Conditions. A reduced summary of the 16-page document of the REALLY important critics / critical approaches. | Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! Instant PDF downloads. Read more about the weaponization of race in Angie Thomas The Hate U Give. Othello Critics. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. The story of an African general in the Venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his wife of adultery, Othello is a tragedy of sexual jealousy. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Emilia at first appears to be one of her husband Iago's puppets. Hard copies of all resources will soon be available to purchase. registered in England (Company No 02017289) with its registered office at Building 3, "Othello is a noble hero whose tragic fault is his insecurity." Jacob de Villiers. 20% 4.772093023255814 83 reviews. on 50-99 accounts. ? egoist' and for this, Iago plays on his weaknesses: Lisa Jardine argues Desdemona is 'Too knowing and: too independent' she is too passive! Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch. View all Read our fullsummary and analysis ofOthello, scene-by-scene breakdowns, and more. Subscribe now. Among Iagos many repulsive qualities, his eagerness to hurl racial epithets is perhaps the most shocking. (one code per order). You may either corroborate or challenge this critic - it is often quite fun to counter the critic and open up a literary debate. for a group? Something went wrong, please try again later. 6^w%>(+Fv5>"Rf:kvZZuGm)`!mcjO13dC^%R'M@a$&z(,<\>Q|U Sg+Vd)hpp/S2NG""xbPHN`P:W|J'V#p>S{%ipJulL In order to achieve a top grade in English Literature, it is absolutely essential to include critics and/or critical approaches in your answer to act as supporting evidence. When he sees himself through societys eyes, as a barbaric interloper, Othello begins to despise himself, and it is that self-hatred that allows him to kill what he loves most. Please see the preview for an example of this document. It is succinct and designed to be a practical revision resource for the exam. Contact us Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Here's where you'll find analysis of the literary devices in Othello, from the major themes to motifs, symbols, and more. Key Facts about Othello Full Title: The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice When Written: c. 1603 Where Written: England When Published: 1622 Literary Period: The Renaissance Genre: Tragedy Setting: Venice and Cyprus Climax: The murder of Desdemona, by Othello Antagonist: Iago Extra Credit for Othello Moor or less? Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on William Shakespeare's Othello. Available St Pauls Place, Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2JE. A long list of critics for each character / theme, so that you can easily decide which critic and critical approach suits you best for your revision without having to do the EXTENSIVE research involved in categorising the critics. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. ', 'EitherShakespeare wants us to consider Emilia exceptionally dimwitted orhe made her (link the Ensign's wife in Cinthio) too afraid of Iagoto challenge him until it is too late' - E A J Honigmann, 'Just about every character misunderstands her' - E A J Honigmann, '[At the end] Othellois cheering himself up. How does Iago use Bianca to trick Othello? How does Othello see himself? Othello Critics and Critical Approaches A-Level English Literature. A post-colonial critique of the play considers the way in which Othello's race is portrayed, and considers the hero's 'outsider' status in a white world. Shakespeare shifts the action from Venice to Cyprus. This is highly easy to understand due to the easy table layout. Q2-Explore the dramatic presentation of Emilia in the play. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! The way the content is organized, A concise biography of William Shakespeare plus historical and literary context for, In-depth summary and analysis of every scene of, Explanations, analysis, and visualizations of. In Elizabethan England, the term "Moor" could be used to refer to a wide range of non-European persons, including black Africans, North Africans, Arabs, and even Indians. Key Critical Interpretations over the Years: 19th and 20th Century Views, Feminist Contemporary readings of Desdemona, Marxist Readings, Historicist Readings, Christian Elements of the Play, Post-Colonial Readings, Context on the Source for Othello - Hecatommithi and Literary Context / Intertextuality (tragedy, patriarchy, abuse of women, independent women, the destructive nature of love, race and machiavellian villains in Renaissance drama). A breakdown analysis of F.R. A Level English Lit: COMPLETE OTHELLO REVISION NOTES. Students love them!, Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. How do the other characters react to Othellos skin color or to the fact that he is a Moor? Thank you very much for your interest in this resource. Like those men, Othello wants to place the blame for his feelings of inferiority somewhere and winds up laying that blame not where it belongs (in this case, at Iagos feet), but on his own skin. 806 8067 22 Continue to start your free trial. Subject: English. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Some critics suggest that Othello is damned when he commits suicide because he has sinned against God's law. Sometimes it can end up there. In an attempt to enlist Brabanzio in his anti-Othello cause, Iago refers to the general as the Moor, the devil, and a Barbary horse. These terms reduce Othello to a crude stereotype, turning him into a villain and an animal. Revision can be challenging to say the least, but these resources have been designed to make it enjoyable and 'easy'. Othello is also accused of other soul destroying sins; murder, despair and entering into a compact with the devil (Iago). $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Please wait while we process your payment. Emilia Character Analysis. In a similar way to the latter section of the 16-page document, this sheet looks at the variety of approaches, the critics quotes to back up the approach, the key concepts of this approach and then finally how we can apply this approach to Othello. 