SUBTEXT: CHARACTERS’ OBJECTIVES & SUPEROBJECTIVES Exploring the text via modern performance

Today’s Objective  Today I will evaluate the language, content, meaning, and significance of a passage in Act 2 of Othello by constructing responses to prompts about subtext and characters’ objectives.

Looking Ahead…  In a few days, you will start working in groups on creating a modern script of a particular scene in either Act 3 or Act 4.  This activity today should give you a small taste of that fun exercise as well as some things to think about when you construct your modern scripts and prepare for your performances.

Subtext – What is it?  Meaning that is not explicitly stated in a text, but is understood by readers/viewers  Implicit meaning  Inference  Metaphors provide subtext  Characters’ thoughts and motives can also provide subtext

Character’s Objective  Examining a character’s objective is one way to help us understand the subtext of a text  A character’s objective = what he/she wants in that scene—the goal (Folger 169)  A character will attempt to achieve that goal until he/she is successful, at which point he/she will identify a new objective (Folger 169)

Character’s Superobjective  Examining a character’s superobjective is another way to help us understand the subtext of a text  A character’s superobjective = what he/she wants by the end of the play/text—the ultimate goal “big picture” goal (Folger 169)

Determining Characters’ Superobjectives  THINK / WRITE: (quickwrite #1)  Group 1:  What is Iago’s superobjective?  What is Desdemona’s superobjective?  Group 2:  What is Othello’s superobjective?  What is Cassio’s superobjective?

Discussing Characters’ Superobjectives  PAIR-SHARE / SMALL GROUP / WHIP-AROUND:  Group 1:  What is Iago’s superobjective?  What is Desdemona’s superobjective?  Group 2:  What is Othello’s superobjective?  What is Cassio’s superobjective?

Reading to Understand Subtext…  Round-Robin reading: –  Need 5 volunteers to read aloud to the class:  Someone to read stage directions  Iago  (groups 1, 2, 5)  Othello  (group 3, 4)  Desdemona  (group 1, 2, 5)  Cassio  (group 3, 4)  As they are reading, think about your character’s objective in this scene

Writing to Understand Subtext…  THINK / WRITE: (quickwrite #2)  Independently and silently, write down your two characters’ objectives in this scene  Iago  (groups 1, 2, 5)  Othello  (group 3, 4)  Desdemona  (group 1, 2, 5)  Cassio  (group 3, 4)

Performing to Understand Subtext…  Same passage ( – )  4 volunteers to perform this passage using modern language:  Iago  Othello  Desdemona  Cassio  Perform with your character’s objective in mind

Discussing to Understand Subtext…  4 performers explain their character’s objective in this scene  Agree? Disagree? Let’s discuss based on the quickwrites you just did  What did you notice in the reading? In the performance?  Compare/contrast the reading vs. the modern performance

Reflecting to Understand Subtext…  For homework tonight: grab a half-sheet on your way out; it contains the following prompt:  How did the combination of reading, viewing, and/or participating in the modern performance today impact your understanding of this passage and/or of the play so far? How did our discussion of subtext help you better understand this passage, scene, act, and/or the play so far as a whole? Please be specific in your explanation.