Seminar Questions for Othello (up to 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. How does Othello' s respect for Desdemona diminish?  How do you judge his treatment of her? 


2. Why does Othello trust Iago more than Desdemona?   Do you think he is foolish for falling for Iago's schemes or is Iago just that good (consider his manipulation of other characters as well)?


3.   Will Iago ever show his true colors or has he already?  Who is the real Iago?  Is Iago's plan working the way he wants it to?  What does he really want?


4.  Do you think Othello will love Desdemona again?  Can that relationship be saved?  What needs to happen?


5.   Does Othello lack confidence in his relationship with Desdemona because of his race? 


6.   What is the significance of the handkerchief for each of the characters?


7.   How much power do our primitive instincts have in determining how we act?  How is Shakespeare comparing humans to other animals?  If each of the characters in the play were animals, who would they be and why?  What is his point?


8.  Does Emilia suspect that Iago is behind the change in Othello?


9.   How can Othello's unshakable love change so quickly?  Was Othello and Desdemona's relationship so solid that Othello was able to change his mind that quickly?


10. What is Desdemona's point of view of her treatment?   What are we supposed to think about her?  What is Shakespeare's intent in his portrayal of women in this play?
 

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.