34 of 40. T.S Eliot argues Othello is a 'criminal. The fact that Othello has risen to the important and powerful position of general and is accepted as a distinguished member of Venetian society suggests that the state he serves is at least 'colour blind', prepared to see good in foreigners and accept that they have a useful role to play. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] for more information. They completely demystify Shakespeare. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Othello: KEY CONTEXT Othello: LANGUAGE FEATURES Othello: CHARACTERS AND KEY QUOTATIONS I achieved an A star in AQA A Level English Literature - I have put together all of my Othello revision notes, which cover every assessment objective and will secure you top marks in the exam! Character List. The binary of love/hate is central to the play. You'll also receive an email with the link. Video: The Question of Race in Othello. Thomas Rymer, one of the play's most negative critics, wrote a commentary on Othello in A Short View of Tragedy (1693). How does Iago use Bianca to trick Othello? Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. This website and its content is subject to our Terms and Struggling with English? Desdemona is linked to good through the use of references to heaven. Geoffrey Sax 2001), Film: Othello (filmed theatrical production, 1965). She can do nothing whatever. $24.99 Like Iago, other Venetians resort to racial slurs to deal with their own feelings of inferiority or powerlessness. How were the rulers Chandragupta Maurya and Chandragupta I alike, and how were they different? LitCharts Teacher Editions. Free trial is available to new customers only. Created on: 15-06-11 18:55. When Iago wants to set up the appearance of inappropriate behavior between Cassio and Desdemona, he decides that "my wife must move for Cassio to her mistress" (2.3.) When Iago tells Brabanzio that an old black ram / Is tupping your white ewe, he demeans a passionate and loving relationship between two intelligent adults by characterizing Othello as a mindless rutting animal who has soiled the pure Desdemona with his lust. I achieved an A star in AQA A Level English Literature - I have put together all of my Othello revision notes, which cover . %PDF-1.6 % Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. 20% Philip III of Spain expelled 300,000 "Moriscos" from the Iberian (Spanish) peninsula not long after Shakespeare finished, Shakespeare's primary source for Othello was, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Want 100 or more? He is a military man, with a reputation for courage in battle and good judgment in military . The play has a ridiculous and improbable plot, no poetic justice or tragic decorum. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Othello has been compared to Job, Judas and Adam; Desdemona with Christ and Iago with Satan. docx, 18.79 KB A summary of every important critic quote for an A Level English exam, based (and separated by) the main themes and characters in the play, and what different critics have had to say regarding different themes and characters. Report this resourceto let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Continue to start your free trial. Othello: A Level 2 Religion The preoccupation with good and evil underlines the play's religious context. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Instant downloads of all 1725 LitChart PDFs 806 8067 22 Dont have an account? From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Othello A-Level: Critics Provide 4 critical comments on femininity Click the card to flip Loomba: "Othello is predisposed to believing his pronouncements about the inherent duplicity of women" "Venice was repeatedly pictured as a city full of whores" French: "two kinds of women, one being superhuman, totally virtuous." Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. William Shakespeare and Othello Background. hbbd```b``"H7`RD\`r:g,*`5`5`v:4f#T0a a2zp#L`$ms``!Ig`: This pack has all the materials that **I used to get an A* in Edexcel A Level English Literature**. 'Othello' Critics Word Document 12.56 Kb. But in Act IV, he crumbles. endstream endobj startxref The story of an African general in the Venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his wife of adultery, Othello is a tragedy of sexual jealousy. Designed by GonThemes. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. St Pauls Place, Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 2JE. Othello is a soldier for whom the 'big wars' make 'ambition virtue'. I have included a **quote bank** with analysis beside each quote, as well as a **critical quote bank**. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. You can find notes and guides for it below. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at [email protected]. Strickler: "The dichotomy of Man / City versus Woman / Wilderness is not appropriate for the kind of liberty that Desdemona and Othello seek" See a complete list of the characters inOthelloand in-depth analyses of Othello, Iago, Desdemona, Emilia,Cassio, and Roderigo. This is a massive bundle of resources to aid your study of Shakespeares Othello for A-Level English Literature with a specific focus on critics and critical approaches. He would have performed in black make-up and a wig made of black lambswool. "Shakespeare had portrayed [Othello] the very opposite to a jealous man". to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Something went wrong, please try again later. registered in England (Company No 02017289) with its registered office at Building 3, Find a one-to-one tutor on our new, Essay: Homosocial Desire and its Conversion to Homosexual Desire, Essay: The Symbolic Significance of Desdemonas Handkerchief, Essay: Men, Women and War: An Examination of Gender Conflicts within Othello. Free trial is available to new customers only. The role of Othello was almost undoubtedly first played by Richard Burbage, the leading actor in Shakespeare's company. It is a quiet moment, but