Apr 4, 2011 ... Shakespeare's plays have 5 acts, subdivided into scenes .... Literature –
Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama Second Edition – Robert ...
William Shakesp peare
William Shakesp peare
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“he is not for an age, but for all time” – Ben Jonson
http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/timeline
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Two stressed syllables in same iambus
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Terms Act Shakespeare’s plays have 5 acts, subdivided into scenes Each act focuses on one major aspect of the plot or theme Arras Tapestry hung on stage to conceal scenery until needed Aside Actor speaks words to audience; other actors cannot hear Chorus A single person who recited a prologue before Act I Informed audience of action offstage or outside time frame of play Epilogue Short address by actor at play’s end explaining or commenting on meaning or what may come next
Terms Flourish Music introducing entrance or exit of King or other person of import
Induction Preface or prelude to play
Scene Time & place of action in play Part of act that takes place in one location
Sennet Trumpet flourish introducing entrance of character
Tiring House Dressing rooms of actors
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Chiaroscuro Deliberate contrast of light to dark Deliberate contrast of light to dark Highlights movement Intensifies a particular figure or setting
Examples: Light vs Light vs Dark in Human Morality Othello vs Othello vs Desdemona Othello Characters move from dark to bright settings Black vs white references in names and Black vs conversations
T 1601‐‐1604 1601
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Setting 16th Century Venice C pr s attacked b Cyprus attacked by Ottoman Turks Italy Allies With Spain Defeat Ottomans ~ 1571 Battle of Lepanto Cyprus ~ Strategic Outpost
Desdemona’s Death Song – Dante Gabriel Rosetti
Characters Othello
The Moor The Moor
Gentlemen of Cyprus Gentlemen of Cyprus
Brabantio
Desdemona’s father
Lodovico
Noble Venetian
Cassio
Honorable Lieutenant Gratiano
Noble Venetian
Iago
A villain
Sailors
Roderigo
A gulled gentleman
Clown
Duke of Venice
Desdemona
Othello’s wife
Senators
Emilia
Iago’s wife
Bianca
A courtesan
Montano
Governor of Cyprus
Messenger, Herald, Officers, Gentlemen, Musicians, Attendants Othello photo credit: http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/5700/5785/othello_7_lg.gif
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Act I Iago complains to Roderigo Iago complains to Roderigo Othello the Moor chose Cassio for his Lieutenant Iago will remain loyal to Othello as long as it suits him
Brabantio informed Desdemona is sleeping with Othello Roderigo had been an unsuccessful suitor to Desdemona But Desdemona is missing But Desdemona is missing
Othello summoned to Duke of Venice Brabantio arrives; orders Othello arrested Duke’s summons comes first
Act I At Duke’ss chambers, Brabantio accuses Othello chambers Brabantio accuses Othello At Duke Spells, potions, trances
Othello disproves claims Brabantio reluctantly blesses marriage Ottomites – Turkish Fleet sails for Cypress Duke asks Othello to defend Venice Desdemona wants to go with her husband Othello asks Iago to have his wife take care of Desdemona Roderigo laments loss of Desdemona
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Act I Iago
Act II At Cyprus a storm has divided the Turkish fleet At Cyprus a storm has divided the Turkish fleet The war may be done But their own ships may also have suffered
Cassio arrives Iago arrives with Emilia & Desdemona The divine Desdemona “The divine Desdemona” has been spared the Tempest has been spared the Tempest
Othello finally arrives “The wars are done; the Turks are drowned”
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Act II Iago tells Roderigo that Desdemona loves Cassio Iago tells Roderigo that Desdemona loves Cassio Also that she will tire of the Moor She cannot be blessed or she would not have loved the Moor
Iago advises Roderigo to pick a fight with Cassio Cassio will get in trouble with the authorities
Iago wants to make Othello jealous Iago wants to make Othello jealous A Herald announces The defeat of the Turkish Fleet Celebration of Othello’s wedding Blessings to Cyprus and the “noble general Othello!”
Act II Othello and Desdemona go to bed Othello and Desdemona go to bed Iago arrives with wine for him and Cassio Cassio gets drunk He keeps insisting that he is not drunk – He keeps insisting that he is not drunk – a sure sign!
A fight ensues between Roderigo, Montano, & Cassio Othello breaks it up Othello dismisses Cassio as his Lieutenant Desdemona summons Othello to bed “. . . ‘tis the soldiers’ life to have their balmy slumbers waked with strife.”
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Act II Cassio laments his lost reputation to Iago Cassio laments his lost reputation to Iago Iago reassures him that the means exist to reestablish himself Cassio declares to ask for his position back Iago declares that Othello’s wife is “now the general” Iago tells Cassio to ask Desdemona to intervene with Othello on his behalf Privately, Iago declares To tell Othello that Desdemona loves and lusts after Cassio To make Othello jealous
Act II Roderigo baits Iago Roderigo baits Iago Knowingly?
Iago declares to set up the potential, albeit fictitious tryst Othello must find Cassio petitioning his wife
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http://absoluteshakespeare.com
http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/Criticism/shakes pearein/images/ch/CHp5_character_chou.jpg
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Paul Robeson as Othelllo and Peggy Ashcroft ass Desdemona at the Savoy Theatre, London n, 1930
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www.amrep.org/othello/threefaces.html
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Think About It! Shakespeare’s tragic heroes • All fundamentally flawed • This weakness leads to their downfall • The bigger they are, the harder they fall • Often, Shakespeare’s tragic heroes are noblemen, making the fall even more dramatic and tragic • Shakespeare’s tragic heroes often fall victim to external pressures • Fate • Evil il • Spirits • Scheming characters All play a hand in the ultimate downfall or demise of the tragic hero
What compels Othello to kill Desdemona? Jealousy? Desire for revenge? Excess idealism? A wish to be a public avenger who punishes "else she'll b betray more men"? "?
Think About It!
How is the case made against Desdemona? Trace the steps by which Iago rouses Othello to suspicion. Besides Othello, who does Besides Othello, who does Iago Iago deceive? To what would you attribute Iago’s To what would you attribute Iago’s success as a deceiver? What does Othello mean when he calls himself "one that loved not wisely but too well"? Summarize the events that lead to Iago’s Summarize the events that lead to Iago’s unmasking
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Think About It! What makes Othello a tragedy? What makes Othello a tragic hero? What are the primary motifs in the play? What judgments about the human condition might one make as a result of reading Othello? What are some human nature issues that Shakespeare addresses in Othello? To whom or which situation might you relate? Might Othello and Oedipus the King be more than vehicles for sheer entertainment?
The primary source of information for this slide show is our 1102 textbook Literature – Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama Second Edition – Robert DiYanni
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