1.  Bell Work : On a ½ sheet of paper, answer the following:  What character traits do you value in a potential date?  What characteristics do your parents/family members value in a potential date?  How much does it matter to you that your parents/family approve of your dating choice?

3.  Soliloquy : Drama literary form of discourse in which a character talks to himself or herself or reveals thoughts without addressing a listener.  Look for soliloquies in Othello to change in terms of language – as characters develop and change, so will their soliloquies.

4.  Cyprus : The island near Turkey and Syria, was annexed by Venice in 1489 and conquered by the Turks in 1571.  Shakespeare works within the framework of actual history but did not follow the events as they did happen.

5.  Moor: In Shakespeare’s time it was the equivalent to “African”, with the expectation that he/she would be black.

6.  Ancient : A military rank (same as ensign ) that signified the man who carried the flag on the battlefield.  The ensign/ancient had to be extremely courageous and loyal, maintaining his position in the face of death.

7.  Othello is based on a collection of tales called Hecatommith i, which were written in 1565 by Cinthio Giambattista Giraldi (an Italian)  Shakespeare took the collection of stories and made them his own, writing Othello in 1604.  First performed on Nov. 1, 1604.

8.  Shakespeare’s main character is a more sympathetic and less stereotypical portrayal of a moor.  Only one hand is involved in Desdemona’s fate  Ultimately Cinthio’s moor does not accept any responsibility.

9.  Shakespeare chose Venice as the setting for this story, filled with passion, jealousy and sexual tension  The English believed the Italians were wicked, murderous, and of loose morals.

10.  Venice was particularly interesting to the Elizabethans  The women were rumored to be very beautiful and quite interested in making love.  The men were viewed as jealous and easily angered.

11.  Queen Elizabeth granted the Moors “full diplomatic recognition” for their help in conquering Spain.  In 1601, however, she deported them.  The stereotype of the day portrayed Moors as bestial, dangerous, and temperamental, and she was afraid that they might overpopulate England.  Look for these stereotypes (which would attract an Elizabethan audience) to be reiterated by Brabantio, Roderigo and Iago.

12.  Iago is actually a Spanish name.  Shakespeare gave his most evil character a Spanish name probably because Spain was England’s worst enemy.