1. Who’s fault is it? For whom do you feel sorry?
To know what makes this play a tragedy.
To understand Shakespeare’s lasting impression of Othello in Act 5, in particular to his major speeches.
To be able to make your own judgments of Othello and critically analyze his speeches in Act 5, Scene 2.
Literary Theories; Figures of Speech; Schemes; Tropes;
Aristotle’s Poetics; Northrope Frye Tragedy Model;
Machiavellian; Feminism

2. Act 5, Sc. 2- Final Scene General Discussion:
How did you feel about the ending of the play?
What lasting emotions did the final scene leave you with? (sadness, dissatisfaction, anger, dismay etc…)
The play is one of Shakespeare’s four great tragedies, but whose tragedy is it do you think?
( )
Literary Theories; Figures of Speech; Schemes; Tropes;
Aristotle’s Poetics; Northrope Frye’s Tragedy Model;
Machiavellian; Feminism

3. Some other common traits characteristic of a tragic hero according to Aristotle [Make notes in your groups – everyone writes]:
Do you think Othello suffers more than he deserves?
Do you think Othello was doomed from the start, but bears no responsibility for possessing his flaw?
Do you think Othello is noble in nature, but imperfect so that the audience can see themselves in him?
Do you think Othello discovered his fate by his own actions, not by things happening to him?
Do you think Othello understands his doom, as well as the fact that his fate is discovered by his own actions?
Do you think Othello’s story arouses fear and empathy?
Do you think Othello is physically or spiritually wounded by his experiences, resulting in his death?
Do you think Othello is intelligent so he may learn from his mistakes?
Do you think Othello has a weakness, which is his pride?
Do you think Othello faces a very serious decision? What is it?

4. Othello, Act 5, Sc. 2- Key Scene 3 Othello’s Final Speech
In Othello’s final speech (& the one before) Shakespeare has to decide what impression to leave on the audience about his main character.
He could-
leave the audience feeling outraged by Othello’s dreadful deed in killing Desdemona
evoke the sympathy of the audience for a man who was noble, but has been brought down to the depths of despair
make the audience feel the terrible agony of Othello’s realisation that he was wrong and has lost the person he most loved because of his own actions
give the audience a final impression that Othello is a foolish, selfish & easily led man, quite unlike ourselves, who would have seen through Iago’s plot
allow the audience to feel that Othello has regained his nobility and has done ‘the decent thing’ in killing himself.
Re-read the final speech (and consider his other speeches) and discuss with your partner which of the choices listed above you think Shakespeare has made.
Review the rubric.

5. For the Quotation Analysis Test on March 27th
INSTRUCTIONS:
You will choose four (4) quotations to analyze. You will clearly mark which quotation you have chosen to analyze.
You will identify the speaker, describe the context of the quotation, and analyze the figures of speech/literary devices and/or literary theories whenever possible. Please follow the rubric as a guide to help you structure your paragraphs.

6. N.B., If you can correctly identify and analyze the schemes and tropes, then that would help your mark; if you can correctly identify and analyze any literary theories (e.g., Aristotle’s Poetics, Northrope Frye’s Tragedy Model, Feminist Theory, and the Machiavellian Character), then that would help your mark as well.
-No cell phones or other electronic devices
-No copies of the play
-English-to-English dictionaries are allowed
-Cheating of any kind will result in a mark of zero, and you will explain your actions to the Program Leader or Vice-Principal

7. Possible Films to Compare with Othello
DIY
The Guilt
The Time Travel Lover
Sight
WEBSITE FOR THE SHORT FILMS