Shakespeare Navigator Summary (Act 3, scene iv):
http://shakespeare-navigators.com/othello/S11.html
No Fear Shakespeare puts Shakespeare's language side-by-side with a facing-page translation into modern English—the kind of English people actually speak today.
http://nfs.sparknotes.com/othello/
3.4 Dramatic Reading of Shakespeare's Othello
By Dr. Greg Martin
http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podshows/9044933
3.4 Explanation of Shakespeare's Othello By Dr. Greg Martin
http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podshows/9029964
http://shakespeare-navigators.com/othello/S11.html
No Fear Shakespeare puts Shakespeare's language side-by-side with a facing-page translation into modern English—the kind of English people actually speak today.
http://nfs.sparknotes.com/othello/
3.4 Dramatic Reading of Shakespeare's Othello
By Dr. Greg Martin
http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podshows/9044933
3.4 Explanation of Shakespeare's Othello By Dr. Greg Martin
http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podshows/9029964
GO!
- Consider the quotations below. What point of view do they express regarding Othello?
"So much ado, so much stress, so much passion and repetition about an Handkerchief? Why was not this call'd the Tragedy of the Handkerchief? What can be more absurd …"
'Othello: A Bloody Farce' by THOMAS RYMER
From A Short View of Tragedy, London, 1693.
(You can read the whole review here: http://www.angelfire.com/oh5/spycee/rymer.html)
"Thomas Rhymer, so dismissive of the 'ado' over a handkerchief in othello, has been proved many times wrong in his assessment. Lynda E. Boose (search "Let it Be Hid" in Questia) demonstrated how important the handkerchief is to the meanings of Othello, and so in his very different manner does Harry Berger, Jr, Berger shows how, 'Othello and Desdemona work closely together to lose the handkerchief and dis-remember its loss.'"
Orlin, Lena Cowen. Othello: Contemporary Critical Essays. 1st. New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2004. 123. Print.
- After completing the activities below, make up your own mind about the perspectives outlined here.
KNOW
- What do we know about the significance of the handkerchief from the previous scene?
- How do you think it will figure (as a symbol or motif) in the rest of the play?
Discuss and briefly note down your answers
SHOW
Now listen to Dr. Martin's dramatic reading of Act 3, scene iv and follow in your addition of the text (see link above).
SHARE
Listen to Dr. Martin's explanation of Act 3, scene iv and annotate your copy of the text
PAIR
Work in pairs/ small groups to answer the following:
"She is lying about the handkerchief, crazily resuming her plea for
Cassio, while he says almost nothing but 'handkerchief' ... it is hard
to imagine a dramatic poetry more minimally perfect."
How is the tension increased in this dialogue?
- Why do you think the brief exchange between Desdemona and the Clown is used to open the scene? What is signifcant about the repetition and wordplay used?
- What do the quotations, "my noble Moor... ill - thinking," and, "I think the sun where he was born/ Drew all such humours from him," reveal?
- Upon meeting Desdemona, what is the intention behind Othello's comment about her hand (l.36 - 47)?
- Why do you think that Othello chooses this moment to tell Desdemona the origins of the handkerchief (l.55-75)?
- Frank Kermode 'Shakespeare's Language' Penguin 2001) says of the following dialogue between Othello and Desdemona:
"She is lying about the handkerchief, crazily resuming her plea for
Cassio, while he says almost nothing but 'handkerchief' ... it is hard
to imagine a dramatic poetry more minimally perfect."
How is the tension increased in this dialogue?
- Find a quotation that highlights the fact that Desdemona fails to comprehend Othello's anger
- What example does Iago provide to demonstrate his (feigned) surprise at Othello's anger? What possible reason does Desdemona suggest?
- Find a quotation from Emilia that seems to mirror her husband's famous, "green-eyed monster," comment
- At the end of the scene, why is Bianca upset with Cassio? How does he react and what does this suggest about his character?
PERFECT
Write a brief summary explaining how the handkerchief has gained importance in this scene, and what significance you think this might have
REFLECT
What do you think about the two points of view put forward at the beginning of this session? Add your thoughts to the forum below. Try to include one original point and refer to at least one comment made by your classmates.