1. AS Paper 1: Othello Lesson 18
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AS Paper 1: Othello
Lesson 18
LQ: Can I understand the relevance of the last scene and show a detailed understanding of the play as a whole?

2. Key words: Play, drama, genre, contexts, historical, social, cultural, race, religion, gender, Venice, Cyprus, attitude, audiences B4
Outstanding Progress: you will confidently explore through detailed and sophisticated critical analysis how writers use these aspects to create meaning B3
Excellent Progress: you will explore structure, form, language, themes and contexts, commenting on specific aspects with reference to how they shape meaning B2
Good Progress: you will show awareness of structure, form, language, themes and contexts, commenting on specific aspects with reference to how they shape meaning
LQ: Can I develop my understanding of the events of and consider their impact on the play as a whole?

3. Key vocabulary to include:
LQ: Can I understand the relevance of the last scene and show a detailed understanding of the play as a whole?
Key vocabulary to include:
Litany - a tedious recital or repetitive series.
Denotation - the opposite of ‘connotation’ in that with denotation, words have only one plain meaning
Denouement - the final part of a play, film, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.
Rhetoric - the art of using language effectively (i.e., to write, to argue a point)
Subliminal aversion to – subconscious (you’re not even aware of it) disgust towards something
Othello – spiral, hits Des, Iago watching over him, Iago suggestion that he
Speech
Violence
Physical ‘savage madness’
Nobility – had the eyes and ears of the Venetian court, now hides so that he can eavesdrop on a conversation
Ext: Can any of these words be used in your analysis of Othello?
Key words: Play, drama, genre, contexts, historical, social, cultural, race, religion, gender, Venice, Cyprus, attitude, audiences, character analysis

4. The importance of the final scene
LQ: Can I understand the relevance of the last scene and show a detailed understanding of the play as a whole?
The importance of the final scene
The final scene is important mainly for:
The murder itself. What is the relevance of the way in which Desdemona dies?
The language used by Othello. What does it reveal about his state of mind?
Othello’s justification for the murder. Does he continue to see himself as the victim?
The role of Emilia. What responsibility does she have in articulating the audience’s opinion?
Iago. What can be said about the way he is now presented?
Othello – spiral, hits Des, Iago watching over him, Iago suggestion that he
Speech
Violence
Physical ‘savage madness’
Nobility – had the eyes and ears of the Venetian court, now hides so that he can eavesdrop on a conversation
Key words: Play, drama, genre, contexts, historical, social, cultural, race, religion, gender, Venice, Cyprus, attitude, audiences, character analysis

5. LQ: Can I understand the relevance of the last scene and show a detailed understanding of the play as a whole?
The murder itself. What is the relevance of the way in which Desdemona dies?
The stillness of the opening of this final scene contrasts dramatically with the events and mood of the previous scene; and the long section in which Othello stands over and then smothers Desdemona seems to suggest that time is finally moving more slowly (and as a result, agonisingly).
Othello’s desire to avoid spilling Desdemona’s blood is significant. Some critics suggest that this means he seeks to avoid the marks of murder and thus attempts to avoid blame and guilt.
Othello seems to revert to mercy almost as soon as he has smothered his wife; he does not want her to linger in pain. This adds to the pathos of Desdemona’s demise, which is heightened when she murmurs to Emilia that Othello is not to blame for her death.
Others might see a desire to leave Desdemona as she is – Othello speaks about her white skin, which is as 'smooth, as monumental alabaster' (line 5). It is as if he really wants her to live, or at least, not to look as if she is dead. However, the reference to alabaster calls to mind a tomb: in Othello’s mind his wife is dead already
In what way does this tie in with the image of the handkerchief? What thematic implication does blood have?
Ext: Can you reinforce your ideas with reference to the whole play?
Key words: Play, drama, genre, contexts, historical, social, cultural, race, religion, gender, Venice, Cyprus, attitude, audiences, character analysis

6. LQ: Can I understand the relevance of the last scene and show a detailed understanding of the play as a whole?
The language used by Othello. What does it reveal about his state of mind?
Othello’s opening speech reveals a number of things. Firstly, that the tragic hero sees himself as an agent of justice, whose purpose is to prevent Desdemona from committing further sins. Later in the scene he tells us that he views her death as a sacrifice, not a murder (as if he were a priest engaged in a religious ritual – note the sense of detachment and righteousness). But perhaps he protests too much. The repetition of 'it is the cause' (line 1), combined with the fact that Othello still cannot bring himself to name the cause, indicates that even now the tragic protagonist finds it impossible to tear himself away from his wife by killing her. We might also feel that the litany of ‘it is the cause’ should be read as self-justification.
He speaks of a rose withering on a tree, and then says 'Be thus when thou art dead and I will kill thee / And love thee after‘. Othello has to use symbols: Desdemona is a rose, he is acting for Justice. By symbolising his wife he again avoids confronting his deed head on, as he did when he refused to name the ‘cause’ (reason) for his jealousy and the murder. The opposition in Othello is summed up by his lines about weeping and sorrow, which is 'heavenly' (line 21), the opposite of what sorrow should be. Othello believes he is acting out of love. All the images in these lines portray the sorrow he feels and the enormity of his deed.
Key words: Play, drama, genre, contexts, historical, social, cultural, race, religion, gender, Venice, Cyprus, attitude, audiences, character analysis

