Othello Act 1 s. ii

Lesson objectives 
Complete your Cornell notes 
Review of Act 1 scene 1
Consideration of Iago's language 
Consideration of the motif of black and white 

1 / 15
suivant
Slide 1: Diapositive
EngelsUpper Secondary (Key Stage 4)GCSE

Cette leçon contient 15 diapositives, avec diapositives de texte.

Éléments de cette leçon

Lesson objectives 
Complete your Cornell notes 
Review of Act 1 scene 1
Consideration of Iago's language 
Consideration of the motif of black and white 

Slide 1 - Diapositive

Slide 2 - Lien

Iago lying to Othello 
Look at 1.2.1-8
Iago is telling Othello of his converstation with Rodrigo. 
What lies does he tell? Write them in your exercise book. 

Slide 3 - Diapositive

Iago lying to Othello 
Iago sates that he wanted to stab Rodrigo because he spoke in such 'scurvy and provoking terms' about Othello. Iago presents himself  as the model of goodness who is determined to defend Othello. 
He states that he was so angry at Rodrigo's slurs that he 'nine or ten times' felt like stabbing him and it took all his self-control to 'forbear him'. He also states that he is unable to commit premeditated murder and can only kill in battle as a soldier. He has already shown himself to be premeditated in his schemes. 

Dramatic irony: Such statements are enjoyable for an audience – they remind us what a devious character we are watching. He might be a villain, but that does not mean he cannot be entertaining. 

Slide 4 - Diapositive

We meet our tragic hero for the first time

Write your answers in your exercise book. 

  1. What should we be expecting, based on Iago’s comments? 
  2.  What do we actually get? Give some quotes. 
  3. How old do you think Othello should be?
  4. How should he dress?
  5. What accent should he have? Should he sound ‘foreign’?
  6. How attractive should he be?

There is no right or wrong answer: it simply depends on the kind of Othello you think would be best in production

Slide 5 - Diapositive

Othello is calm and rational 
            'Let him do his spite; 
My services which I have done the signatory 
Shall out-tongue his complaints.' 1.2.17
             'I fetch my life and being
From men of royal siege, and my demerits
May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune 
As this that I have reached.' 1.2.21-24
              'Not I; I must be found. 
My parts my title, and my perfect soul 
Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?' 1.2.30-32



Slide 6 - Diapositive

Othello is calm and rational 
  •  Othello responds with dignity to Brabantio's anger, even rebuking him for resorting to shouting and threats, 'Good signior, you shall more command with years than with your weapons'1.2.60-61
  • Brabantio’s language is insulting, and plays on Renaissance stereotypes of black people being associated with witchcraft, 'she in chains of magic[…]thou hast practiced on her with foul charms' 2.1.65-73
  • Othello’s respect toward Brabantio and acknowledgment of his status goes a long way to establish Othello’s superior nature
Shakespeare establishes that Othello is combatting the negative image of him outlined in 1.1 and is presenting himself as civilized and refined rather than a marginalised outsider . 

Slide 7 - Diapositive

The tragic hero - Aristotle 
In order for the tragic hero to arouse pity and fear in the audience, he cannot be either all good or all evil but must be someone with whom the audience can identify.
If he is superior in some way(s), the tragic pleasure is intensified.
His disastrous end comes from a mistaken action (hamartia), which in turn arises from a terrible error in judgment.
The tragic hero is often guilty of hubris, an excessive pride that causes the hero to ignore a divine warning or to break a moral law.
It has been suggested that because the tragic hero's suffering is greater than his offence, the audience feels pity because the audience perceive that they could behave similarly

Slide 8 - Diapositive

Nobody knows what is going on
Othello has been with Desdemona during the one evening that his services are really needed by the Venetian council. He has been focusing on personal matters rather than state issues, and is taken off guard by the news that the council is looking for him.

Similarly, Brabantio has been so busy looking for the “thief” who stole his goods that he, too, is oblivious to the fact that the council has been deliberating without him.

Interestingly, Iago is the character who seems best informed of the circumstances at hand, political and domestic. Note his ability to remain in Othello’s good graces (until Othello’s back is turned, anyway).

Cassio, on the other hand, has been focusing on the impending war, and although he is Othello’s lieutenant, he had no idea about the General’s impending marriage.

Slide 9 - Diapositive

Quick questions - answer in your exercise book 
1. Look closely as Othello's speeches to Iago. What is his response to Brabantio's complaint? 
2. What do you learn about Desdemona's history from Brabantio's speech from line 62? 
3. What are Brabantio's main objections to the marriage of Desdemona and Othello? Give quotes and explanations. 
4. Who prevents Othello's arrest at the end of the scene? 

timer
1:00

Slide 10 - Diapositive

How has Othello looked over the years 
The current trend seems to be young and handsome. Although, there are some clues in the text that he is much older than Desdemona. 
Adrian Lester
2013
André Holland 
2018
David Oyelowo
2016

Slide 11 - Diapositive

How has Othello looked over the years 
In the past, he was often portrayed as much older (and by a white actor) 
Laurence Olivier 1965
John Gielgud 
1961
Konstantin Stanislavski 
1896
Orson Welles
1951 

Slide 12 - Diapositive

Lesson objectives 
Consider how Othello is presented 
The personal and the national concerns 
The position of women in Jacobean England 
Desdemona defends herself and Iago lays out his plan 

Slide 13 - Diapositive

What could this shift from old to young suggest? 
Answer these questions in your exercise book: 

  1. What do directors (and actors) wish to emphasise or play down about the character through these casting choices?
  2. How might it change our reaction to the character?
  3. How might we feel about his elopement with a young woman?

Consider our perceptions of older men who marry younger women.

Slide 14 - Diapositive

How would your Othello look? Would you make him seem an outsider? 
Make an outline like this on your paper to create your Othello. Consider use of:
Props
Costume
Body language of the actor
Facial expression
Voice
Draw on, annotate and label your outline


timer
1:00

Slide 15 - Diapositive