English 12
As you come in, take a card.
1s head to the desks closest to the computer lab
2s head to the desks closest to the wall with
slanted windows
3s head to the desks in the center
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Happy Valentine’s Day. We are going to watch
Othello explain how he and Desdemona fell in
love despite all the obstacles of race and status.
What do you think about romance? Is there
such a thing as true love? Why do people
choose to spend their lives with another
people, even when obstacles exist? Are you
ready for his story to be a love story or are you
a skeptic?

The characters are now headed for Cyprus, a
Venetian stronghold, and Othello has been sent
for in order to lead the Venetian navy against
the invading Turks.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ADRA_enUS454US454&q=othello+map+of+cyprus&gs_sm=3&gs_upl=68l10014l0l10307l25l20l1l3l3l2l268l2042l13.4.2l23l
0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&ion=1&biw=1024&bih=642&wrapid=tlif132917505326310&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=F5o5T7j6O6HViAL3waW1Bg
Take notes as you watch
 Jot down any questions you have about what is
going on
 How are the characters similar or different
from what you had pictured?
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To what extent did the actors look like, or sound
like, the characters you had imagined? Who
would you cast differently?
What impression do you have of Desdemona?
Why?
Judging only from what you saw and heard in this
scene, how do Desdemona and Othello feel about
each other? How do you know?
If you were a director, where would you place Iago
in the section of the scene that follows his
reentrance with Desdemona? Why?
If you were a director, is there anything you would
ask the actors to do differently?
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http://www.english.emory.edu/classes/Shak
espeare_Illustrated/Cope.Othello.html
http://www.english.emory.edu/classes/Shak
espeare_Illustrated/Stothard.Othello.html
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Not all of it—but check out Desdemona! How
is her character different?
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Act 1 Scene 3 lines 55-148 to “Say it Othello”
The duke and the senators discuss the
movements of the Turkish fleet and conclude
that it’s target is, indeed, Cyprus
Brabantio and Othello arrive. The duke insists
on evidence to prove Brabantio’s claim that
Othello has bewitched his daughter
Othello’s great speech tells the story of Othello and
Desdemona’s initial attraction and early stages of
their love 1.3.149-96
 First reading: read together stopping at the end
of each line, then next group take over

Group 1, group 2, group 3 then group 1
Othello’s great speech tells the story of Othello and
Desdemona’s initial attraction and early stages of
their love 1.3.149-96
 Second reading: read together, stopping each
time you hit a period, colon, or semicolon, then
next group read
Othello’s great speech tells the story of Othello and
Desdemona’s initial attraction and early stages of
their love 1.3.149-96
 Third reading: as we read, acting group will
Mime/act out their courtship
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How would you describe the relationship
between Othello and Desdemona?
What prop would best represent her character
and why?
“look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. She
has deceived her father and may thee.” (1.3.333-34)
Put this into your own words.
What is your impression of Desdemona? Specify
which lines you use to support your opinions of
her.
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How is this D different from the Globe theater
company?
Which do you prefer and why?
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1.3.55-342
Focus on Desdemona. How is she described by
other characters? How does she present
herself?
Desdemona makes her first appearance in this
scene. What is your impression of her? Quote
3 lines to support your opinion.
If you were a director, what actress or what
sort of actress would you cast in the part?
Soul
Heaven/heavenly
Hell
Damn(ed) damnation
Faith
Moor
handkerchief
Honest, honesty
Whore/strumpet
Love
Monster
Hate
Devil
Jealous/jealousy
In your journals:
For your assigned word, note each time the word appears,
the line number, and who says it
Notice who uses the word(s) most and how various
characters use it.
At the end of the play, you will be asked to make some
conclusions about the cumulative effect of their word and
what theme its repetition develops-so take accurate and
thorough notes.
Review the first 3 scenes of the play to search for your
assigned word