Othello Reactions to the Ending Aim What are

Othello: Reactions to the Ending �Aim: What are all the things Othello has lost by the end of his downfall? What are your reactions to how the play ended? �Do now: Tentative Schedual �Lesson: Goals to Help Guide your Discussions 1. Share & Discuss your reactions to/feelings about the end of the play Consider: theme of justice, who deserved what, appearance vs. reality, sympathy for Othello? Des? Others? Then discuss & answer the analysis questions Be sure to use quotes/details/evidence from the text 3. As you go through each question & analyze each scene, make note of how Emilia & the other characters now describe Othello • Activity: Analysis & Critique of the Play • Homework: Finish the Act 5 Discussion Questions (Due tomorrow) 2.

Tentative Schedule �Today: Critique and Analysis of the Play �Tomorrow: Day 1 of Act 5 Notes & Discussion �Friday: No School �Monday: Wrapping Up Notes & Discussion of Act 5 �Tuesday: Othello Counseling Activity �Wednesday: Secondary Source Rational Lesson & Workshop �Thursday: Secondary Source Rational Critique Groups �Friday: Conference �Monday: Othello Final (move Thesis outline lesson to Tuesday)

Othello: A Bloody End (Day 1) �Aim: How does Iago’s plot go astray? �Do now: A Glitch in Iago’s Perfect Plot � � What are Iago’s motives for killing Rodrigo & Cassio? Who does he blame to cover-up when things go wrong? �Review: Reviewing the Love Story 1. 2. 3. How did Desdemona and Othello describe their love at the beginning of the play? What was the one thing that he was insecure about? How did he let that weakness/insecurity destroy their love? What happens when he doesn’t love Des? What does he bet on her love? � Lesson: A Needless Sacrifice � Othello doesn’t want to kill Desdemona, but it’s a sacrifice he thinks he must make

Motives for Killing Rodrigo & Cassio �How would Iago gain from Roderigo's death? Cassio's? (Act 5 scene 1 line 11 -22) �Doesn’t want to pay Roderigo back all the $ he took �Jealous of Cassio: “He has a daily beauty that makes me ugly” �Worried that Cassio will reveal the truth to Othello �What happens when Roderigo attacks Cassio? Who actually wounds Cassio? (Act 5 scene 1 line 25 -26) �Cassio is actually a good fighter ‘ “My coat is better than thou know’st” �Fatally wounds Roderigo �What goes wrong? What must Iago do? �Stabs Cassio from behind but only able to wound him in the leg = Must come up with a new scapegoat

Covering Up When Things Go Wrong �Iago’s plot has gone perfectly up to this point; what do you think went wrong this time? Why? �How does Iago cover up that he was involved? (Act 5 scene 1 line 38 – 75) �Iago plays the hero: pretends to help Cassio, binds his wounds & finishes off Roderigo �Blames Bianca: “I do suspect this trash to be party in this injury” (Why does he need a new scapegoat? ) �How is the way Iago accuses Bianca of being guilty similar to how he accused Desdemona? (Act 5 scene 1 line 106 -112) �“If you stare, ” “Behold her well, ” “Look upon her, ” “Do you see, gentlemen? ”

Setting Up the Worst Tragedy �While all this is going on what does Othello think? What does Othello assume has happened? �What does Othello know he must do now?

It’s hard to Believe that Othello Started Out as a Love Story…So let’s review �How did Desdemona and Othello describe their love at the beginning of the play? �What was the one thing that he was insecure about? How did he let that weakness/insecurity destroy their love? �What happens when he doesn’t love Des? What does he bet on her love?

A Man Torn Between Love & Hate �How does Othello describe Desdemona before he kills her? (Act 5 scene 2 line 1 -20) �I’ll not shed her blood, nor scar [her] = doesn’t really want to harm her �Compares her to snow (purity) & alabaster (a rare expensive white marble) = she’s still precious to him �“Put out the light, and then put out the light” = the real light (lamp) & the light of her life �Kisses her x 2 �Even while they argue, how does Othello show that he still loves Desdemona? �“I would not kill thy soul” �“Amen, with all my heart” �“Sweet soul, take heed. ” �Thinks of killing her as a sacrifice �I would not have thee linger in pain

A False Justice Created by Iago �What justification does Othello try to give the murder of Desdemona? �Have to kill her or she will betray more men �“If I quench thee…I can again thy former light restore. ” = By killing her he will restore her purity �I will kill thee and love thee after �How does Desdemona try to save herself when she realizes Othello is going to kill her? �Begs for mercy �My only sins are the loves I bear you = She still loves him �It’s unnatural to kill for loving �Kill me tomorrow, in a half hour, while I say one prayer �The terrible irony is…what would have happened if he waited?

