| What is symbolic about the handkerchief? | It symbolizes Othello and Desdemona’s love; it has magic in it and Othello’s mom gave it to him. Supposedly O and D’s love will last as long as she keeps the handkerchief |
| What is symbolic about killing Desdemona in bed? | It is where she supposedly slept with Cassio |
| Discuss Othello’s race and its importance in the play. | – Othello was a Moor (black); Moors originated from the northern shores of Africa & converted to Islam (became muslims). – Back then blacks were thought of as savages & sinners. They weren’t typically trusted – Brabantio did not support D & O’s marriage because of Othello’s race – Importance: to show that at the beginning of the play he was kind and calm and didn’t resemble what was thought of as a black man. Everyone thought he was good and pure except brabantio. However, at the end of the play, he lived up to the reputation of a black man by killing his wife and being sinful |
| What is a tragic hero? | A person, usually of noble birth, that obtains heroic or potentially heroic qualities and is doomed by fate. This person struggles admirably against this fate, but fails because of a flaw or mistake. |
| What are the 2 types of tragedies? | Traditional & modern ?? |
| What does ‘cuckold’ mean and what is the importance to the play? | – A man is made a cuckold if he is cheated on by his wife (if another man has a sexual relationship with his wife) – Importance: Iago convinces Othello that Cassio has made him (Othello) a cuckold by sleeping with Desdemona; the idea that Cassio has made Othello a cuckold is what drives Othello to get his revenge and attempt to kill Cassio and Desdemona. Ultimately, this created Othello’s jealousy and overall resulted in his death |
| Know the biographical information on WS. | look @ notes |
| What are the origins of Othello? | – He a Moor – Moors are nomadic ppl from the Northern shores of Africa; they converted to Islam & became muslims |
| Know the physical set up of a theater in WS’s time. | – Theater: the Globe – Rear (the Heavens): small curtained inner stage, flanked by 2 entrances w an upper stage above it. Had a narrow roof held by stout pillars. – Front of stage: had a trapdoor used for… 1. burial scenes 2. surprise entrances 3. mysterious entrances – In open air (no roof); no need for stage illumination bc plays were during the day. To get the idea of night, actors carried torches |
| What archetypes are present in the play? | – Light vs darkness: Before othello kills desdemona, he refers to “putting out the light” (killing her) – Battle between good and evil (cassio vs iago) – The Fall: Othello goes from a high state of being (general) to a low state of being (dies) which involves the loss of innocence (murders desdemona) – Othello THOUGHT that Iago was the loyal retainers archetype but he wasn’t -The Outcast: Othello – Othello thinks D is the unfaithful wife – The Star Crossed Lovers – White (innocence) (Desdemona) – Black (Evil; death) (Othello) |
| What are the different Hero archetypes? | 1. Classical hero 2. Everyman hero3. Superhero 4. Tragic hero5. Epic hero 6. Anti-hero |
| Who is the protagonist? | Othello |
| Who is the antagonist? | Iago |
| Who is the tragic hero? | Othello |
Othello questions unit 3 test
August 8, 2019