a hugely significant one. It might be read as a last attempt by Emilia to save Desdemona from her self-destructive 'feminine' passivity' - Penny Gay, feminist critic, 'Barbarywas in love, and he she loved proved mad and did forsake her: she had a song of 'willow'; it express'd her fortuneshe died singing it', 'have not we affections,desires for spot, and fragility, as men have? Othello has converted to Christianity and subscribes to Christian values. She cannot retaliate even in speech; no, not even in silent feeling, Desdemona made a very specific decision to marry this man that makes her in some ways extremely strong, an active participant in the drama, rather than an insipid feeble girl., describes Desdemona as the ideal Renaissance woman, pious, modest, and obedient the picture that is constructed is an idealised one and yet, as soon as we see her, she proves herself to be assertive, sexually liberated and witty., Desdemonas spirit, clarity, and realism do not desert her entirely in the latter half of the play as many critics and performances imply., the motive-hunting of motiveless malignity, suggests that it is Iagos repressed desire for Othello that is the real reason for his actions, suggests on Othello, the stuff of which he is made begins to deteriorate and show himself unfit., Othello must not be considered as a negro, but as a high and chivalrous Moorish chief, describes Othello and Iago as implicit in the other, Not easily jealous is the most appalling bit of self-deception. Ira Aldridge is the only actor of African heritage to have played Othello in Europe in the 19th century, and he did so several times. Neely, Carol Thomas. turbaned Turk" (V.ii.362), even though in that speech, as in his speech in Act III, scene iii, Othello depends on his identity as a soldier to glorify himself in the public's memory, and to try to make his . Geoffrey Sax 2001) Your rating is required to reflect your happiness. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. The story of an African general in the Venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his wife of adultery. This critical quote bank has quotes on Othello, Iago, Desdemona, Women, Tragedy and more. It also has **4 essay plans** on the main characters in Othello (Iago, Othello, Desdemona and Emilia). Study Othello Critics using smart web & mobile flashcards created by top students, teachers, and professors. I am a former student on the edexcel specification and achieved an A* in English Literature as a result of creating this resource. Discuss the role that race plays in Shakespeares portrayal of Othello. Contact us . In the next lines, Othello compares himself to a toad living in a dungeon, as if he has begun to suspect that his Blackness makes him a loathsome animal, somehow less than human. Iago's desire for revenge is presented as destructive, unnatural and egotistical. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at [email protected]. Powered by WordPress. Want 100 or more? There have been numerous interpretations of Othello over the last 400 years. 806 8067 22, Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Othello Scene Summaries with Quotes AQA English Literature A-level, Othello Revision - Context, Scene Summaries, Literary Criticism, Practice Paragraphs, Do you need to quote critics for A Level Lit? a-level english literature , Edexcel A Level English Literature Paper 1: Drama 9ET0 01 - 7 Jun 2022 [Exam Chat] . Complete your free account to request a guide. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Purchasing Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. thello'. This exam guide contains: * summaries of each act and scene * notes about the main characters * short paragraphs on important themes *quotable quotes * exam questions with answers Grade 12 Othello in a nutshell! endstream endobj 105 0 obj <>>>/EncryptMetadata false/Filter/Standard/Length 128/O(\(uW{6]0tAj)/P -1340/R 4/StmF/StdCF/StrF/StdCF/U(i*Mf )/V 4>> endobj 106 0 obj <><><><><><>]/ON[133 0 R 134 0 R]/Order[]/RBGroups[]>>/OCGs[133 0 R 134 0 R]>>/Pages 100 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 107 0 obj <>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Type/Page>> endobj 108 0 obj <>stream Othello A Moor (an African), a general in the defense forces of the city state of Venice. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. Shakespeare's father was a glove-maker, and Shakespeare received no more than a grammar school education. Study Guides, Why does Othello care about Desdemonas handkerchief. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Refuting the arguments of "Othello critics" and "Iago critics," Neely reads the central theme in the play as love and the central conflict of the play as between the men and the women. describes how Othello sees his murder of Desdemona as a sacrifice, "he is to save Desdemona from herself". Roderigo, on the defensive and trying to present himself and Iago as a unified front, casually refers to Othello as the thick-lips. This epithet is both an attempt to undermine Othellos military achievements with a cheap stereotype as well as a way to pit Roderigo and Iagos physical similarity against Othellos unfamiliar appearance. "Shakespeare shows us an ideal, noble way of living but also the hellish opposite." Jacob de Villiers. Struggling with distance learning? (2.1.191-93) Setting the scene. Prep for a quiz or learn for fun! It is succinct and designed to be a practical revision resource for the exam. . My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Every teacher of literature should use these translations. i;..M2DD |'S87JwrWkJ])9_j. You must relate your discussion to relevant contextual factors and ideas From your critical reading. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Iago hopes to disgust Brabanzio with this animal imagery and with the contrast between Othellos Blackness and Desdemonas whiteness. Leavis and this view on Othello / Honour. English Literature. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. (including. Othello - William Shakespeare 2016-02-25 This second edition of Othello has a new, illustrated introduction by .