World Literature Thinkers S1

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Susanne

Your Final Interpretation 5 Replies

Started by Susanne in Uncategorized. Last reply by Emily Apr. 30, 2009.

Susanne

Our Final Academic Articles 9 Replies

Started by Susanne in Uncategorized. Last reply by Griffin Hamilton Mar. 28, 2009.

Susanne

Othello 15 Replies

Started by Susanne in Uncategorized. Last reply by Emily Mar. 21, 2009.

Susanne

Emilia 39 Replies

Started by Susanne in Uncategorized. Last reply by Susanne Mar. 18, 2009.

Susanne

Iago 24 Replies

Started by Susanne in Uncategorized. Last reply by Andrew Mar. 10, 2009.

Susanne

Desdemona 22 Replies

Started by Susanne in Uncategorized. Last reply by Maggie Earnest Mar. 5, 2009.

Members

  • Nicole Smith
  • Laura Nicosia
  • Heather
  • Wes Baughman
  • Fred
  • ayesha
  • Laura Nicosia
  • Carley
  • carasimp
  • Maggie Earnest
  • Griffin Hamilton
  • Evan Sullivan
  • Emily
  • Tania Sheko
  • Jon Tummillo
  • Lynn Mittler
 

How We Will Work through Othello Together

Othello has been studied for centuries. We are about to join this long literary history with our own ideas about Shakespeare's masterpiece.

1. Join and Participate in a Character Forum: You are responsible for posting important quotes said by or said about your character as well as reactions to quotes posted by others. By the end of the play, you must post a total of 5 new quotes (with correct citations) and 10 thoughtful reactions (a direct reference to the posting plus a well-explained new idea you have) to others' postings.
Final Posting due Friday: In one sentence, state what you believe your character's superobjective is. Then comment on another member's superobjective statement.

2. Journal about the Play and Share these Thoughts: On certain nights, you will have a blog topic that asks you to think about the play. On other nights, you will explore and react to classmates' blogs. In the end, you will have created together a web of thinking.

3. Join the Conversation: Write an academic journal article about the character you have followed throughout the play. Here are the guidelines.
** Please post your first draft on your blog (titled clearly so we know it is your draft). Make sure you start your post with 2 specific questions you would like feedback on.

4. Publish Your Article: When you have your final academic article all done, please post it to the "Academic Articles" forum to the left. Here we will be able to read, learn from, and enjoy everyone's thoughts and insights. (Don't forget to also upload your article to TurnItIn!)

Hearing Authors Think ...

Latest Activity

Fred is now a member of World Literature Thinkers S1
August 26, 2009
Laura Nicosia and Lynn Mittler joined World Literature Thinkers S1
May 20, 2009
1. I think that the white man coming symbolizes the second coming and how it was almost dreaded. The beast in the poem is the anti-christ, it seems as if the white man might almost be viewed in the same way (which is ironic because they came there t…
May 1, 2009
-The first thing I really noticed was Okonkwo's hamartia. His pride in his tribe wasn't really a bad thing at any point but the pride in himself caused problems when he tries to justify his actions -his end resulted in a downfall of course because o…
May 1, 2009
- Deals with fate (strong individual v fate - took the arduous path for his beliefs - lost support of lesser characters (his tribe repeatedly for violating traditions, disturbing week of peace, shotting the son at the funeral, killing himself) - Her…
May 1, 2009
I think this is somewhat like a Greek tragedy in that Okonkwo fits perfectly into the role of a tragic hero. He is a good man who the reader sides with (the protagonist), but he has his major flaws that lead to his downfall. I think one key differen…
May 1, 2009
Andrew added a blog post
Once the white man came we saw the sort of gradual changes taking place within the tribe. The white man clearly had a huge affect on the people of Mbanta while Okonkwo was there and we saw that as he returned to Umuofia yet again there was a huge im…
May 1, 2009
Andrew added 2 discussions to the group TFA Discussion- Evan, Andrew, Carmen
April 30, 2009

Blog Posts

Carmen

Think about what happened when the white man came. Then reread “The Second Coming.” Go to your blog.…

Think about what happened when the white man came. Then reread “The Second Coming.” Go to your blog. With the poem and your thoughts on the white man in mind, answer our inquiry frame: how do our larger cultures contribute to our identities or even our isolations? Use Things Fall Apart, both the title itself and the work as a whole, as your examples.

