1. Othello Feedback
Explore the presentation of power in
Shakespeare’s Othello.
Explore the presentation of the themes of
envy and jealousy in Shakespeare’s Othello.
2. Positives and Improvements
Positives:
• Great knowledge of the text
• Incorporation of at least one
critic
• Stuck to the question really
well for the majority
• Appear to be able to find
evidence to back up ideas
pretty well
Improvements:
• Development of themes
• How to use Critical Anthology
• Relation to Tragedy
• Evaluating technique
• Expanding on AO3 in a
meaningful way
• Envy and jealousy are
different things
• There are many different
types of power/lack there of
3. AO1
• When discussing themes: expand idea so that
they are developed and specific
• Buzz words: how, why, what?
• Example: ‘Jealousy is presented universally as it
is seen to strike both man and woman no matter
what race they may be..’ or ‘the desire for power
is a motivational force…’
4. Develop your ideas as far as
possible
Examples:
• ‘This is further evidenced by…’
• ‘This remains apparent when…’
• ‘This is exemplified further when…’
5. AO2
You need to discuss the authors choices when writing (authorial
intention). Think about the impact of a certain word they have
chosen and consider it’s relevance to your point.
For example: what does it say about Iago that he refers to
Cassio as an ‘arithmetician’?
Be careful not to just go off on one about all of the techniques
the author uses. You will only score highly for mechanical
analysis if you are doing it in relevant manner.
6. Structure
• Prose: written or spoken language in it’s ordinary form, without metrical
structure
• Blank Verse: written with regular metrical but unrhymed lines, almost
always in iambic pentameter
• Iambic Pentameter: describes the rhythm that the words establish in a line.
It is measured in small groups of syllables called ‘feet’. The word ‘iambic’
refers to the type of foot that is use in an unstressed syllable followed by a
stressed syllable. The word ‘pentameter’ indicated that a line has five of
these ‘feet’
• OX OX OX OX OX
• FareWELL the TRANquil MIND, fareWELL conTENT
(3.3.401)
7. Structure cont.
• Important characters tend to use blank verse a lot, but less important ones never use it
• It can show class, intelligence and feelings etc.
• From his opening speeches it is clear that Othello’s character is dignified, he speak in
measured, unrhymed blank verse. This is appropriate, given his status in the play, it helps
to establish his hero status
• This is why he’s often described as the most ‘poetic’ of Shakespeare’s heroes
• Desdemona echoes his speeches, backing up everything Othello has told of his story. This
portrays Othello’s dominance, and an element of respect from Desdemona. Ambiguously,
displays they are perfect for each other/well match, or pessimistically forcing this image of
perfection
• Example: Othello begins to see himself and his wife through Iago’s eyes and is corrupted
by Iago’s idiom, his stately style begins to break down.
‘Lie with her, lie on her? We say lie on her,
when they belie her! Lie with her, zounds!, that’s
fulsome!’ (IV.1.35-41)
8. Structure Cont.
• Each character in Othello has his/her own style of
language
• Cassio’s speech is gallant and courtly – like a true
hero!
• Emilia’s forward thinking, experience and down-to-
earth
• Bianca at times is loving, playful but fiesty
• The different ‘voices’ and styles in Othello are an
important part of the play’s power to hold and move
the audience
9. Iago’s Language
• Iago’s language is full of colloquialisms and oaths, befitting a soldier
• The villain slips between prose and verse adapting his style to suit his
different audience and purposes
• The blunt, persuasive and graphic prose of his exchanges with Roderigo
conveys Iago’s base nature, but the ensign also makes use of a loftier style
• This speech is an example of Iago’s power: he can manipulate hi style
effortlessly depending on who he is speaking to
• Othello begins to use Iago’s base language and structure when he decides
to revenge himself on Desdemona, showing his lack of judgment and Iago’s
increasing authority over him.
• He also begins to eavesdrop something which helped Iago ‘use’ Cassio and
Desdemona’s friendship in the first place
10. AO3
• NEVER FORGET THE AUDIENCE – they are integral to the theatre
experience
• Don’t overgeneralize. Black people did exist and whilst all people
were not racist towards them, many did have certain preconceptions
• Explain stereotypes before you discuss them
• There was a queen on the throne, that’s why it’s called the
Elizabethan Era – Women could not be completely on dimensional
• Take a guess at what the author was trying to do. For example:
show that envy can be so powerful, it is destructive
• THERE CAN BE MORE THAN ONE PURPOSE!!
11. AO5
• Only use your quotes if they back up/refute your ideas. Try not to
base your ideas on what the critics say
• People tended to do quite well when they had a bit of a battle with
the ‘motiveless malignancy’ in regards to both questions
• Explain what the critic means in their quote before backing up with
your analysis. Make sure you still PEEE regardless, you can’t just
substitute your analysis because you have remembered what
someone else thinks
• Only use quotes that fit your argument –you’ll score more highly with
one well placed quote that 3 that don’t particularly fit
12. CONTROL
• Focus on this the most from now
• Learn to control your writing, even if this
means spending more exam time planning
• Plan how you are going to develop your points
in order to make your response flow better
• A more controlled response will gain more
marks
13. Future Practice Questions
In Othello Shakespeare explores the nature
of social prejudice. Discuss.
Explore the idea that in Othello
Shakespeare presents ‘women as victims of
men’?
