Othello Critics Flashcards
Who has has the Shakespearean tragedy article?
Kastan
Who does the the pleasure of tragedy?
Nuttell
Who has the Shakespearean tragic hero article?
Bradley
Tragedy and madness theory critic?
Mack
Who has the portrayal of Iago article?
Honigmann
The character of Othello?
Leavis
Othello, race and society?
Loomba
What two word quote does Kastan use to describe the outcome of deaths in Shakespearean plays?
“uncompensated suffering”
Kastan wonders how Shakespeare “________” tragedy
modifies
“The idea of tragedy as the fall from prosperity to wretchedness became commonplace” means what?
Tragedy has been constructed around this structure, hubris = fall to a place of hatred.
In the extract Nuttall considers the tension between “________ and _____”
pleasure and pain
Having pleasure alongside tragedy, seems like adding insult to “______”
injury
The Nietzschean oxymoron ‘tragic joy’ originates from the The Birth of Tragedy, meaning what about an audience? (Nuttall)
Greek tragedy helped audiences appreciate their own existence
Bradley says the tragic hero as a rule is contrasted with previous…
happiness or glory
In the medieval times Bradley says medieval audiences saw the hero as part of a narrative rather than a what?
play
Othello high position…
“never leaves him” (Bradley)
Nuttall finishes with saying that the hero’s fate affects the welfare of a whole….
nation or empire
Mack says Shakespearean tragic hero’s contain both…
punishment and insight
Mack’s article outlines that madness often seems to be a form of divine….
punishment
Mack argues madness is verbally assigned to characters, give an example of where this is true.
Othello - at intense relationship with Desdemona was destined to send him insane if she ever did anything to upset him.
Iago - Iago is doomed by his jealousy and hatred for Othello that it was only a matter of time before he attempted something. I argue Iago isn’t mad he’s just clever in decisiveness
To communicate at all Mack says you must acknowledge the ________ voice
opposing (Rodrigo, Iago, Cassio and Desdemona) all pay a part in Othello’s madness, ether passively or actively.
Iago is described as the chief what by Hongimann
humorist
Iago excels in short term ______ not in long term _______
tactics and strategy
Iago applies what metaphorical cosmetic to provide comedy and dramatic effect?
convenient masks
The essence of Leavis article on Othello is is that once he’s discovered his mistake there is no what?
tragic self-discovery (catharsis)
What juxtaposing quote does Leavis use to describe Othello’s personality?
“full complexity of Othello’s simple nature”
Othello’s self dramatisation means Leavis concludes saying Othello dies belonging to the what?
world of fiction (where his true part lay)
Othello yokes together which historical and societal characteristics? (Loomba)
slave past and noble lineage
The juxtaposition between Brabantio’s racism towards Othello for “tupping” his daughter is ironic because…
Othello is needed for security to combat the Turks
Loomba says England was increasingly hostile to who?
foreigners, hense why Iago’s Spanish name means he represents a threatened society.
Kastan describes moments of inaction as what? (othello’s trance)
“agonising silences”
What does Dr Johnson say poetry and drama must do to an audience in Nuttall’s article?
must please
Bradley uses the word ‘brevity’ to describe Othello not being a “single star”, what does the word mean?
brevity - shortness/few words. Good to show he’s the main star but for all the wrong reasons and his dialogue is irrelevant.
Magusson says what skill is particularly relevant to Iago and is used effectively in other plays such as King Lear and Macbeth.
rhetorical skill
Magussson’s article is called?
voice potential
__________ competence counts for less than _____ and ______ (voice potential)
linguistic / rank and status
Danson’s critical article is on…
masculine desire in Othello
Finish the quote, “slaves know that something..
is always held from the master
What applies to Iago and Emilia but not Othello and Des? (marriage and ownership)
“ideology of marital possessiveness”
Othello is a jealous husband because of what?
his slave past “property of another person and therefore comparable to the status of being married”
Summarise Magnusson’s article on ‘voice potential’
power of the individuals speech depends on their status
