Othello Lecture Notes Review

Comprehensive practice questions based on the Othello lecture notes, covering historical context, the life and works of Shakespeare, the elements of tragedy, and linguistic features of the play.

What major religious shift did Henry VIII initiate in 1500s England?

He broke from the Catholic Church to start the Church of England.

During the English Renaissance, how did the population and economic system shift?

The population moved from rural to urban and the economic system shifted away from feudalism.

Which groups saw an increase in education during the English Renaissance?

Education became more widespread and included women and some commoners, no longer being just religious.

When and where was William Shakespeare born?

Born on April 23, 1564, to John and Mary Shakespeare in Stratford, England.

Who did Shakespeare marry in 1582, and what were the names of their children?

He married Anne Hathaway; they had three children named Susanna, Judith, and Hamnet (twins).

What time period in Shakespeare’s life is known as the 'lost years'?

1585 to 1592.

What was the first known Shakespeare play and when was it written?

Henry VI, penned somewhere between 1589 and ‘91.

Which two plays by Shakespeare are currently considered 'lost'?

Cardenio and Love's Labour Won.

What was the last play Shakespeare wrote by himself, and who co-wrote two others with him?

The Tempest in 1611 was his last solo play; Jon Fletcher co-wrote two other plays.

Who are the four writers considered the 'great tragedians'?

Shakespeare, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aeschylus.

What was the First Folio and how did it classify Shakespeare’s plays?

Published in 1623, it was the first official gathering of thirty-six plays, classified into three genres: tragedy, comedy, and history (British).

Which four plays are known as Shakespeare's 'Great Tragedies'?

Hamlet (greatest poetry), Macbeth (greatest characters), King Lear (greatest achievement), and Othello (greatest play).

What is a common theme found in all of Shakespeare's tragedies?

Disorder.

According to the lecture, what defines the resolution of a tragedy?

It deals with the tragic hero's death (or metaphorical equivalent) brought about by the hamartia.

In a Shakespearean tragedy, what is the role of the character who delivers the last lines?

They are the person who restores the last order and is relatable in gained insight and wisdom.

When was Othello written and who was the reigning monarch at the time?

It was written in 1603, the same year Queen Elizabeth I died and King James took the throne.

What is the source material for Othello?

The Italian short novel Hecathmithi (1564) by Giraldi Cinthio.

What historical event likely inspired the war subplot in Othello?

The Turks taking Cyprus in 1570.

What are three recurring words in the play Othello?

Honest, handkerchief, and reputation.

In poetry, what is 'blank verse'?

Unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter.

Define 'iambic pentameter' based on its syllabic structure.

A ten-syllable line consisting of a two-syllable 'iambic' foot (unstressed followed by stressed) repeated five times ('pentameter').

What is 'Metrical Irregularity' and why is it used?

It is when the syllabic count or emphasis is irregular; it is often done to draw attention to the lines.

Which character in the transcript is spelled 'Lotiviko' but is traditionally Lodovico?

Lotiviko.

Iago

Cassio

Desdemona

Emilia

Othello

Roderigo

Brabantio

Lotiviko