Act I: Close Reading/Regents Preparation

Mr. Andrew Clark

Othello

Classwork Packet

Name ______

Othello by William Shakespeare

Act I: Close Reading/Regents Preparation

If I were the Moor I wouldn’t want to be Iago.

I may seem to love and obey him, but in fact,

I’m just serving him to get what I want.

If my outward appearance started reflecting what I really felt,

soon enough I’d be wearing my heart on my sleeve for birds to peck at.

No, it’s better to hide it.

I’m not who I appear to be.

Directions: Reread and annotate the above passage by Iago. Then answer the questions below.

1)Using textual evidence from the above passage, establish a controlling idea about what motivates Iago to act.

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2)What does Iago mean when he says to Roderigo, “I’m not who I appear to be”?

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3)Choose a specific literary element (e.g., theme, characterization, structure, point of view, etc.) or literary technique (e.g., symbolism, irony, figurative language, etc.). Using specific details from the above passage, show how Shakespeare uses that element or technique to develop the passage.

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Name ______Period ______

English 11ID Act I, scene ii

Act I, scene ii: lines 20-32 (pg21)

Let him do his worst.

The services I have done for the Venetian government

will count for more than his complaints will.

No one knows this yet – and I don’t like to brag,

But I come from a royal family, and I’m as noble

As the woman I’ve married.

And let me tell you, Iago,

If I didn’t love Desdemona as much as I do,

I’d never agree to get married and lose my freedom at all.

But look at those lights? Who’s coming?

Identify the speaker: ______

Explicate/paraphrase the passage (summarize and put it into your own words)

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Act I, scene ii: lines 80-100 (pgs. 25-27)

You evil thief, where have you hidden my daughter?

You devil, you’ve put a spell on her!

Anybody with eyes could tell you that a beautiful and happy young girl like her,

who’s refused to marry all of the handsome young men of the city,

wouldn’t run off with a black thing like you unless she’d been bewitched.

You’re something to fear, not to love.

It’s obvious to everyone that you’ve tricked her,

drugged her, or kidnapped her.

That’s probably what happened, so I’m arresting you.

—Arrest this man as a practitioner of black magic.

Grab him. If he struggles, use force!

Identify the speaker: ______

Explicate/paraphrase the passage (summarize and put it into your own words)

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Name ______

Othello by William Shakespeare

Act I, scene 3: Close Reading/ Regents Preparation

Choose a specific literary element (e.g., theme, characterization, structure, point of view, tone, etc.) or literary technique (e.g., symbolism, irony, figurative language, etc.). Using specific details from the below passage, in a well-developed paragraph, show how the author uses that element or technique to develop the passage.

OTHELLO

Noble, honorable gentlemen whom I serve:

it’s true that I’ve taken this man’s daughter from him and married her.

But that’s my only offense. There’s nothing more.

I’m awkward in my speech and I’m not a smooth talker.

From the time I was seven years old until nine months ago I’ve been fighting in battles.

I don’t know much about the world apart from fighting.

So I won’t do myself much good by speaking in my own defense.

But if you’ll let me, I’ll tell you the plain story of how we fell in love,

and what drugs, charms, spells, and powerful magic

—because that’s what I’m being accused of

—I used to win his daughter.

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Name ______

Othello: Complete the chart using the following passages from Act II.

Directions: Complete the chart using the following passages from Act II.

Name ______

Act II, Interpreting Shakespeare: Close Reading and Regents Preparation

Goal: Interpreting Shakespeare’s language

Activity: In the following passage, Iago reveals his intention to frame Desdemona:

1. Using specific details from the above passage, establish a controlling idea about treachery.

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1. Choose a specific literary element (e.g., theme, characterization, structure, point of view, tone, etc.) or literary technique (e.g., symbolism, irony, figurative language, etc.). Using specific details from the below passage, in a well-developed paragraph, show how the author uses that element or technique to develop the passage.

______

Take the Red Pen Challenge!

We’ve all had that one terrifying moment in our academic career when we received a writing assessment back from a teacher, only to see it marked up with comments, all written in the DREADED red ink. Well, now it’s your chance to turn that RED pen into something positive: REFLECTION and REVISION!

Read through my comments on your short constructed response and the comments on your rubric. Then, reread your response and reflect on those comments. Do you see disorganization of ideas due to missing transitions, weak topic sentences, the absence of textual details, run on sentences, etc? How can you use my suggestions to improve your writing?

Task: Using your red pen, place your revisions directly on your response. Be sure to be neat. Respond to my comments by modifying your controlling idea, using examples of your literary element or technique to prove your controlling idea, fixing run-on sentences, etc. In short, improve the quality of your writing by REFLECTING on the choices you made in your draft and REVISING your sentences. After you complete your revision, write down a) one specific area within your writing where you demonstrate strength and b) one specific area where you demonstrate weakness, Using these areas of strength and weakness, c) identify three specific writing goals for your next writing assignment. Remember, all comments and revisions are to be placed directly on your response in red ink.

Let’s make the writing process a two-sided conversation between teacher and student.

Go ahead and get started. I look forward to “chatting” with you.

Name ______Period ______

English 11ID Review of Act III, scene iii-Othello

Climax in Othello

Describe how and why the following passage can be considered the climax of the play:

OTHELLO:Never, Iago.

My thoughts of revenge are flowing through me

like a violent river, never turning back to love,

only flowing toward full revenge that’ll swallow them up.

I swear to God I’ll get revenge.

IAGO: Don’t get up yet.

Let heaven be my witness—I’m putting my mind,

my heart, and my hands in Othello’s control.

Let him command me, and I’ll do whatever he asks,

no matter how violent.

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Name ______Period ______

English 11ID Review of Act III, scene iv-Othello

Symbolism: Desdemona’s handkerchief

Paraphrase the quote and explain the handkerchief’s history:

“An Egyptian woman gave that handkerchief to my mother. She was a witch, and she could almost read people’s thoughts. She told my mother that as long as she kept it with her, my father would love and desire her. But if she lost it or gave it away, my father would start hating her and looking at other women. When she was dying she gave it to me and told me to give it to my wife when I got married. I did. So pay attention. Treat it as something precious. Losing it or giving it away would be an unspeakable loss, a loss like none other.”

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Describe what the handkerchief symbolizes to the following characters:

Desdemona:______

Othello:______

Iago:______

Name ______Period ______

English 11ID Review of Act IV, scene i-Othello

Appearance vs. Reality in Othello

Describe how the conversation between Iago and Cassio in Act IV, scene I (Lines 117-168), is an example of the theme appearance versus reality.

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Directions: Identify the speaker.

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1. DesdemonaB. IagoC. OthelloD. EmiliaE. Brabantio

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33. Father, this isn’t easy for me. I’m torn. I owe you respect because you gave me life and education. You’re the one I obey.

34. I’m just serving him to get what I want.

35. Maybe because I’m black, and I don’t have nice manners like courtiers do, or because I’m getting old

36. I’m glad I found this handkerchief. It’s the first keepsake the Moor gave her.

37. If you’re being fair, you’ll have to describe me as someone who loved too much, but who wasn’t wise about it.

38. Beware of jealousy, my lord! It’s a green-eyed monster that makes fun of the victims it devours.

39. Oh, you devil, you devil! You can cry all day and all night, and I still won’t believe you’re sad. Get out of my sight!

40. But I won’t shed any of her blood or scar that beautiful skin, whiter than snow and smooth as the finest marble.

41. I’m not sorry, either. I want you to live, since to me, death is happiness.