Othello- context

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What type of Tragedy is Othello?
Domestic tragedy-focuses on one man's life
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When and where was Othello born?
April 1564-Stafford upon Avon
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How old was Shakespeare when he met his wife?
18-Anne Hathaway
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When was Shakespeare's daughter born?
1583-Susanna
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When was the Globe Theatre made?
1599
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When was Othello written?
1603
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When was Othello first performed?
1604
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When did Shakespeare die?
52, April 1616
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What was the plot of Othello influenced by?
Un Captino Moro- a story by an Italian writer, Cinthio
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What is the moral of the story ?
It is unwise for women to marry men from other races, but Shakespeare makes his moral more ambiguous
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what was the Renaissance ?
Cultural movement inspired by the classical arts, artistic and intellectual rebirth which challenged traditional values, celebrated reason and improving mankind's abilities
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When did the Renaissance occur?
In Europe between the 14th and 17th century, it began in Italy and centred on Florence and Siena, Florence became known as a cultural centre, embracing renaissance ideas and was home to famous scholars such as Niccolo Machiavelli
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What is a Renaissance man?
well-rounded with knowledge of all arts , brave, intelligent, well spoken
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How was Shakespeare influenced by the Renaissance?
encouraged him to challenge traditional values, the important of reason is also emphasised, Othello tries to maintain his "best judgement" and wants proof of Desdemona's betrayal, emotions are seen as extreme/destructive in the play
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What were the plays like before the Renaissance?
no theatre companies, short, religious plays, morality plays
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What is a morality play?
Allegorical plays where sins and virtues were personified, focus on one man who gives in to temptation and then repents
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What is allegory?
A play where the characters and events represent qualities that relate to morals, politics and religion
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What did the Renaissance encourage dramatists to do?
Focus on classical drama- they started to take old texts and rework them
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How did Shakespeare change his play from Cinthio's to make it more dramatic?
settings are the same, however Shakespeare made Cyprus with more conflict, changed the time frame and sped up its climax, develops Iago's motives-in Cinthio's play Iago is motivated by lust for Disdemona, Shakespeare adds hatred, sexual jealously,
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Why does the ambiguity of Shakespeare's play add to dramatic tension?
Iago's true motive is ambiguous , making it seem like Iago is a motiveless force of evil
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Why was Cyprus a highly prized island?
natural resources, military significance-located in middle of Turkish empire so was useful for attacking turks
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What was Italy like when Shakespeare was writing?
Divided into 2 under different rulers, wealthiest sovereign states, engaged in war for profit and hired mercenaries to fight in the army
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What happened to Cyprus in 1489?
Venice took control of Cyprus
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What happened to Cyprus in 1571?
Turks captured it
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What is miscegenation?
interbreeding of different races
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What are the female stereotypes of women?
possession of men, as domestic, as unreliable, temptress-the pervasive roots of women as temptresses has its roots in the way Eve is presented in the Fall of Man, virgins/whores
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When and where was Othello born?

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April 1564-Stafford upon Avon

Card 3

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How old was Shakespeare when he met his wife?

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Card 4

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When was Shakespeare's daughter born?

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Card 5

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When was the Globe Theatre made?

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