| Author of ___________________ Name of author | William Shakespeare |
| Date of Publication of _____________ name of work was published __________ | 1604 |
| Genre of | Tragedy/Play/Drama |
| Characteristics of the Genre | It’s a classic tragedy, which means that our hero will somehow be faulted for something that he didn’t intend to do. basically in a tragedy the villain wins, or fate wins, either way someone has to die. |
| Historical information about the period of publication for _____________________ May be more than one card | Jacobean period when Kings James the first ruled England. |
| Historical information about the period of setting of the novel of ____________________ … | The setting of the novel starts in Venice, Italy and then moves to Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean. In actuality Venice was a major trading hub, and had control over Cyprus ad Crete. The Venetians rivals were the Turks, they fought over power and land, but it all came down to religion. The Turks were Muslim and the Venetians were Christian. The English people who watched the play naturally, would side with the Venetians because they were also Christians. Also the Turks were considered “barbarians” and the Europeans were considered “civilized”, which is a major theme that runs through the novel. Most English people regarded Moors a enemies due to their lack Christianity and rumored practises of Voodoo. |
| Place of Author’s Birth | Stratford-upon-Avon |
| Date of Author’s Birth | 1564 |
| Biographical information about the author: … | Shakespeare is one of the most famous writers in literature. He was born in Stratford-Avon, his mother was from a well to do family, and his father was an experienced glove maker and politician. He did some schooling but did not go on to university. He married Anne Hathaway, a woman 8 years his senior, and had a daughter, he eventually had twins too. Nobody is sure what he did between then and 1592 which is when he moved to London to start working on his plays. He later became a part of a theatre troupe called the Lord Chamberlain’s Men who often perform for the queen. They made enough money to build their own playhouse, the one we know as The Globe. Although he started out acting in the troupe, he soon switched to just writing for them and penned 37 plays. He died where he was born in Stratford of Avon at 52. He was wealthy so he bought a new house in the town he grew up in, and was survived by his wife and two daughters. |
| Theme of the work | Barbaric vs. Civilized |
| Theme of the work | Christian vs. Muslim |
| Theme of the work | Revenge |
| Exposition of plot | Tim is really unclear. It had to be at least a couple of days. I’d say a week at the least. |
| Rising action | Iago has taken the handkerchief from Desdemona, a gift from Othello ,that Othello’s mother gave to him, and planted it in Cassio’s room. |
| Central conflict | Iago wants to ruin everyones life. |
| Climax | Othello kills Desdemona, Iago kills Cassio and Rodrigo, Emilia confesses to everything so Iago kills her too. |
| Conclusion | Othello is labeled a slave and barbaric for all the killing, drama, and betrayal. He too, kills himself. |
| “For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heartIn compliment extern, ’tis not long afterBut I will wear my heart upon my sleeveFor daws to peck at: I am not what I am.” | In this line, Iago shows his true self, it reveals his true nature. He’s basically saying that if I were ever to be so foolish as to show my true feelings and intentions to the world, I might as well wear my heart on my sleeve for birds to peck at. He’s telling Roderigo that although he doesn’t like Othello, he knows better than to declare it to everyone. The best way to handle the situation is to, in a sense, keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. |
| “Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters’ minds By what you see them act. Is there not charmsBy which the property of youth and maidhood may be abused? Have you not read, Roderigo, Of some such thing? “ | Ah, old timey sexism. I’m still really surprised that she actually got out, I don’t understand how she did it, and where did they meet? I love how he’s telling all the men not to trust their daughters,like Desdemona doing this set such a bad example that everyone has to pay for it. Their feminine charms are corrupting their maid-hood, apparently, I just think this is funny. |
| “She, in spite of nature,Of years, of country, credit, every thing,To fall in love with what she feared to look on!It is a judgment maimed and most imperfectThat will confess perfection so could errAgainst all rules of nature” | So this is a really big deal that Desdemona married a Moor. I’m surprised that they even continued to allow it and that he wasn’t hung. I’m assuming here were a.) No laws saying that a Moor couldn’t marry a European or b.) due to his high rank in military they allowed it. They even say that it goes against the laws of nature like wow! |
| Othello | ProtagonistHe’s Black/Arab so him having so much power and respect is surprising. He basically has everyone against him, so it’s a tough spot. |
| Desdemona | She’s the European/White woman that he married and the manipulation piece in the plot. |
| Iago | AntagonistHe’s our villain. He feels spited, he suspects Othello is sleeping with his wife, he also wanted to be Othello’s second in command, it’s not really clear why Iago does all of this. I truly think he’s bored. |
| Cassio | He’s another piece of manipulation, just another game piece because Iago is using him to. He’s just the wrong place, wrong time, guy. |
| Emilia | Literally the most unfortunate woman ever. Iago just persuades her into helping him frame Cassio with infidelity, meanwhile she just wants attention. She just wants a trip to the cape, or to renew their vows but he just won’t listen to her. |
| Setting of the opening scene significance | The opening scene if Othello sets up the stage for the whole show. In it, we are told the characters, Iago’s reason for being upset, and the culture and nature of the show that we’re watching. Iago’s monologue alone tells us that 1.) He doesn’t like Othello because he made him his ancient rather than lieutenant, 2.) Othello is a Moor, which means Arab or Black but either way he’s not European and 3.) One can already see that there is a division or divide between Christian’s and Non-Christian’s. |
| Setting of the closing scene significance | The closing scene is in Cyprus. Othello came here for military conquest, another notch in the belt, something else to be heralded for in his military expertise. Instead, it is the scene of his demise. |
| Symbol 1 | Willow Song |
| Symbol 2 | Hankercheif |
| Symbol 3 | Marriage |
Othello
August 4, 2019