RESEARCH TOPICS FOR DRAMATURGY TEAMS
PowerPoint Presentations
Many professional acting companies today have dramaturges, consultants who are responsible for providing directors with all kinds of historical and literary information pertaining to the play.
In Othello, many issues would benefit from research. To accomplish this, you will work in teams on the topics below. Note your research topic, the questions it entails, and the due date.
*Internal citations must be used throughout presentation.
*A Works Cited page must accompany the presentation.
1. Shakespeare's Personal Life
Where and when was Shakespeare born?Who were Shakespeare's parents, and what sort of people were they? How was Shakespeare educated?How did Shakespeare become an author?What other jobs/careers did Shakespeare have?How much money did Shakespeare make? Include a picture of Shakespeare.Due Date: Friday, May 2
2. Shakespeare’s Theater and Plays:
Briefly explain where Shakespeare's plays were performed?What were the characteristics of a typical Elizabethan theater?Who went to the theater to see plays in Elizabethan England, and why? How many and what kind of plays did Shakespeare write?Why did Shakespeare write plays? Who were the actors in Shakespeare's plays? Why weren’t there female actors? Due Date: Due Date: Friday, May 2
3. The Globe Theater Group 1
Research and explain parts of the Globe Theater (platform, tiring house, pit/yard, galleries, trapdoor, heavens, Lord’s Room, balcony, inner stage, tiring house, hut), "groundlings," etc. How was the original Globe destroyed? Due Date: Monday, May 5
4. The Globe Theater Group 2
Research activities in the yard, raising of the flag, props, scenery, admission, intermissions, women in the theater-companies. Due Date: Monday, May 5
5. Venice
Where is Venice, and what was it like in the sixteenth century? What was its economic status at the time? As part of the PowerPoint, show pictures of Venice. What was the Venetians’ relationship with the Turks? Find a large map of the Mediterranean (PowerPoint) and be prepared to show what territory the Venetian Republic and the Ottoman Empire covered.
Due Date: Friday, May 2
A good place to start:
6. Cyprus
Where is it? What was its importance in the sixteenth century? How far is it from Venice? What were the politics of the countries nearest it? Use a map in the presentation.
Due Date: After Act I
A good place to start:
7. Moors
Who are they? Where did they come from? What were they doing in Europe in the sixteenth century? Are there religious or cultural practices associated with them? Include images to enhance the presentation.
Due Date: “But words are words”—After Act I
8. Turks
What was the Elizabethan attitude toward foreigners in general and non-Christians—such as Turks—in particular? Include images to enhance the presentation.
Due Date: “But words are words”—After Act I