Seminar Questions for Othello (up through act 4 scene 2)

These are the questions we, as a class, chose to focus on for our up-coming graded discussion. 

For our discussion you need to prepare notes. 

For each question, write down your ideas, page numbers with passages you want to examine, and connections you want to make.  You should write either a lengthy paragraph or a lengthy list of developed items for each question.

Do your prep work on a piece of paper that you can bring to seminar, not as a comment on this blog.

Please note:  if you do not come to class with the prep work completed, you cannot participate in seminar & you will receive a zero for that activity.


QUESTIONS:

1.  What is the root of Iago's evil? Is he a psychopath?  What does the evidence in the play suggest about who he is?   What does Iago really want to happen; does he expect to face repercussions?

2.  Is it possible for Othello to overcome his jealousy? What would make him look past his suspicions? Does Othello have the ability to kill Desdemona--what would prevent/encourage him to do so?

3. Did Othello change his identity completely due to jealousy, or did he always have some darkness, and where did that come from? What outside forces influenced Othello's identity, and how do they affect him; where do we see that influence in the play?


4.  Did Othello ever really truly love Desdemona? What does Desdemona signify to Othello?  Is that true love?


5.  Why would Othello allow Iago to come between him and Desdemona, yet not allow Brabantio to ruin the relationship?


6. . Did Othello sense that Iago wasn't worthy of trust from the beginning; what caused that to change; did it change?


7.  What is Shakespeare's message about evil/corruption?  Where do you see that developed in the details of the play?


8. Is Shakespeare relying on stereotypes to construct his characters, or does he attempt to deconstruct these stereotypes?  Is Shakespeare a racist/misogynist?  Is he trying to be ahead of his time--does he construct plays that cause controversy to further thinking?


9. How are we as an audience being set up to respond to Desdemona's character?  How do the two women (Emilia and Desdemona) reaction to the Othello's abuse?

Othello Motif Blog

Othello Motif Blog

A motif is a recurring object, image, or word that  sometimes takes on symbolic significance and unifies a text. 

You will track the development of motifs in the play.  When you see one of the motifs used in an interesting or significant way in the text, add comments under the spot where your motif is listed.  Include the following:
           * Quote the lines of dialogue where the motif occurs
           * Analyze how the motif is used in those lines.  What ideas or emotions are evoked?    
              How does this use of the motif develop something you noticed earlier ( the development
              of a character, situation, relationship, or theme)?  How does this use of the motif add
              a new layer of meaning?

Please note that variations or close matches to the words listed below also count in terms of your tracking of the motif.

 

Expectations:

 

How many?  Each time we assign the Motif Blog, we will give you a number of entries to complete.

 

Length?   List the quote that connects to the motif.  Then write a well-developed paragraph of approximately  8-12 sentences.

 

Be sure to…   ANALYZE the quote.  Break it down—discuss specific words, images, figurative language, and details.  Do provide some context for it (what’s going on when this quote comes up in the play), but most of your writing should be analysis, NOT paraphrasing.  Use the questions above to help you develop ideas.