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PowerPoint Notes
Shakespeare’s Othello
•The Tragedy of Othello, the ______of Venice
•Written by ______between 1601-______.
•Published in ______.
Setting:
•Othello is set against ______that raged in the late sixteenth century.
•______(which is the setting for most of the play) was a Venetian outpost.
Historical Background:
•______– Venice joined a “holy league” vs. Turks – were defeated by Ottomans, who dominated the Mediterranean for the next 35 years.
•1540 – ______.
•1567 – Ottoman ruler decreed treaties could be broken to retrieve lands from the ______.
•1571 – 13th Crusade vs. ______.
•1572 – New Treaty; Venice gave up ______.
Othello:
•Protagonist –______
•Antagonist –______
•Themes:
- 2.
•Motifs:
•Sight and ______.
•Black and ______.
•Animals, ______.
•______and monsters.
•Symbols:
•The ______.
•Major conflict:
Characteristics of the Tragedy:
Tragic hero – ______. Likable - whatever trait is most likable, often leads to the hero’s downfall. (Ex. Passion in Romeo and Juliet)
At some point the hero falls from glory. His own hubris (______) ensures a downfall.
Mixture of ______. The hero must make a personal choice that will result in an unstoppable chain of negative events.
Hero must realize his mistake, ______.
Not only does the hero suffer, but his choice will inflict misery upon other people.
Othello, the Moor:
•The term “______” was used to refer to North Africans, West Africans, non-whites or Muslims of any origin.
•North and West Africans living in Elizabethan England were______
______.
•Moors were commonly stereotyped as ______.
•However, Othello is a noble figure of ______.He is respected and admired by the duke and senate of Venice as well as by those who serve him.
•Only Iago and Roderigo voice an explicitly stereotypical view of Othello, depicting him from the beginning as an animalistic, depraved outsider.
Shakespeare’s Use of Stereotypes:
•In Othello, Shakespeare calls on his audiences to consider the person before them, rather than______ him by inherited assumptions and stereotypes. Othello is a “civilized” character and therefore worthy of empathy(______).
•Shakespeare sets up stereotypes just to ______them. Teaches his audiences compassion for those whom society uses but never fully embraces.
•The true devil and uncivilized villain in the play is Iago, ______.
A couple more terms to know:
•Soliloquy- ______.
• Aside- lines spoken away from the main action; directed either at a______character or at the ______.
• Monologue- ______.