As You Like It is divided into five acts, each of the acts are then subdivided into scenes.

In essence a romantic comedy, Shakespeare has varied the traditional plot line – boy meets girl, they fall in love, they overcome a series of obstacles and misunderstandings in order to marry and live happily ever after.  In As You Like It – girl meets boy, they fall in love, girl disguises herself as a man and woos boy – they overcome a series of obstacles and marry.  The difference being that in As You Like It Rosalind is the leading character, she does all the wooing and steers the plot towards it’s conclusion.

The majority of the major events within the plot of As You Like It take place within the first act and a half: Shakespeare introduces the audience to all the ‘city’ characters and all the necessary history is explained (exposition).  The audience is given a reason why each of the major characters leaves the city for the Forest of Arden.

The opening scene of As You Like It describes a perturbing background to the comedy – the play opens with Orlando protesting his rights over this older brother Oliver.  Through this argument between Oliver and Orlando we gain insight into Oliver’s wrongful behaviour towards Orlando and of Duke Frederick’s trespass against his brother Duke Senior.  By introducing the disagreements between the two pairs of brothers side by side Shakespeare is able to present the background to the usurpation while the rift between Orlando and Oliver is being acted out.  Presenting the 2 feuds simultaneously adds an intensity to them.  This hostility between the male characters highlights the strong bond of friendship between Celia and Rosalind – Celia risking all to join Rosalind in her misfortune.  Shakespeare is able to introduce another of the plays juxtapositions at this point ie the contrast between court (shown through these events as being repressive and having an intimidating atmosphere) and country (presented as a place of happiness and companionship).  A traditional theme of the pastoral romance and one that Shakespeare continues to examine throughout As You Like It.

Each scene either comments on or contrasts with the previous scene, for example, Act 2 scenes 1 and 2, court (Scene 2) versus country (Scene 1), Duke Frederick versus Duke Senior while both scenes have a hunting theme.

Act 2 Scene 2 is a relatively short scene but it provides insight into the play’s juxtapositions, character insight and information that take the plot forward.

After Act 2, Scene 3 – only one short scene takes place within the city.  From this point forward Shakespeare uses the conventional theatrical device of disguise (Rosalind disguises herself as Ganymede) to create the play’s dramatic tension.  The audience want to know, when she will reveal her true identity, and what the consequences will be.  Shakespeare introduces more characters and lovers to add to the plots confusion and dramatic tension until Rosalind reveals her true identity in Act 5, Scene 2.

Shakespeare also uses the convention of dramatic irony to heighten the plays comedic element.

In Act 5 Shakespeare draws all the major themes (court versus country, appearance and reality, love) to their conclusion, ensuring the comedy ends in reconciliation, merriment and marriage.  Touchstone’s entrance with Audrey and his exchange with Jaques with its worldly tone introduces a balance to the play’s otherwise romantic ending, introduces a comedic interlude before the lovers are married and order is restored, ensuring that wit and romance are balanced to the end.

The conversion of the 2 villains (Oliver and Duke Frederick), Duke Senior’s restoration and the 4 marriages ensures a happy conclusion to the plot.  Music and dancing follow the marriages after which Rosalind delivers a short epilogue to the audience.

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