Week 4 homework

"Emelia is the real hero of Othello".

If this were an essay topic, write an introductory paragraph which presents your thesis and at least two main points in support of this. This is to be posted on your blog by 3.20 pm Friday.

Work for Friday's lesson

Choose one of the following themes in "Othello" and write a paragraph in which you discuss how the theme is presented to the audience focussing on one act of the play:
 
Jealousy
Betrayal
Race
Revenge

Scan your notes to identify which  act might be the most suitable. For example, we know that jealousy is a prominent theme in Act 3.

Discuss at least one positioning technique by which the audience is positioned to understand the play's representation of the theme. Include at least one quotation, trying to incorporate it into a sentence, and punctuating and referencing correctly.

Post to your blog or email to me before the end of today's lesson. If you finish this task, you may work on your homework paragraph.

Term 4 Week 3 homework

 
Why does Othello react so quickly and so strongly to Iago's manipulation? Does the problem lie within Othello? Is Iago just too good at what he does or is it a combination of the two? Argue your case and justify your point of view in a well-structured and detailed paragraph. Refer to at least one theme and evaluate one positioning technique. Incorporate a quotation and make sure it is referenced correctly. Post to your blog by 8.20 Monday morning. I will be checking before the lesson.

Week 2 homework

The character, Othello, is missing from much of the early part of the play. We hear about him and what he has done from discussions among/between other characters - Iago and Roderigo; Brabantio, Iago and Roderigo; Brabantio and the Senat). When he is discussed or referred to, it is using language that we would consider quite racist in modern terms. For example, he is variously referred to as; “the Moor” (I.i.57), “the thick-lips” (I.i.66), “an old black ram” (I.i.88), and “a Barbary horse” (I.i.113). Although Othello appears at the beginning of the second scene, we do not hear his name until well into Act I, scene iii (I.iii.48). Why has Shakespeare chosen to introduce the main character in this way? How is the audience being positioned to see Othello and to see other characters? Write a well-structured paragraph in response, using evidence from the play, including at least one quotation and evaluating the use of aesthetic features. Post to your blog by 8.20 Tuesday morning.

Week 1 Othello homework

Othello Background Research

From the Othello folder in Blackboard, go into the pre-reading research activities folder and do the pre-reading research questions assigned to your group.

I have also saved this document under my blog on the blogs page to make it easier to find.

Write your responses to the question as a paragraph. For example, if you are doing the research on Venice, you will write a paragraph on Venice in which you answer the questions.

You should also produce a Power-Point presentation with some visuals to support your answers. You might include a map, some pictures etc - nothing too detailed. Upload the paragraph to your blog before Monday's lesson. I also want you to print out a copy and bring it to class.