Today’s society

1. Think about the society in which you live and the rules that you live by. Look at the questions opposite and prepare your answer and be ready to discuss. What is the relationship between personal choices and consequences? How is pride an asset or a detriment? How does political decline reflect moral decay? Today’s society

2. Introduction to Shakespeare’s Othello http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC-f0drvdmM

3. William Shakespeare • Born in April 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon • Received a classical education including Latin, Greek, history, math, astronomy, and music • Most likely began as an actor • Wrote 38plays, including comedies, histories, tragedies, and romances • Wrote 4 lengthy poems and a sonnet cycle

4. Aside, Monologue, and Soliloquy Aside: a character’s remark, either to the audience or another character, that other characters on stage are not supposed to hear. Monologue: an extended speech by a single character that is uninterrupted by others. Soliloquy: a speech a character gives when s/he is alone on stage.

5. Foil: A character whose personality or attitudes are in sharp contrast to those of another character in the same work. As you read the play, identify characters that provide a balance for each other. For example: Desdemona (loving) and Iago (hateful). Besides Desdemona and Iago, what other pairs of characters strike balances? Provide textual evidence.

6. Character Journal: Within ACT I, Scene 1 how are the following characters characterized: Desdemona, Othello, Roderigo, Iago, and Brabantio. • Take into consideration • Physical Description as mentioned by others • Inner qualities mentioned by others • Words and actions of characters • Provide 2-3 pieces of textual support for your characterization of each character. • Information is to be written in the character journal log.

7. Prose and Verse, what is the difference? • Define Prose. Define Verse. Identify the purpose a writer may utilize one over the other.

8. Verse vs. Prose Verse: Poetic language that includes meter and sometimes rhyme; organized in lines with a consistent number of syllables Prose: Ordinary written language with no meter or rhyme; organized in sentences

9. “Sir, he’s rash and very sudden in choler, and haply may strike at you. Provoke him that he may, for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny, whose qualification shall come into no true taste again but by the displanting of Cassio” (2.1). “Most potent, grave, and reverend signoirs, My very noble and approved good masters: That I have ta’en away this old man’s daughter, It is most true; true I have married her” (1.3). Prose Verse

10. Verse vs. Prose: Usage • Poetic style of verse used for high status characters, great affairs of war and state, and tragic moments. • Prose used for low status characters (servants, clowns, drunks, villains), proclamations, written challenges, accusations, letters, comedic moments, and to express madness.

11. Verse vs. Prose • In Othello, pay careful attention to the situations in which Iago switches between speaking in verse and speaking in prose. • What importance does his choice of verse or prose seem to have? How does this choice affect the piece as a whole. • Identify three examples within Act I of this switch between verse and prose. Examine the effect and identify the reasoning behind the switch.

12. Allusion • Allusion: reference to an event, person, place, or another work of literature • Shakespeare’s work contains numerous allusions to Greek and Roman mythology.

13. Allusion to Janus • Janus was the porter of heaven. He opens the year and January, the first month, is named in honor of him. In this way, Janus is the guardian deity of doorways and gates, and is commonly represented with two heads, because every door looks two ways.

14. Tragic Hero • List the traits of a tragic hero. • Take a look at those traits and identify the tragic hero in you. What traits do you have? How do those traits affect your life?

15. Tragic Hero Trait • The tragic hero is a character of noble stature and has greatness. S/he must occupy a "high" status position as well as exemplify nobility and virtue as part of his/her innate character.

16. Tragic Hero Trait • Though the tragic hero is pre-eminently great, s/he is not perfect. This is partially because we would be unable to identify with the tragic hero, something we must do in order to experience catharsis. We should see in him or her someone who is essentially like us, although perhaps elevated to a higher position in society.

17. Tragic Hero Trait • The hero's downfall, therefore, is partially his/her own fault, and thus the result of free choice, not of accident or villainy or some overriding, malevolent fate. In fact, the tragedy is usually triggered by some error in judgment or some character flaw that contributes to the hero's lack of perfection.

