Othello- Revision

OP

Theres so much to say about Iago though- i hope there is a question on him this year :smile:

Reply 3

Lady_Muck

14

I'm retaking this, did war poetry yesterday and didn't find it too bad, hadn't seen these before...I do wish I had!

Reply 4

Fraction Man

Yeah Iago would be great to write an essay on but I bet we don't get a question on him, something on Clown knowing our luck lol. Did you do the war exam yesterday some of the extracts in that, blimey, I hope their fair. It's just learning quotes now and keeping them stuck and as you've said critical views, would be nice to have a few of them on here as well, would be most appreciative. :smile:

Reply 5

OP

Yeh sure, i'll put some up later if that is ok, at the moment i'm doing a bit of Blake revision, so i'll swap over later and type up some notes then :smile:

yes i did do war lit yesterday, didnt think it was too bad, although some of the extrats were a bit dodgy- especially D (Helen Thomas) I wanted nitty gritty war stuff, along the lines of Birdsong, Sassoon and Owen, not a memoir about christmas :rolleyes:

never mind though- these things are set to try us, lets just hope Blake/ Othello is better :smile:

Reply 6

Fraction Man

Yeah I hope so as well hun. Ok will come on here later and add a bit also, cheers !!!

Reply 7

mittens87

Is there really no one else doing Wordsworth for AQA English Literature? Just asking as I have him together with the Othello paper

Reply 8

OP

Dedemona

Summary of Character:

•

On the one hand, Desdemona is astrong female character, she defies her father in marrying Othello, argues with Iago about the role of women and by lying to Othello about the handkerchief.

•

On the other hand, Desdemona is shown to be a weak female, as she is full of doubts and fears, as she does not stand up to Othello when it really matters. She also seems resigned to the fact that she will die.

•

Desdemona is a typical upper class woman of the 17th century, she is devoted and loyal to her husband.

Key Quotes:

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"My sweet Desdemon"

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"A most exquisite lady"

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"i am Obedient"

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"Your wife my lord, your true and loyal wife"

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"let nobody blame him, his scorn i approve"

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"Kill me tomorrow- let me live tonight!"

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"A guiltless death I die!"

Key Themes for Desdemona

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Love

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Marriage

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Feminism

Key Critics Quotes for Desdemona:

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"The silly woman his wife"- Rymer

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"She passes from being his ally who would guarantee his white status to his sexual and racial other when her husband sees her as an adulteress" - Ania Loomba

•

"A woman without sense because she married a blackamoor"- Rymer

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"the soft simplicity of Desdemona, confident of merit and conscious of innocence"- Johnson

Reply 9

Critics for each character

Desdemona

‘child like’ – Honigmann

Iago

‘a being next to devil’ – Coleridge

‘motiveless malignity’ – Coleridge

‘an aesthete of evil’ – Hazlitt

‘amateur of tragedy’ – Hazlitt

‘dramatist’ – many critics have referred him to as this.

Othello

‘the noblest man of man’s making’ - Swinburne

‘the most romantic figure among Shakespeare’s heroes does not belong to our world’ – Bradley

‘so noble… inspires a passion of mingled love and pity’ – Bradley

contrary views

‘trying to cheer himself up’ – TS. Elliot

‘terrible exposure of human weakness’ – T.S. Elliot

Emilia

‘less complicated than her husband’ – Honigmann

i hope this helps.

Reply 10

Throughout the play Desdemona refers to Othello with respect.
Othello also has much respect and love for Desdemona but as the play progresses his language changes.

Act 1:2

Desdemona

‘my lord’

Othello

‘this fair lady’

Act 2:1

Desdemona

‘dear Othello’

Othello

‘my fair warrior’
‘my soul’s joy’
‘my sweet’

Act 2:3

Desdemona

‘dear’

Othello

‘my dear love’
‘my gentle love’
‘sweeting’

Act 3:3
Desdemona

‘my lord’
‘good my lord’
‘good love’
‘my lord’
‘i am obedient’

Othello
‘sweet Desdeomona’
‘Excellent wretch’
‘my fair is fair’
‘my love a whore’
‘I’ll tear her all to pieces’
‘Damn her, lewd minx!’
‘Fair Devil’

Act 3:4

Desdemona

‘my noble Moor’
‘my lord’
‘my good lord’

Act 4:1

Desdmona

‘Sweet Othello’
‘my lord’

Othello

‘Devil’

Reply 11

cullmac

This is all good stuff, i also recommend sparknotes for a good revision site on Othello, its very brief and doesnt go into a big amount of detail so only use it to supplement your notes! I've also found some fairly good essays (and some very controversial) essays via google, most of all read the play! I bet you will all subconsciously learn some quotes.

Reply 12

Delirium

Where did you find out what these critics thought?

Reply 13

York Notes and some are from the introduction of the play editted by Honigmann. They both are really good for critical analysis.

Reply 14

sc132

If this helps at all, one thing which is very interesting in Othello is the way that as he descends into uncertainty and doubt and begins 'going mad' as I would say, he begins to speak like Iago, and loses he eloquence. (Which was what gave him his dignity, since it's a play and it depends entirely on the speech and stage directions).

This means that he begins using curses like Iago
"Oh Blood! Blood! Blood!"
"Goats and monkeys!"
more hellish imagery and language
"Heaven does truely know thou art false as hell"
and disgusting bestial imagery
"I should rather be a toad, and live upon the vapors of a dungeon"
which is much like Iago's racist "an old black ram is tupping youe white ewe".

It shows how he is falling more and more into Iago's power as the play goes on. He also switches from verse into prose, becoming more and more disjointed util his final suicide at the end of the play, when he gains control and regains his dignified language again.

sc132 -- hope that helped

Reply 15

Delirium

Thanks for the help. With the exam question, is it more likely to be based on characters than themes?

Reply 16

OP

could be either, both have come up before, as have key events- i.e the dreaded willow scene. Sorry to not be much help but if i were you i'd look at both character and theme, just incase :smile:

Reply 17

what i am about to say is just a prediction so dont take anything for sure.

i have a feeling this time it is more likely to be on a character. why am i saying this...no idea! lol justa gut feeling.

i also have a gut feeling its going to be on Othello (protagonist) of the play. again why am i saying this...no idea lol

i know it doesnt help much but i had to sayy it !!! im dreading this exam 4 some reason.

Reply 18

cullmac

Well last year was very harsh with the Willow scene question and Othello being a tragic hero. Im hoping they're going to go easy on us this year with a nice juicy question on Iago.

Reply 19