Literary Analysis Essay Shakespeares Othello Essay Prompts Choose

Literary Analysis Essay Shakespeare’s Othello

Essay Prompts Choose one prompt below to respond to in essay form Option #2: Complementary Option #1: Character Foil In Shakespeare’s play Othello, how is Iago’s character a foil to Othello? By the end of the play, are there still marked differences between Othello and Iago or stronger similarities that suggest they are more alike than different? Characters In Shakespeare’s play Othello, how do the female characters—Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca—complement each other and share a similar position in the male dominated world of the play? By the end of the story, which of these women circumstances leads to the most tragic outcome? Compare/Contrast traits: social status, gender role, sense of character/morality, treatment of or by others, motivations/feelings, objectives/desires.

5 -Paragraph Essay Introductory Paragraph Body Paragraph 1 Compare women or Contrast men using first character trait Evidence: 2 -3 quotes Body Paragraph 2 Compare women or Contrast men using second character trait Evidence: 2 -3 quotes Body Paragraph 3 Foil Character Essay: By the end of the play, are there still marked differences between Othello and Iago or stronger similarities that suggest they are more alike than different? Complementary Character Essay: By the end of the play, which of these women circumstances leads to the most tragic outcome? Concluding Paragraph Restate Thesis Statement Revisit 3 main points from the body paragraphs Revisit Hook: Pose a new insight from modern comparison that started your introduction based on the ideas/evidence presented in your essay.

Introduction Content & Order Hook: introduce a well-known character duo (ex. Mufasa and Scar) where one is a foil to another or complimentary female characters. Extend: Elaborate on the hook and explain the foil-like difference or similarities between the characters mentioned in the hook. Bridge: Connecting idea from hook to thesis Thesis Statement: Reconfigure the questions in the essay prompt into a 1 -2 sentence statement of opinion about the characters in Shakespeare’s play Othello. Complimentary Character Essay Hook: The beloved cult classic Grease features the female trio Sandy, Rizzo, and Frenchy who undoubtedly “go together” due to their experiences with the woes of teenage girlhood. Extend: Through the course of the story, these girls became women and grapple with the pressures of high school, the let downs of reality, and the social stigmas associated with their gender. Bridge: Complementary female characters coalescing in the same story is not an uncommon theme. In fact, William Shakespeare trademarked this characterization technique in the 17 th Century in one of his most notable works where he captures the common female experience. Thesis: In the play Othello, Shakespeare forms strong parallels between the three female characters due to their shared gender role even though they hold drastically different social statuses. Tragically, these women’s circumstances in a male dominated world lead to a sad fate, yet one will ultimately suffer the most.

Topic Sentences Must align with thesis Should not be a quote, specific detail, or example Should use transitional words Should indicate the overall topic of that paragraph Example: Another notable character trait that Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca share is the enduring pain and dehumanization that comes from being labeled and stereotyped. Concluding Sentences Must align with thesis Circle back to summarize the main point of the paragraph to wrap it up Should use transitional words Should not be a quote, specific detail, example, or explanation of a quote Example: To sum up, Iago is a classic character foil, because his moral depravity makes Othello look even more honorable. Note: Topic and concluding sentences provide a road map for readers and add consistency.

Supporting Evidence 2 -3 quotes per body paragraph Embed quotations Quote length no more than 2 to 3 lines. Snippets can be effective. Quote the original text! Provide a context before the quote Strike a balance between dialogue tags and seamless wording. Ex. Iago says, “ “ versus Ex. Iago degrades Desdemona by labeling her a “white ewe” Citing quotations Include page numbers in ( ) Period follows after the ( ). ? & ! go inside “ “ and then place a period after the ( ). Analyzing quotations Follow up analysis should explain what the quote shows or reveals about the character in order to prove and support your thesis. Don’t use the word “quote” in your follow-up analysis.

Format Typed and must follow MLA: 1” margins All font is 12 -size font and Times New Roman double space entire document Left-justify font, except the title is centered. 5 -paragraph essay: indent first line of each paragraph Header with name, teacher, class, date Appropriate title (not the name of the assignment): must be clever and encapsulate the topic and the problem. Ex. Sisters of a Feather Flock Together: The Women in Shakespeare’s Othello Use Italics for the title of Othello In-text citations with page numbers (major deductions if missing) No first person (I, me, my). Use third person only. Write about the action of the play in present tense. Work must be polished: Writing must be clean, concise, and free of errors.