18. Tragic Hero Trait • The hero's misfortune is not wholly deserved. The punishment exceeds the crime. • The fall is not pure loss. There is some increase in awareness, some gain in self-knowledge, some discovery on the part of the tragic hero. • The fall most often provokes the emotions of pity and fear in the reader.

19. The Moor • “Moor” referred to North Africans, West Africans, or even non-whites or Muslim of any origin. • Moors were granted “full diplomatic recognition” by Queen Elizabeth I for their help in conquering Spain. (1601 she deported them in fear of irregular behavior and overpopulation). • Elizabethans thought of a person with dark skin as a “bestial force, dangerous because of his sexuality, temper and magical powers.”

20. Othello The Moor • Were often referred to as “devils” or “villains” • “Commonly stereotyped as sexually overactive, prone to jealousy and generally wicked.” • Public associated “blackness” with moral corruption. Whiteness was the sign of purity; blackness indicated sin.

21. Shakespeare uses racial stereotypes in his dialogue – Lines from Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio are particularly noticeable early in the play. • Causes audience to form an impression of Othello before he appears. • Once the audience meets Othello, they must judge him in person, not from what others say about him. • Shakespeare transforms the Moor from the original story (an exotic and passionate stereotype) into a tragic figure of flesh and blood. • Through the treachery of a surprising white devil, Shakespeare challenges his audience to spot the true color of “villainy”

22. Stereotypes within Act I Scenes I & II • Read the notes provided concerning the origination and stereotypes associated with the “Moor”. • Following the reading of ACT I Scenes 1 &2, identify images, and word choice that alludes to the possibility of stereotypes within the ACT. • Provide textual evidence to support the identification of the stereotype.

23. Othello Terminology: Cuckold • a man whose wife is unfaithful to him • Represented with horns growing out of his forehead “That cuckold lives in bliss Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger; But O, what damned minutes tells he o’er Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves!” (3.3.197-200) “I have a pain upon my forehead, here” (326).

24. Othello: Setting • Journey from Venice, Italy to Cyprus • Venice = order, rule of reason • Cyprus = disorder, rule of passion

25. Symbolic Images & Diction • Focused on the natural world • Most important pattern – contrast of light and dark, black and white • One cluster of images is domestic and animal: goats, monkeys, wolves, baboons, guinea hens, wildcats, spiders, flies, asses, dogs, horses, sheep, serpents, and toads • Other images include green-eyed monsters, devils, poisons, money purses, tarnished jewels, music un-tuned, and light extinguished

26. Othello: Thematic Ideas • Nature of love and marriage • Nature of jealousy • Nature and use of language • Male mistrust of women • Deception / Honesty • Importance of reputation

28. Characters ACT I • What are the character traits, background, etc… • What are the character’s actions and the consequences of those actions. • Provide Textual support for your answers.

29. Questions- ACT I • Consider the images provided in ACT I • What is Iago’s view of human nature? In his fondness for likening men to animals, what does he tell us about himself? Provide textual evidence. • In Shakespeare’s use of particular images, identify a particular image within ACT I and suggest reasoning for his use of the image and the effect it has on the story in general.

30. Iago’s Soliloquy- ACT I • Read Soliloquy- ACT 1 Scene 3 (pg. 51 or pg.1023). Summarize in your own words (not No Fear Shakespeare or Sparknotes). • Identify figurative language and other poetic devices use. Identify the effect of the figurative language and poetic devices on the soliloquy. • Rewrite soliloquy in modern terms • Use similar figurative language techniques • Use similar poetic devices • Use current slang and colloquialisms.

31. Questions- ACT II • What cruelty does Iago display toward Emilia? How well founded is his distrust of his wife’s fidelity? Provide textual evidence. • Othello speaks of Iago’s “honesty and love.” How could Othello be so totally deceived concerning Iago?

32. Iago’s Soliloquy- ACT II • Read Soliloquy ACT 2 Scene 1 (pg.1031-32) Summarize in your own words. • Identify figurative language and other poetic devices use. Identify the effect of the figurative language and poetic devices on the soliloquy. • Rewrite soliloquy in modern terms • Use similar figurative language techniques • Use similar poetic devices • Use current slang and colloquialisms.

