AP English: Literature and Composition Yousaf Bajwa

Major Works Data Sheet

Title: Othello Biographical information about the author:

William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright.
He is often said to be the greatest writer in the history of the English
Author: William Shakespeare language. Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon, a
prosperous market town. His father was a merchant who eventually
became a politician. He grew up in the "small farmers" social class
Date of Publication: 1622 which is roughly equivalent to today's middle class. As a boy,
Shakespeare attended Stratford Grammar School partly because it
Genre: Tragedy was free. It is widely believed that he learned Latin, English history,
and Greek and Roman history at the school. This was the only
formal education he received. Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway,
26, when he was just 18. Of his three children, the only son died
when he was still a child. In the early twenties, Shakespeare joined
Historical information about the period of publication:
an acting company in London. He wrote plays for the company until
1612, when he retired to Stratford at the age of 48. Shakespeare died
in Stratford on April 23, 1616 at the age of 52. His two daughters
died childless and there are no Shakespeare descendants.

Characteristics of the genre:

The most prevalent characteristics of Shakespearian
tragedies are: the downfall of the protagonist through a fatal
error or misjudgment, a plot which evokes pity and fear in
the audience, an ending which involves the death of many
characters, short lived hope for the main characters towards
the end, and constant references to fate and destiny.

Plot summary:
In the very beginning of the play, Iago is shown complaining to Roderigo that Othello, his Commander, chose
the handsome young Cassio to be his first lieutenant instead of himself. Angry, he vows to get revenge. Iago then asks
Roderigo to tell Desdemona's father, Barbantio, that his daughter is marrying Othello. He knows that Barbantio wil be
angered by this because he is racist and hates Moors. After they confront each other, Othello and Barbantio take their
issue to the Duke, who summons them to ask Othello to sail to Cyprus and stop a Turkish invasion. The Duke also lets
Desdemona, who has chosen her husband over her father Barbantio, to go with him. By the time they get to Cyprus, the
foreign threat has gone. Iago then manipulates in the festivities celebrating the victory at Cyprus Cassio into getting
drunk. He takes advantage by drawing him into a street fight with Roderigo. Iago has his revenge on Cassio then when
Othello strips Cassio of his rank for misbehaving. At this point Iago beings trying to convince Othello that his wife is
unfaithful. He tells Cassio that he should ask Desdemona to plead with Othello to be reinstated. Meanwhile he tells
Othello that he fears that Cassio is Desdemona's lover. Trusting Iago, Othello is mad with rage and jealousy. Together
with Iago, Othello promotes a plan to kill both Cassio and Desdemona. Iago then proceeds to plant his handkerchief in
Cassio's room. Othello sees this as proof that Desdemona and Cassio are lovers. That very same handkerchief was given
by Othello to Desdemona as a first gift. Othello then abuses his wife in front of everybody, leaving the crowd in shock at
the change in the noble and powerful man. Instead of killing Cassio himself, Iago manipulates Roderigo into trying to kill
him instead. The attempt, h however, goes badly wrong as Cassio wounds Roderigo instead. Iago stabs Cassio in the leg.
Hearing Cassio cry out, Othello believes he is dead. Othello then proceeds to kill Desdemona. Meanwhile, Iago "finds"
the wounded Cassio and accuses Bianca of causing Cassio's injury. When nobody is watching Iago kills Roderigo and
sends word to Othello of what has happened. Meanwhile Othello reaches the sleeping Desdemona. He kisses her and
wakes her up just to accuse her again. Even though she tries to resist and maintains her guiltlessness, Othello smothers
her. At this point Emilia enters and calls in a whole crowd of people. Seeing what has happened, she profeses that Iago is
behind the tragedy and tells Othello about the handkerchief. Seeing the truth, Othello tries to kill Iago who is also in the
room. Instead, Iago kills Desdemona and runs away. Out of madness, Othello kills himself. Iago is eventually caught and
taken away.
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Describe the author’s style: An example that demonstrates the style:
Imagistic, flexible blank verse (unrhymed Iambic Pentameter:
iambic pentameter) for the major characters; prose FareWELL the TRANquil MIND,
for the low-born or mean characters, and for the fareWELL conTENT
villain Iago, a mixture of the two, indicating Iago's
flexibility in masking his true intentions from whoever
he is speaking with.

Memorable Quotes
Quote Significance
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Characters
Name Role in the story Significance Adjectives
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Setting Significance of the opening scene

The play starts in Venice but eventually moves to

Cyprus when the Turks invade. Venice is a prosperous
Italian city and a symbol of law and civilization. It is also,
however, full of white people and this makes Othello stand
out among the other venetians. At this time the city was
thought of around the world as a hub of prostitutes. It
comes as no surprise then that the plot hinges on Othello's
suspicions about his wife's fidelity. Eventually the action
moves to a military installment in Cyprus. On the island
Iago is able to convince Othello that Desdemona has been
cheating on him. In this new location Desdemona has lost
all support the may have had in her hometown of Venice
and becomes vulnerable to the kind of violence one
associates with the world of men and military.
Significance of the ending/closing scene

Symbols

The handkerchief: this symbolizes many different things to

different characters. To Desdemona, the handkerchief was
a symbol of Othello's love for her since she knew how
much it meant to him. After manipulation by Iago, Othello
sees the handkerchief as a symbol of Desdemona's
infidelity. Originally, to Othello the handkerchief
represented marital fidelity because its importance in
maintaining the marriage of his parents.
The Song "Willow:" this is the song sung by Desdemona
as she falls asleep. It is a song about a woman who is
betrayed by her lover. She sings the song because her old
maid Barbary taught it to her (she had suffered a Old AP Questions
misfortune like the one in the song). The song's lyrics
show that men and women are both unfaithful to one
another. By singing it Desdemona convinces herself that
by being melancholy and resigned Othello is being just
like every other man.
Possible Themes