Ocontext pmt Flashcards
what were shakesperaes parents like?
born in stratford upon avon.
his mum was a prominent catholic and she was an intelligent good mother. his dad was a protestant glove-maker and worked his way up to mayor.
what school did he go to?
Shakespeare attended King’s New School in Stratford-upon-Avon. It was a grammar school that provided a rigorous education, where he likely studied Latin, Greek, and classical literature,read classical writing like virgil and ovid influencing his writig style. which influenced much of his later writing. which he attended 12hrs a day 6 hours a week
why did shakespeare leave his fmaily to go to london?
An acting troupe came to his town and a fight broke out between two actors, one fo them being stabbed to death. Needing a replacement shakespeare showed them his tlanets for memorization and then took him on. At 21 years old, he was a small town canners assistant, a young father with 3 children leaving his family for an uncertain future in the London in a London theater leaving twin babies and wife behind.
what was the renassance period like? what was popular?
theatre performances were very popular as a form of entertianment in late elizabethan and ealry jacobean periods and queen ezilabeth I was a generous patron,
in which time period was shakespeare writing?
Writing in the english renassance period which lasted form mid 15’s to early 17’s, the renesance was a cultural movement which saw the flourishing of Latin and Ancient Greek philospies and knowledge in western europe.
what were shakespeares sources for othello?
the main story of Othello comes from Gli Hecatommithi by cinchio a collection of short stories wirtten in italian and published in 1565.
what was Gli Hecatommithi by cinchio about?
it was about a girl named Disdemona (only named charcater) and a moor. a Moorish general marries a Venetian woman, but his ensign tricks him into believing she is unfaithful. Consumed by jealousy, the general murders his wife, only to later learn she was innocent. This plot closely parallels Shakespeare’s Othello, where Iago similarly deceives Othello.
what the differnece between original othello and shakespeares othello?
Shakespeares Iago is far more ambigious and therefore seems more evil than Cinthio’s ensign. Shakespeare gives more time to iago’s soliliquoys although we never really know his motives. he also adds his own chracters
who did shakespeare add who wasn’t in the original othello?
He adds Barbantio and rodrigo. The addition of barabantio adds more depth to othello’s situation : desdemona’s father being opposed tot heir marriage offers another reason for othellos insecurity.
The addition of Rodrigo adds mroe depth to Iago’s character as is authorative and manipulates him.
how did ovid and virgil writing style impact shakespeares writing?
We can see the influence of these writers in this plays and sonnets.
Moral and Ethical lessons : Virgil’s work personal sacrifice for greater good
Pathos → Virgil’s writing evokes deep emotion and piety, especially through the portrayal of suffering and divine
Focus on Love and Desire → Love, lust and desire are recurring themes in Ovid’s works, with complex relationships and emotional entanglements central to many of his stories. His characters often struggle with unrequited love, passion and jealousy.
how long did he continue education for?
Most children left school at 7, but William stayed until 14, when his father went bankrupt and William was forced to start working.
when shakespeare get married?
At 18 he got his wife pregnant, Anne Hathaway already in her late 20’s and they married hastily. Three years later he had two more children and the five of them still lived in his parents house.
had did he playwright journey start?
william had little money contacts or formal education he started of as a journeyman actor rehearsing during the day and performing during the night while living in squalid conditions
In the growing theater industry, what roles did Shakespeare take on within a few years of his arrival?
in a young theater industry which is growing in popularity there is a strong demand for new plays and within a few years, shakespeare’s writing plays as well as acting.
How successful were Shakespeare’s earliest plays, and what was his output over the next two decades?
even his earliest plays proved to be a commercial successes, and over the next 2 decades he averaged almost 2 plays per year, a prodigious output by any standard.
What position was Shakespeare offered due to his early success, and what did it lead to?
due to shakespeares early success, shakespeare’s offered an ownerhsip position in Lords Chamberlains men which will become the leading theatre company of the period.
What was the Renaissance period, and how did it influence Shakespeare’s work?
Shakespeare wrote during the English Renaissance (15th to mid-17th centuries), a time of cultural growth and renewed interest in Ancient Greek and Roman ideas. In Othello, this influence is seen in his deep exploration of human psychology, classical references, and rich language—much of which was first recorded in writing during this period.
When was Othello written and first performed, and why is this important?
Othello is thought to have been written in 1603, with the first recorded performance in 1604. This places it firmly in the Jacobean era, a time when issues like race, religion, and power were central to political and cultural life. Knowing this helps us understand why Shakespeare may have chosen to write a tragedy featuring a Black protagonist and an Islamic-Christian conflict.
What was the original source of the Othello story, and how did Shakespeare adapt it?
Shakespeare adapted Othello from a short story in Gli Hecatommithi by Cinthio, published in 1565. In Cinthio’s tale, the Moor’s Ensign falls in love with Disdemona and, upon rejection, lies about her infidelity. Shakespeare made significant changes: he added characters like Brabantio and Roderigo, deepened Iago’s ambiguity, and used soliloquies to explore psychological evil, especially in Iago.
How were Shakespeare’s plays originally staged and received?
Shakespeare’s plays were written to be watched, not just read. They were popular across all classes: the monarch enjoyed them, and commoners, known as groundlings, would pay a penny to stand in the pit. His plays often included comedic subplots to appeal to all levels of the audience.
Why did Shakespeare set Othello in Venice and Cyprus?
Venice was seen by the English as cosmopolitan, wealthy, and politically stable, but also exotic and dangerous due to its trade with the Middle East. Cyprus, further from Europe and closer to the Ottoman Empire, was viewed as uncivilised and lawless, symbolising the breakdown of order.
What made Venice a significant setting for Shakespeare’s audience?
Venice was admired for its republican government and attracted attention in England because of uncertainty over Elizabeth I’s succession. It represented a utopian society on the surface but had tensions simmering beneath. This duality mirrors Othello’s own journey—from respected general to tragic outsider.
How was race viewed in Shakespeare’s time, and how is it reflected in Othello?
Othello is described as black, but this referred not just to race, at this time, but also morality: blackness was associated with evil, and whiteness with purity. Iago’s insults exploit this, and even the Duke says Othello is “far more fair than black”, reinforcing racial and moral binaries.
How do the Venetian characters perceive Othello’s race?
Othello is met with a mixture of respect, fear, and fascination. While admired as a military leader, his ‘otherness’ makes him an outsider. He is also ultimately rejected and destroyed by the same society.
