English Lit Drama

• When was the first recorded performance of Othello? 1604
• How does Othello's playing by white actors with makeup impact analysis? It undermines the credibility of Othellos characterisation - is he a stereotype of a moor or a depiction of a genuine black man?
• What was Venices reputation as a city? Cosmopolitan and diverse city, full of wealth and political stability
• Where did Venice have close trading ties to? North Africa and the Middle East
• What is the significance of Cyprus as a setting? Even more unknown to the English audience, therefore more dangerousCloser to the Arab and Turkish world
• What could black be referring to in the 16th and 17th centuries? Both morality and race - white stood for purity and innocence, and black was the antithesis
• What quote confirms an association of blackness with evil? """when devils will the blackest sins put on"" (Act 2 Scene 3)"
• How does the Duke of Venice defend Othello demonstrating conflation of blackness and evil? (Quote) """Your son in law is far more fair than black"" (Act 1 Scene 3)"
• What was the typical depiction of Moors on the Elizabethan stage? Menaces intent on destructionThreat to the moral, social and political orderEg. Aaron, a moor in Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus
• How does Othello challenge and reinforce the stereotypical depiction of a moor? Initially is a noble and honourable manUltimately murders his wife in a jealous rage
• What Brabantio quote demonstrates that women were seen as property in this time? "Accuses Othello of being a ""foul thief"" (Act 1 Scene 2)"
• What was the stereotype of Venetian women? They are quick to be unfaithful to their husbands
• What typical plotpoints of a tragedy does Othello follow? A striking and noble heroA reversal of fate due to a key flaw or misjudgementThis leads to widespread sufferingUsually results in the heros death
• What is Othello's hamartia (fatal flaw)? Jealousy
• What is the significance of Shakespeares use of tragedy as a genre? Adds a sense of inevitability and hopelessness to the play
• What dramatic paralells are created in the play? In Act 1, Othello is on trial and defends himselfBy Act 4, he is the one who judges and cross-examines his wife
• How many times is the word 'honest' repeated throughout the play and who is it most frequently used to refer to? 52 timesReferring to Iago, creating dramatic irony as the audience knows of his dishonesty
• How does the play narrow in setting as it progresses? Opens in Venice, moves to Cyprus, then ultimately comes down to a single bedroomSetting becomes claustrophobic for characters and the audience
• Whats the significance of the lack of subplot in Othello? Heightens the sense of claustrophobia. because there are no outside forces to alleviate the dramatic tension and intensity
• How is Desdemonas death symbolic? She is smothered, Othello covers her mouth and she cannot speakShe is silenced because her husband no longer believes the words she speaks
• How is language important to Iagos Character? He frequently slips between prose and verse, shifting like how he manipulates characters.
• Where does Othello display noble language in Act 1? """Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approved good masters, That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter It is most true"" (Act 1 Scene 3)"
• What quote displays Othello's modesty in Act 1? """Rude am I in my speech"" (Act 1 Scene 3)"
• By Act 4, his verse has broken down and became fragmented and confused, whats one example of this? """Lie with her! lie on her! We say lie on her, when"" (Act 4 Scene 1)"
• What is the famous metaphor of jealousy? """the green-eyed monster"" (Act 3 Scene 3)"
• What role does jealousy play throughout the play? Its a destructive and monstrous force
• How does Iago dehumanise Othello in Act 1? "Says ""An old black ram/is tupping your white ewe"" (Act 1 Scene 1)"
• How does Iago demonstrate his deception early on in the play? (Quote) """I am not what I am"" (Act 1 Scene 1)"
• What does Iago tell Roderigo is the reason for his hatred of Othello? Othello promoted Cassio instead of him
• How did Desdemona fall for Othello? She fell in love with him after hearing stories about his life
• What plan does Iago reveal to the audience at the end of Act 1? He plans to convince Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio
• How does Iago 'prove' Desdemona has been sleeping with Cassio? Says he has heard Cassio sleep-talking about DesdemonaSaid he saw Cassio using Desdemonas hankerchief
• What does Emilia deliver a speech about in Act 4? Speech where she blames men for not understanding that women have feelings just as men do
• Whats the significance of meeting Iago before Othello? Hears his opinion first and sets up to be sympathetic towards Iago and critical of Othello
• How does Shakespeare establish that Othello is defined by his race in Act 1 Scene 1? "He is not mentioned by name but is referred to simply as ""the Moor"""
• What is established about Othello in Act 1 and how is this established? He is an outsider, and we seen this by Iago and Brabantio's treatment of him
• How do we gain a sense of the Importance of Iago in Act 1? He both opens and closes Act 1, and this establishes him as a structurally dominant character.
• "Analyse: ""An old black ram/is tupping your white ewe"" (Act 1 Scene 1)" Dehumanises OthelloPuts Desdemona in a position of virginal innocenceBlack was often referring to morality as well - implying his apparent evil nature
• "Whats the significant of Othello referring to his journey as ""My pilgrimage""(Act 1 Scene 3)?" Indicates his assimilation into ChristianityHis non-Christian orgiins are only acceptable to the Venetians because he tells them a sanitised version which ends in conversion to Christianity
• How does Shakespeare zoom in on the characters relationships and motivations in Act 2? Elimates the external threat of war