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English Literature > Othello- William Shakespeare > Flashcards

Othello- William Shakespeare Flashcards

1
Q

“I am not what I am”
Iago

A

Iago is deceitful

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2
Q

“I know my price”
Iago

A

He values himself highly

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3
Q

“Your fair daughter”
Iago

A

Shaming Othello and Desdemona’s marriage because she is superior due to her race

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4
Q

“Barbary horse”
Iago discriminates Othello

A

North African horse, animalistic imagery, sub human, dehumanising

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5
Q

“Making the beast with two backs”
Iago about O+D

A

Othello and Desdemona having intercourse, “two backs”= two races, interracial relationship

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6
Q

“Lascivious moor”
Iago

A

Othello reveals a sexual interest

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7
Q

“Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them”
Othello

A

Othello does not want to fight (peace with Brabantio), Brabantio calls Othello a thief (stole Desdemona)

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8
Q

“Valiant Othello”
Iago about Othello

A

Iago praises Othello, he is a good warrior

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9
Q

“Look to your wife”
Iago to Othello

A

Iago makes Othello realise that because Desdemona is Venetian, she is likely to have an affair (Iago’s machinations)

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10
Q

“Strikes her”

A

Othello hit Desdemona due to his aggressive jealousy, Iago’s machinations are succeeding

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11
Q

“It will cost thee dear”

A

If Othello kills himself, he will go to hell, suicide is a sin

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12
Q

“Thick Lips”

A

Stereotypical, seen as hideous

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13
Q

“Godless” “Bestial” “Hideous”
Loomba

A

Stereotypes of North African people

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14
Q

What does Loomba focus on?

A

Race and society

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15
Q

“Iago’s machinations are effective because Othello is predisposed to believing the inherent duplicity of women”
Loomba

A

Iago is successful in his machinations because Othello believes him and Desdemona don’t belong together (race, class) and that women are liars and cheats

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16
Q

“Hierarchies are not external”
Loomba

A

Othello internalises racism and sexism

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17
Q

Venice is a place for “female deviance” and “hub of international trade”
Loomba

A

Bianca is deviant (prostitute), Desdemona elopes with a black man

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18
Q

Venice is a “model of civility”
Loomba

A

Mix of cultures due to international trade, critique of english society

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19
Q

“tolerant society”
Loomba

A

Society allowed a white, well born woman to marry a black soldier with a slave past

20
Q

What does Honigmann focus on?

A

The portrayal of Iago

21
Q

“Chief humorist”
Honigmann

A

Iago appears as more appealing and seems more clever than his victims due to his humour

22
Q

“He confides in us” (The audience)
Honigmann

A

Audience is engaged by Iago’s ambition in his soliloquies, only the audience is aware of his machinations, making Iago more appealing

23
Q

“Iago neither felt nor understood spiritual impulses that bind ordinary human beings together”
Honigmann

A

Constant betrayal from Iago is evident of his lack of understanding of loyalty towards others

24
Q

What does Mack focus on?

A

Tragedy and madness

25
Q

“Tragic hero and buffoon”
Mack

A

Othello is heroic but also a clown for believing Iago and mistrusting Desdemona

26
Q

Tragedy and Madness
Mack

A

Othello’s downfall is a product of his madness

27
Q

“fool in speech and action”
Mack

A

Othello’s speech subverts from eloquence to vulnerability and foolishness

28
Q

Othello is associated with the “disease” of madness
Mack

A

Utter jealousy leads to Othello’s downfall, madness is a form of punishment as Othello results in killing himself

29
Q

What does Leavis focus on?

A

The character of Othello

30
Q

Othello is a “stoic captain”
Leavis

A

Othello is a dispassionate leader

31
Q

“self pride becomes stupidity”
Leavis

A

Othello is egotistical, not a naïve and noble victim of Iago’s machinations

32
Q

The character of Othello
Leavis

A

Othello uses self- dramatisation to show off his authority as general of the venetian army

33
Q

“histrionic intent symbolically affirms the reality”
Leavis

A

The reality that Othello’s self pride led to his mistrust in Desdemona and his ultimate downfall (killing himself)

34
Q

What does Bradley focus on?

A

Shakespearean tragic hero

35
Q

“Earthly greatness to dust”
Bradley

A

Othello turns from being army general to killing himself resulting in powerlessness due to his fatal flaw of jealousy

36
Q

“death of the hero”
Bradley

A

Tragic flaw (Jealousy), internal imperfection that brings down the tragic hero (Othello kills himself)

37
Q

“Makes the whole scene, a scene of woe”
Bradley

A

Othello’s tragic flaw extends to other characters, bringing them down. Desdemona is killed although she was innocent. provides a dramatic sense to the play

38
Q

What does Nuttal focus on?

A

The pleasure of tragedy

39
Q

“Grief and fear become a matter for enjoyment”
Nuttal

A

The audience value the disturbing work (machinations and murders)

40
Q

“enjoyed discomfort”
Nuttal

A

tragedies are unnerving, yet enjoyable, people visit theatre to seek enjoyment

41
Q

What does Kastan focus on?

A

Shakespearean tragedy

42
Q

Tragedy’s power is “universal and inexplicable”
Kastan

A

Iago’s motives are unclear, and Othello’s fate is difficult to understand

43
Q

“Intolerable suffering”
Kastan

A

Did Shakespeare decide Othello’s fate when choosing his race? Absence of clear answers is central to Shakespearean tragedies. Kastan focuses on whether the cause of suffering is human weakness?

44
Q

“uncompensated suffering”
Kastan

A

Desdemona, Bianca, Emilia, Brabrantio, Roderigo, Cassio, Othello

45
Q

“Fall from prosperity to wretchedness”
Kastan

A

Othello is a General of the Venetian army, ends up killing himself, resembling downfall of the tragic hero in a tragedy

English Literature (4 decks)

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