Shakespeare & Tragedy
Who wrote Othello? And how do you spell the person's name?
William Shakespeare
Name the city where Othello begins.
Venice
What is a Moor?
A term used to describe Othello's ethnic background.
What is patriarchy?
The social system where men hold most power.
Who is the respected military leader at the centre of the play?
Othello
Othello is classified as which type of play?
Tragedy
Name the island where much of the play takes place.
Cyprus
Name the region many Moors originated from.
North Africa
Women in Elizabethan society were expected to be___________.
Obedient
Who is Desdemona?
Othello's wife.
What is hamartia?
A tragic flaw that contributes to the main character's downfall.
What helped Venice become wealthy and powerful?
Trade/ international commerce
Name the dominant religion in England during Shakespeare's lifetime.
Christianity
Before marriage, who usually had authority over a young woman.
The father or male guardian.
Who is Iago?
Othello's ensign (low ranking military officer) who feels overlooked.
Which 2 historical periods was Shakespeare living and writing in?
The Elizabethan and Jacobean periods.
How does Othello gain respect?
Through his role as the military general.
Name the religion many Moors were associated with.
Islam
Why would Desdemona choosing her own husband have been controversial in Elizabethan society?
Because fathers were expected to have authority over their daughters and often played a major role in deciding who they married.
Who is Cassio?
Othello promotes this character to lieutenant.
What is the Renaissance?
This movement was a period of cultural and intellectual rebirth in Europe.
Why is Cyprus an important setting in Othello?
Because it is isolated from Venice, allowing tensions, conflicts and poor decisions to develop without the normal rules and stability of Venetian society.
What is prejudice?
Judging someone unfairly before knowing them.
How might patriarchal beliefs affect the way female characters are treated in Othello?
Women may be expected to obey men, have less power in decision-making, and be judged according to strict expectations about loyalty and behaviour.
Which character do you predict will create the most conflict in the play and why?
Teacher discretion.