No Chance to Save Herself (Act 5 scene 2 line 70 -80) �When does Desdemona realize that she has no chance to save herself? �When Othello says that Cassio confessed to using Desdemona, what confession is he talking about?

Desdemona’s Death �What interruption occurs while he is doing it? �Emilia comes just seconds late to report the truth �As Othello debates whether to let her in, we can see he immediately regrets what he’s done (5. 2. 95 -104) �Look at his language, again we see broken speech = losing control �Whom does Desdemona blame for her death? Why doesn’t Desdemona tell her the truth before she dies? (Not in the film) �“A guiltless death I die. ” �“Nobody; I myself. ” �Do you think Desdemona is resigns herself to die in the end? Why or Why not? �“Alas, he is betrayed, and I undone. ” �Is she talking about Cassio…Othello…or both?

Othello: A Bloody End (Day 2) �Aim: How does Iago’s plot go astray? �Do now: Suspicions Confirmed 1. 2. When did Emilia first begin to suspect her husband was behind the trouble between Othello and Desdemona? How are her suspicions confirmed when she confronts Othello after he kills Desdemona? (Act 5 scene 2 line 130175) �Lesson: Iago Gets Caught in his own Web of Lies � Emilia, the Voice of Truth � Rodrigo’s Letters � Othello, a devastated man � Lodovico & Montano Restore Order & Iago Finally Gets What’s Coming to him

Suspicions Confirmed �When did Emilia first begin to suspect her husband was behind the trouble between Othello and Desdemona? �How are her suspicions confirmed when she confronts Othello after he kills Desdemona? (Act 5 scene 2 line 130175) �What is Emilia’s reaction when Othello tells her that Iago has revealed Desdemona's affair with Cassio to him?

Emilia, The Voice of Truth (Act 5 Scene 2 line 176 -204) �When Iago shows up in Othello’s room, what does Emilia command him to do? How does she get him to confess? �“Disprove this villain if thou be’st a man” = questions his manhood (his insecurity) �“Speak, for my heart is full” = Commands him to come clean �How does Emilia finally gain power over husband? �“I will not charm my tongue. ” �“T’is proper that I obey him, but now. ” �Perchance…I will ne’er go home. ” �Confesses about the handkerchief again the clinching piece of evidence = Iago knows his plot has been revealed �Why is it ironic that a woman brings him down?

Rodrigo’s Letters Complete the Story �What do Rodrigo’s letters reveal? (Not in film) �Reveals the rest of the story = the plot to get Cassio drunk, the murders �What does Othello ask of Cassio? �“I ask your pardon. ” �What does Othello ask of Iago? �“Will you…demand that demi-devil why he hath thus ensnared by body and soul? ” �How does Iago respond? Does he show any remorse? �“Demand me nothing. You know what you know. From this time forth I will never speak a word. ”

Othello’s Death �What is Othello’s reaction to having his sword taken away? (Line 252 -255) �“I am not valiant. ” �“Why should honor outlast honest? ” �“Let it all go. ” �Why does Othello kill himself? �“That’s he that was Othello. ” = Has lost everything �No longer the good man he was �“For naught I did in hate, but all in honor” �Has to serve justice and restore order…look at his last speech �How do the governors, Lodovico & Montano restore order from chaos?

Othello: Follow-Up �Aim: How can we better understand Othello? �Do now: Thinking About the End…answer the following questions in your notebook 1. 2. 3. At what points in the play did Othello have the chance to change his mind about his wife, why didn’t he? At what points in the play have the other Characters had the chance to catch or stop Iago; why didn’t they? In our lives, are we always able to see what’s really going on in every situation? Why or why not? � Activity: Marriage Counseling � Follow-Up: Share your findings with the class � H. W. : Secondary Source Articles Due Tomorrow & Please print out the secondary source rational worksheet 1 & 2

At what points in the play did Othello have the opportunity to change his mind? �So why didn’t he…. . ?

At what points in the play have the other Characters had the chance to catch or stop Iago? �Why didn’t they?