OTHELLO REFLECTING CRITICALLY ON ACT 1 CRITICAL MOVES

OTHELLO – REFLECTING CRITICALLY ON ACT 1 CRITICAL MOVES, CRITICAL APPRECIATION OF A FILM ADAPTATION

THEMES • Different kinds of individuals in conflict with / within their Society • Mastery and Slavery / Bondage • Clash of Cultures; Racial Prejudice • The Struggle of Existence; the Injustice, Unfairness and Wrongness of the World; Meritocracy and Favoritism • Jealousy and Resentment • Betrayal of Trust; Issues related to Miscegenation • Good and Evil; Love and Hate • Appearance and Reality; Sight and Blindness

THEMES IN ACT 1, NOTABLY SCENE 3 How are these themes presented and developed throughout the play? (Note language and imagery) • Civilization and Barbarism • Christianity and Heathenism • Heaven and Hell • Order and Chaos • Magic; Witchcraft • Love and Lust; Love and Hate • Good versus Evil • Appearance and Reality

FROM PAGE TO STAGE/ FILM Watch Act 1 played out in Oliver Parker’s 1995 film adaptation of the play. Jot down specific moments/ lines/ images/ motifs that strike you. [See ] What strikes you about his interpretation of the play? Why? [Think] Would you consider this to be a faithful adaptation of the play? Why? How similar or different is this adaptation from the way YOU visualised Act 1 to be? [Wonder] What would you consider to be the dramatic impact of the director’s artistic choices?

HOLIDAY READING & RESPONSE 1. Finish reading the play by the end of the March holidays 2. Write a one-page reflection using the following questions as prompts: • How do Acts 2 to 5 CONNECT to your understanding of themes and characters in Act 1? • How do they EXTEND your understanding of these themes and characters? • What do you still find CHALLENGING about Shakespeare’s presentation of these themes and characters throughout the play? 3. Substantiate your response with well-chosen references to the text.