What is the significance of the change in setting? To know the historical background of the settings. To understand the symbolism of the change in setting. To be able to examine the transformations of characters and Iago’s manipulations in this new setting. Based on your reading on verse vs prose in Shakespearean plays, how has language changed from the Renaissance to the Modern/Digital Age? Prose; Verse; Setting; Symbolism; Figure of Speech; Characterization; Scheme; Trope

The Significance of the Setting Venice Early modern (c. 1500-1750) Venice is a prosperous Italian city and a symbol of law and civilization. It's also full of white people, which makes Othello, a black Moor, stand out among the Venetians. Venice also happens to be renowned for its courtesans (prostitutes). When the English thought about Venice, they often imagined it to be a city full of promiscuous women. Think about the Desdemona’s character. Do you think that she is promiscuous? Why or why not? NOTE: Most of Shakespeare’s plays are set in Italy. If a play was not set in Italy, then many of the characters would still have Italians names. http://www.shmoop.com/othello/setting.html

The Significance of the Setting Cyprus Eventually, action moves to a military encampment in Cyprus, an island sacred to Venus, the goddess of love. On the island of love, away from civilization and rationality, and chaos erupts; Pay attention to how Iago makes Othello worry about Desdemona. At this military camp, Desdemona has lost any kind of support system she may have had in her hometown of Venice, so she's vulnerable to the kind of violence associated with the world of men and military.

A little more on setting... Othello takes place in Venice (in northern Italy) and Cyprus (an island in the eastern Mediterranean about forty miles south of present-day Turkey). The time is between 1489 and 1571. It is interesting to note that Venice is the setting for both major Shakespeare plays dealing in part with racial prejudice, Othello and The Merchant of Venice.  As one of the world’s leading sea powers, Venice was the center of commercialism and materialism and, therefore, corruption and conflict arising from avarice, social status, and fierce competition.

A little more on setting... Cyprus–as a strategically located island which yielded substantial harvests of olives, grapes and various grains–was much prized throughout its history. Assyrians, Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, and Byzantines all fought over and occupied it. England’s King Richard I, the Lion-Hearted, conquered Cyprus in 1191 but later ceded it to the French. Venice seized the island in 1489 and in 1571 the Ottoman Turks brought Cyprus under its control.  http://cummingsstudyguides.net/xOthello.html

The Play’s Setting What words would you best associate with these two places at the time? Why could Shakespeare have chosen to move the setting from Venice to Cyprus? What could such a move portend/forebode?

Act 2, Sc. 1- Analysing characters from lines 83-174 In your groups, you will be given a character to analyse: Cassio Desdemona Emilia Iago Roderigo Key Questions: How does your character come across in the social setting? How much does he/she say? Do they offer ideas on love, or on Desdemona & Othello? If so, what do they say? Any new perspectives on this character from this scene?

Act 2, Sc. 1- Analysing Othello & Desdemona’s Greeting How do Othello and Desdemona relate to each other? How do they both feel about love? What key differences are shown? Look at lines 175-192. - generate an idea - find some textual reference - share with partner - consider the best point

Act 2, Sc. 1- Iago’s soliloquy #2- Close analysis How does Shakespeare present Iago in Act 2, Scene 1? Look closely at the second soliloquy (ln. 275-301). What more is revealed about Iago’s character? How does Shakespeare portray this through the language? How does it fit with his previous ideas & language around sex, women & love?

Act 2, Scene 2 What is significant about Iago’s discussion with Roderigo in this scene? How is the play beginning to follow the pattern of a Tragedy? What predictions can we make about the play’s conclusion? Analyse Desdemona’s character at this point of the play. Do we believe her to be innocent, flirtatious, or cunning? Examine Iago’s soliloquy in detail – what does it reveal about his character and his intentions towards the other characters?

Act 2, Scene 3 What do we know of Cassio before this scene? How does (a) our view, and (b) the view of the other characters, of him change by the end of the scene? What is the significance of this scene in terms of Iago’s plotting? Why is it important for the audience to understand Iago’s plan before we see it being put into action? Revisit Act 2, Scene 1, and Iago’s comments about women. How do these comments relate to his involvement of Emilia in his plot? What is the significance of Cassio’s feelings for Desdemona?