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    Othello Act 1

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    Wiley Davis
    This document provides a study guide for Act I of Shakespeare's play Othello. It outlines several tasks for students to complete as they read the act, including analyzing a scene where Iago sows doubts in Brabantio about Othello and Desdemona's relationship, examining Iago's speech to understand his character, discussing meanings of the word "honest" in the context of the play, and answering plot questions after finishing the act.

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    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Othello Act 1

    Uploaded by

    Wiley Davis
    1K views1 page
    This document provides a study guide for Act I of Shakespeare's play Othello. It outlines several tasks for students to complete as they read the act, including analyzing a scene where Iago sows doubts in Brabantio about Othello and Desdemona's relationship, examining Iago's speech to understand his character, discussing meanings of the word "honest" in the context of the play, and answering plot questions after finishing the act.

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    Othello, Desdemona, Iago,

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    This document provides a study guide for Act I of Shakespeare's play Othello. It outlines several tasks for students to complete as they read the act, including analyzing a scene where Iago sows doubts in Brabantio about Othello and Desdemona's relationship, examining Iago's speech to understand his character, discussing meanings of the word "honest" in the context of the play, and answering plot questions after finishing the act.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    1K views1 page

    Othello Act 1

    Uploaded by

    Wiley Davis
    This document provides a study guide for Act I of Shakespeare's play Othello. It outlines several tasks for students to complete as they read the act, including analyzing a scene where Iago sows doubts in Brabantio about Othello and Desdemona's relationship, examining Iago's speech to understand his character, discussing meanings of the word "honest" in the context of the play, and answering plot questions after finishing the act.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    of 1

    Brandt/English IV AP

    Othello Study Guide – Act I


    We will have consistent assigned groups as we work through the play.

    Act I
    A. “Zounds, sir, you’re robbed.”
    We will analyze Iago's description of Desdemona's flight with Othello to her unknowing father, Brabantio (1.1. 86-
    91, 108-112)

    A group of students will enact and read aloud the roles of Roderigo, Iago, and Brabantio. As the scene is acted and
    read aloud, you will make a list of the metaphors and images that Iago associates with Othello and Desdemona. Also
    determine what rhetorical appeals are used here and why. I have a handout to help with this list.

    • Consider the images. What makes them so offensive-especially to the father of the daughter being
    described? Why doesn't Iago just say, "Desdemona has married the noble general, Othello"? Furthermore,
    how does Iago characterize Desdemona's and Othello's relationship? Through his eyes, is their relationship
    one of love or lust? And how would this point of view affect Brabantio, a proud father of a much-cherished
    daughter?
    • What rhetorical appeals does Iago make to Brabantio? Does Iago use appeals of pathos, ethos, or logos?
    Which lines show these appeals? What psychological effects do Iago's words have on Brabantio?
    • How do you view Iago, Desdemona, Othello, and Brabantio based on what you have read and discussed?

    B. “Knavery’s plain face is never seen until used.”


    Examine Iago's speech to Roderigo (1.1. 41-65). What does he say about himself and how does he describe himself?
    Translate and rewrite what Iago says into modern English.

    Examine and write down Iago's reasons for wishing to appear false to Othello (see especially 1.1.8-33; I.3.368-386;
    and 2.1.268-294). What are the reasons? Is there any evidence for these reasons? If not, how does Iago use words to
    convince himself that he is completely justified in destroying Othello? That is, does Iago use any rhetorical devices
    to convince himself that he is in the right?

    C. "The Moor is of a free and open nature, / That thinks men honest that but seem to be so." (1.3 381-82)
    The characters in the play refer to Iago as "honest." What do we mean today when we say someone is honest?

    What did it mean to be "honest" in Shakespeare's time? Consult the Early Modern English Dictionary Database or
    other resources to find the meaning(s) of "honest." (Hint: the word may have a different meaning for a man and for
    a woman.)

    With your Othello group, write down quotes in which "honest" appears in some form. What are some of the diverse
    ways the word is used? What affects the way that we understand the word in each instance? Take careful notes of
    your findings because you will be expected to share your findings with the rest of the class at the play’s end, and
    these notes could help you on an essay.

    D. Plot Questions: At the end of each act, you should be able to answer these questions.
    What is the major event that occurs in this act?
    What information is provided in this act?
    What new information do we learn about each of the main characters in the act?
    How do we learn this? From whom?
    What do the character’s monologues/speeches tell us about him/her?
    What does the manner in which they speak and to whom tell us?
    What seems to be the focus and major function of the act?

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