In Things Fall Apart, two main larger cultures stuck out to me. The first one is Okonkwo's culture. His village and the surrounding village… Continue

Posted by Carmen on May 4, 2009 at 11:31pm

Andrew

TFA blog thing for part 3

Once the white man came we saw the sort of gradual changes taking place within the tribe. The white man clearly had a huge affect on the people of Mbanta while Okonkwo was there and we saw that as he returned to Umuofia yet again there was a huge impact. The village just wasn't as it used to be. As the missions gained more support we saw the tribe become rather polarized between the converts and those who stuck with their religion. Initially, with the first missionary leader guy (whose name I fo… Continue

Posted by Andrew on May 1, 2009 at 9:24am

Greg Catron

Draft 1 Academic Article

it wont let me upload the file so here it is. Questions are at bottom. It un-double spaced sorry!

Iago Character Analysis

If I were to tell you that typing “famous selfish characters” into Google would produce a link to a character analysis of Iago, would you be surprised? Samuel Coleridge once described Iago as a motiveless malignity during a lecture given the winter of 1818. According to Coleridge, motive was not a factor in his actions but instead a natural instinct to commit evil acts. Sha… Continue

Posted by Greg Catron on March 23, 2009 at 1:40pm — 3 Comments

Act III: The Climax

The Temptation Scene in Relay: III.iii.90-480

Group #1: 2 people -- Carley and Carmen
III.iii.90-213 (“Excellent Wretch” through “I am bound to thee forever”) Iago starts to poison Othello's mind and goes further in his campaign to make Othello doubt Desdemona’s fidelity. Othello begins to believe Iago's hints.
Roles: Othello and Iago
Directions: Emphasize the irony of the words and who is speaking. Cut down some of Othello’s speeches and aggressively cut down Iago’s
longer speeches.

Group #2: 5 people -- Evan, Griffin, Cara, Emily, and Maggie
III.iii.214-333 (“I see this has dashed a little your spirits” through “Which thou owedst yesterday”) Othello begins to believe Iago's hints and is struggling with his belief in his wife's honesty. The handkerchief is put into play.
Roles: Director (leads line cutting and staging decisions), Othello, Iago, Desdemona, and Emilia
Directions: Cut down lines while focusing on …
1. In the speech beginning at line 228 (from "Ay, there's the point!"), Iago suggests that Desdemona's choice of Othello is unnatural. What are the implications of this? How will the person playing Othello react nonverbally? How does Othello react to Desdemona’s entrance?
2. Use the class handkerchief. Since what happens in this scene sets in motion a series of events that result in catastrophe, figure out carefully how Othello rejects the handkerchief, how and why Desdemona lets it fall, and how Emilia reacts when she picks it up. Where does Emilia hold the handkerchief when she sees Iago coming? What motivates her to offer it to him after all? What is her objective, and how will the actor make it clear? How is the handkerchief passed between them -- Iago takes it or Emilia hands it?

Group #3: 2 people -- Greg and Andrew
III.iii.333-480 (“Ha! Ha! False to me?” through “I am your own forever”) Othello expresses increasing conviction that Desdemona is betraying him. Becoming even bolder, Iago fabricates a story about how Cassio in his sleep revealed his affair with Desdemona. The handkerchief is revealed and pledges are made …
Roles: Othello and Iago
Directions: Cut lines guided by the words and how they create meaning. Think about … Why does Othello insist to Iago, “Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore! / Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof”? Consider the irony of his demand. How can this be conveyed by the actors? Think about the play on the word “honest,” meaning both truthful and sexually faithful or chaste. Decide how to say that word. Finally, work out how to kneel and rise. What props will you use?

Act IV: The Falling Action

Othello’s Fall: IV.i.1-208

In your group, answer your assigned question. Then, prepare a 2-minute or less verbal answer to share with the class – that is, narrow down your group’s answer to the most important essence the whole class needs to know. You have 8 minutes!

1. Define epilepsy. Trace its build-up in and effects on Othello in lines 1-64 (through “and many a civil monster”).

2. How is Iago able to make Othello believe that Cassio is speaking of Desdemona in lines 93-143 (“Now I will question” through “Before me! Look where she comes”)? What would you emphasize, as a director, when you rehearsed the actors?

3. Can you find examples to show how Othello’s once noble and lofty language is sinking to Iago’s bestial level? (Remember your “Iago’s Bestiary” in the close reading group.) What do you make of this change in Shakespeare’s choice of diction for his character?

Act V: The Tragedy Plays Out

Performing Act V

Here are the directions for your final performance!

Act V.doc

 
 

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