7. LQ: Can I understand the relevance of the last scene and show a detailed understanding of the play as a whole?
3. Othello’s justification for the murder. Does he continue to see himself as the victim
It is important to remember that Othello is immeasurably calm at this point. He does not speak passionately or rashly; he measures his words and seems in control of his faculties, although the imagery of opposition suggests that he is still torn mentally; he is both in control and confused.
There is a low point for the hero when he tries to think of a way of concealing the murder at line 94, and again when he tells Emilia that he did not kill Desdemona. Perhaps Shakespeare is trying to show Othello’s confusion; his speech at line 90 is a little disjointed, with short phrases and questions. It is completed by a yelp of pain, 'My wife, my wife, what wife? I have no wife; / O, insupportable! O heavy hour!' (lines 96–7). Admittedly Othello does not confess his own guilt or express remorse here, but he clearly understands what he has lost. That he sees Desdemona’s death as a monumental loss can be confirmed by the fact that he thinks there should now be 'a huge eclipse / Of sun and moon, and that th’affrighted globe / Should Yawn at alteration' (lines 97–9). He feels that nature should reflect the chaos he finds himself mired in.
Ext: Can you reinforce your ideas with reference to the whole play?
Key words: Play, drama, genre, contexts, historical, social, cultural, race, religion, gender, Venice, Cyprus, attitude, audiences, character analysis

8. Ext: Can you reinforce your ideas with reference to the whole play?
LQ: Can I understand the relevance of the last scene and show a detailed understanding of the play as a whole?
3. Othello’s justification for the murder. Does he continue to see himself as the victim (cont…)
does Othello remain somewhat deluded and self-dramatising, as some critics have suggested? He still insists that he is honourable: has his pride been his downfall? In his final speech the Moor presents himself as both hero and villain. He reminds Lodovico and the others (with characteristic self-effacement) that he has been of service to the Venetian state, and seems to want to insist on his identity as heroic soldier, not disastrous husband. But we must remember that Othello also recognises that he deserves to be tortured and to die. Othello is preoccupied with himself but at the same time he focuses sharply on Desdemona, killing himself 'to die upon a kiss' (line 357). Consider how accurate Othello’s final assessment of himself is: did he give in to jealousy too easily? Was he perplexed in the extreme? Did he love unwisely?
Ext: Can you reinforce your ideas with reference to the whole play?
Can you make links between Othello and the elements of Greek teragedy
Key words: Play, drama, genre, contexts, historical, social, cultural, race, religion, gender, Venice, Cyprus, attitude, audiences, character analysis

9. LQ: Can I understand the relevance of the last scene and show a detailed understanding of the play as a whole?
The role of Emilia. What responsibility does she have in articulating the audience’s opinion?
Emilia becomes the voice of the audience in this scene; we must have an outlet for our feelings of outrage. The repetition of 'my husband' (lines 138, 142, 145) is highly charged; Emilia is as reluctant as Desdemona to believe her husband is not what he seems. Her outpourings serve two functions; she mourns Desdemona and offers a tribute to her mistress’s virtues, while also reconfirming the strength of the love she felt for Othello. Emilia is the guardian of Desdemona’s honour, a role Othello should have assumed. Emilia’s castigation of Othello reminds us how far the noble Moor has fallen and the cruelty of her words might perhaps represent some kind of poetic justice. Othello recognises the justice of Emilia’s description when he reiterates her words, 'O fool, fool, fool!' Othello redeems himself further when he asks plaintively, 'why should honour outlive honesty?' (line 243).
In what way does this tie in with the image of the handkerchief? What thematic implication does blood have?
Ext: Can you reinforce your ideas with reference to the whole play?
Key words: Play, drama, genre, contexts, historical, social, cultural, race, religion, gender, Venice, Cyprus, attitude, audiences, character analysis

