Beginning study of Othello, Moor of Venice
For more pictures and explanation refer to: Study Aid, with Visuals
For an interesting blog try this: OTHELLO, et. al.
You cannot discuss the characters, much less the plot, if you don't know what's going on. It is YOUR responsibility to find find a summary (for lack of a better word) of the play as a whole, and of each act. I will use the text of Shakespeare's play in class, with the focus on characters. You need to make sure you know WHO is WHO!!
NOTE: Classes are not "in sync." Be sure to read the post title.
Take what you already know about Shakespearean drama and add:
The AUDIENCE- composed of:
groundlings or penny-stinkers
Important [in large part for the same reason audiences are important today] because:
To the playwright:
On stage, two conventions developed:
An Aside
A Soliloquy
While the sets and special effects were limited, great concern was placed on costumes because
Language because
On Shakespeare's tragic heroes:
“Like Greek tragic heroes, Shakespeare’s protagonists are exceptional human beings whose stature makes their misfortune all the more dramatic. These characters pay a high price for their actions. . . . all lead to irreversible results. . . . Tragic heroes confront devastation; they command our respect and compassion, because they act in spite of terrifying risks. Their triumph is not measured by the attainment of what they seek but by the wisdom that defeat imposes on them.” ~ Michael Meyer
* Practical help in reading Shakespeare:
1. Do not rely solely on Spark Notes or No Fear Shakespeare; use them as they were intended, but remember, in class, in your essay, you will not be using either study aid.
2. Refer frequently to the list of characters called the dramatis personae listed and briefly described at the beginning of the play; in Othello, there are several significant characters, as well as minor characters; be sure you are familiar with:
Othello Roderigo Bianca
Desdemona Cassio
Iago Emilia
3. Pay attention to footnotes or allusions in the drama; if you do not understand a reference AFTER reading BOTH the play and your choice of study aid, ASK, but make a genuine effort to figure it out first
4. Don’t just rely on written study aids; try finding an audio file or recording of the play; hearing professional actors can enrich your understanding
5. AFTER reading the play, view a film of the performance. Try to resist the urge to watch a movie until after you have read the play; by then, perhaps, you will have formed your own ideas about the characters.
(NOTE: It is interesting to watch and listen to different actors to interpret the various roles--some may or may not fit a mental image you have of a particular character.)
Questions (from Michael Meyer, The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature, 9th ed.):
1. Explain how Iago presents himself to the world. What is beneath the surface of his public identity? Why does he hate Othello so passionately? What makes Iago so effective at manipulating people? What do other characters, besides Othello, think of him?
2. Explain whether you think Othello could have protected himself from Iago’s schemes. What could Othello have done differently to avoid the suffering that ends the play? Is Iago to be blamed for everything, or must Othello shoulder some of the blame?
3. Explain why you think Othello’s racial background does or does not affect the events in the play.
4. Describe how the two settings, Venice and Cyprus, reflect different social and psychological environments as well as different behavior among the characters.
5. How does Othello change during the course of the play? Do you feel the same about him from beginning to end? Trace your response to his character as it develops, paying particular attention to Othello’s final speech.
6. Consider how women--Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca--are presented in the play. What characteristics do they have in common? How do they relate to the men in their lives?
7. Despite its grinding emotional impact and bleak ending, Othello does have its humorous moments. Locate a scene that includes humor and describe its tone and function in the play.
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