Washington University.  10 March 2011 

               <http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t57.e730>

"Twelfth Night." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011. 
        Web. 10 Mar. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/610885/Twelfth-Night>.