10. Why do you think that Iago chooses this moment to be quiet?
LQ: Can I understand the relevance of the last scene and show a detailed understanding of the play as a whole?
Iago. What can be said about the way he is now presented?
Iago says less in this scene than in any other scene in the play; and in some ways his silence is as powerful as his speech. Has he been defeated? We might feel that he is not diminished by the revelation of his crimes: is Iago gloating when he says to Othello, 'I bleed, sir, but not killed' (line 285). His last line can certainly seem defiant. Many critics feel that the ensign remains an enigma. However, his devilment is clearly recognised by all the characters on stage. Iago’s final acts are brutal and unnatural. There is a troubling irony in the fact that his last crime mirrors Othello’s: he too kills his honest wife to preserve his honour. The closeness of Iago and Othello also seems to be suggested by the references to unchristian behaviour. Iago is a 'cursed slave' (line 289), a 'demi-devil' (line 298); Othello is responsible for a 'monstrous' (line 186) murder and then destroys himself in an act of heathenish self-slaughter. However, our final responses to Othello and Iago will be very different; we will feel the great tragedy of the Moor’s death and relieved and glad that his tormentor will be tortured.
Why do you think that Iago chooses this moment to be quiet?
Ext: Can you reinforce your ideas with reference to the whole play?
Key words: Play, drama, genre, contexts, historical, social, cultural, race, religion, gender, Venice, Cyprus, attitude, audiences, character analysis

11. Do you agree with this assertion?
LQ: Can I understand the relevance of the last scene and show a detailed understanding of the play as a whole?
CONTEXT
Othello’s suicide makes him a Stoic hero. Stoics, who followed the teachings of the Greek philosopher Zeno (335–263 BC), were supposedly indifferent to pain, and bore suffering without complaint.
Do you agree with this assertion?
Is there anything honourable about Othello’s death?
Does he fit the model of the tragic hero?
Othello – spiral, hits Des, Iago watching over him, Iago suggestion that he
Speech
Violence
Physical ‘savage madness’
Nobility – had the eyes and ears of the Venetian court, now hides so that he can eavesdrop on a conversation
Ext: Can you reinforce your ideas with evidence from the text?
Key words: Play, drama, genre, contexts, historical, social, cultural, race, religion, gender, Venice, Cyprus, attitude, audiences, character analysis

12. LQ: Can I analyse the effect of foreshadowing in Act 1 Scene 3?
LQ: Can I further my understanding of the plot and begin to look closely at language?
LQ: Can I analyse the themes of honesty and reputation in Act 2?
LQ: Can I further develop my understanding of characterisation in Act 1?
LQ: Can I identify the changing traits of characters?
LQ: Can I analyse structure, form, language, themes and contexts in Othello?
Noble Stature: since tragedy involves the "fall" of a tragic hero, one theory is that one must have a lofty position to fall from, or else there is no tragedy (just pathos). Another explanation of this characteristic is that tragedies involving people of stature affect the lives of others. In the case of a king, the tragedy would not only involve the individual and his family, it would also involve the whole society.
Tragic Flaw (Hamartia): the tragic hero must "fall" due to some flaw in his own personality. The most common tragic flaw is hubris (excessive pride). One who tries to attain too much possesses hubris.
Free Choice: while there is often a discussion of the role of fate in the downfall of a tragic hero, there must be an element of choice in order for there to be a true tragedy. The tragic hero falls because he chooses one course of action over another.
Unleashes vitriol?
Until now, there has been no ill treatment of women
Key words: Play, drama, genre, contexts, historical, social, cultural, race, religion, gender, Venice, Cyprus, attitude, audiences, character analysis

13. LQ: Can I analyse the effect of foreshadowing in Act 1 Scene 3?
LQ: Can I further my understanding of the plot and begin to look closely at language?
LQ: Can I analyse the themes of honesty and reputation in Act 2?
LQ: Can I further develop my understanding of characterisation in Act 1?
LQ: Can I identify the changing traits of characters?
LQ: Can I analyse structure, form, language, themes and contexts in Othello?
The Punishment Exceeds the Crime: the audience must not be left feeling that the tragic hero got what he deserved. Part of what makes the action "tragic" is to witness the injustice of what has occurred to the tragic hero.
Hero has Increased Awareness: it is crucial that the tragic hero come to some sort of an understanding of what went wrong or of what was really going on before he comes to his end.
Produces Catharsis in Audience: catharsis is a feeling of "emotional purgation" that an audience feels after witnessing the plight of a tragic hero: we feel emotionally drained, but exultant.
Unleashes vitriol?
Until now, there has been no ill treatment of women
Key words: Play, drama, genre, contexts, historical, social, cultural, race, religion, gender, Venice, Cyprus, attitude, audiences, character analysis

14. Key words: Play, drama, genre, contexts, historical, social, cultural, race, religion, gender, Venice, Cyprus, attitude, audiences B4
Outstanding Progress: you will confidently explore through detailed and sophisticated critical analysis how writers use these aspects to create meaning B3
Excellent Progress: you will explore structure, form, language, themes and contexts, commenting on specific aspects with reference to how they shape meaning B2
Good Progress: you will show awareness of structure, form, language, themes and contexts, commenting on specific aspects with reference to how they shape meaning
LQ: Can I further develop my understanding of characterisation in Act 1?