33. Honesty ACT III • What does it mean to be “Honest”? • Provide examples as support for your answer. • What does honesty mean to a society? • Trace the honesty of Iago, Othello, Cassio, and Desdemona. How many times does the word honest/honesty appear, in what context is the word used in relation to the character?

34. hon·es·ty [on-uh-stee] –noun,plural-ties. 1. the quality or fact of being honest; uprightness and fairness. 2. truthfulness, sincerity, or frankness. 3. freedom from deceit or fraud.

35. Honest- hon·est- adjective 1.honorable in principles, intentions, and actions; upright and fair: an honest person. 2. showing uprightness and fairness: honest dealings. 3. gained or obtained fairly: honest wealth. 4. sincere; frank: an honest face. 5. genuine or unadulterated: honest commodities. 6. respectable; having a good reputation: an honest name. 7. truthful or creditable: honest weights. 8. humble, plain, or unadorned. 9.Archaic. chaste; virtuous.

36. Honesty-Othello • Identifying how the word “honesty” applies to Iago, Othello, Cassio, and Desdemona; in an essay, discuss why honesty or the reputation for being honest or the lack of honesty- is so important in Othello

37. Power of Words • How does Iago use language to deceive others? • How does Iago convince Othello that Cassio is a drunk, disloyal soldier, or that Desdemona is a cunning whore? • Why does Iago use his rhetoric and acting skills to destroy others? • What drives him? Who and what is Iago?

38. chas·ti·ty   (chās'tĭ-tē)  noun n.   • The condition or quality of being pure or chaste. • Virginity. • Virtuous character. • Celibacy.

39. Questions ACT 3 In 3.3.Which lines show that Othello is still a rational human being, but one torn by doubt? Which lines show that Othello has turned into the "green-eyed monster" of which Iago told him?In 3.3., identify the devices that Iago uses to make sure that Othello is ensnared in his web of deceit. In 3.3., identify also Othello's weaknesses that allow him to fall for Iago's evil persuasion.

40. Questions- ACT 4 • What images/word choice does Iago use to entice Roderigo? To what emotion do these images affect? • What images/word choice does Iago use to torment Othello? Which of Othello's many insecurities do these images affect? • What images/word choice does Iago use to comfort Desdemona? What affect does this have on Desdemona?

41. Questions ACT IV • What prevents Othello from being moved by Desdemona’s appeal? • What does the conversation between Emilia and Desdemona tell us about the nature of each?

42. The Persuasive Power of Iago • The power of language. As seen throughout the play, Iago persuades people to do his will. In an essay, write a thesis that states exactly what it is Iago achieves—or tries to achieve—through his use of persuasive language. Then use specific examples from the text to show how Iago achieves or fails to achieve those goals.

43. Questions- ACT V • How does Othello’s mistaken belief that Cassio is slain affect the outcome of the play? • What impels Othello to kill Desdemona? Jealousy? Desire for revenge? A wish to be a public avenger who punishes, “else she‘ll betray more men”? • What does Othello mean by this statement “ one that loved not wisely but too well”.

44. Questions- ACT V • Act V, scene 2, line 300: "Demand me nothing; what you know, you know" • Act V, scene 2, line 337–338: "When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,/ Speak of me as I am" • Act V, scene 2, lines 296–301 and 334–352 • Reread the passages cited above. Why does Iago choose silence in lines 296–301? • Does Othello's final speech redeem him? To what extent has Othello become a tragic hero?

45. Desdemona’s Willow Song • In what ways did Desdemona’s “willow” song parallel her own life? • Provide textual evidence and explanation of the parallel to Desdemona’s life.

46. Defense for Desdemona • In this speech the you will pretend to be Desdemona. In the play, she is not effective In deterring Othello from altering his misguided opinion that she is a whore. • In your speech, you need to appeal to and convince a jealous man that his wife is innocent. • The speech will be performed for the class.