Discussion: Drama A. Why and how are plays different from movies?...

Discussion: Drama

A. Why and how are plays different from movies?

B. Read the assigned literature and respond to the associated questions. 

Othello text and modern translation 

Othello by William Shakespeare

STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS

Act One

1. What was Iago's complaint in Scene I?

2. Who was Brabantio, and why did Iago and Roderigo awaken him in the middle of the night?

3. Why did Iago leave Roderigo at Brabantio's house?

4. What was Brabantio's reaction to Othello's marriage to Desdemona?

5. Why did the Duke send for Othello?

6. Brabantio complains to the Duke about Othello's marriage to Desdemona. After listening to

both sides of the story, what was the Duke's reply?

7. What was Roderigo's complaint, and what was Iago's reply to it?

Act II

1. Why did Iago want Roderigo to anger Cassio?

2. What was the purpose of Iago's plan?

3. Why did Iago want Cassio to drink more wine?

4. What lie did Iago tell Montano about Cassio?

5. Why did Othello strip Cassio of his rank?

6. Why did Iago want Cassio to ask Desdemona for help in restoring Othello's faith in Cassio?

Act III

1. Why didn't Iago simply tell Othello right away that Desdemona and Cassio were having an

affair?

2. What thing did Emilia find and give to Iago? What did Iago intend to do with it?

3. What was Iago's reply when Othello demanded proof of his wife's disloyalty?

4. What did Othello decide and command at the end of Scene III?

5. What was Emilia's relationship with Iago? Desdemona?

6. Who had the handkerchief at the end of Act III? Why?

Act IV

1. After Iago lied and told Othello that Cassio confessed going to bed with Desdemona, what

advice did he give the overwhelmed Othello?

2. How did Iago trick Othello into thinking Cassio was gloating and bragging about his affair

with Desdemona?

3. Why was Bianca angry with Cassio?

4. How did Bianca's return with the handkerchief help Iago?

5. Why did Othello hit Desdemona?

6. What was Lodovico's reaction to Othello's behavior towards Desdemona? How did Iago later

explain Othello's behavior to Lodovico?

7. Why did Othello ask Emilia about Cassio's affair with Desdemona, and what was her reply?

8. To whom does Desdemona turn for help after Othello calls her a strumpet?

9. Why did Iago tell Rodriego to kill Cassio? Why did Roderigo consent to think about it?

Act V

1. How would Iago gain from Roderigo's death? Cassio's?

2. What happened when Cassio and Roderigo fought?

3. What did Iago do after he wounded Cassio?

4. How was Desdemona faithful to Othello to the end?

5. What was Emilia's reaction when Othello told her that Iago had revealed Desdemona's affair

with Cassio to him?

6. Who told the truth about Iago?

7. What happened to Othello, Iago and Cassio in the end?

C. Read the assigned literature and respond to the associated questions. 

Technicolor Life

Read Audience Guide and Answer questions.

Questions for Discussion 

1. Make arguments for and against women serving in combat roles. 

2. What is the significance of the image of the crested lark in the play? When is it mentioned and how does the image change over the course of the play? 

3. What is the significance of Women #1 and Women #2 in Maxine’s mind and development? What do they suggest about female roles? 

4. Review how and when directors used Technicolor in the movies. Now select a scene from the play and design lights, set and costumes using Technicolor concepts.

No Fear Shakespeare
–
Othello (by SparkNotes, transcription by Alex Woelffer)
-1-
Original Text
Modern Text
Act 1, Scene 1
Enter RODMERIGO
and IAGO
RODERIGO and
IAGO enter.
RODERIGO
Tush! Never tell me. I take it much unkindly
That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse
As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.
RODERIGO
Come on, don’t tell me that. I don’t like it that you
knew about this, Iago. All this time I’ve thought
you were such a good friend that I’ve let you
spend my money as if it was yours.
IAGO
'Sblood, but you’ll not hear me! If ever I did dream of
such a matter, abhor me.
IAGO
Damn it, you’re not listening to me! I never
dreamed this was happening—if you find out I
did, you can go ahead and hate me.
RODERIGO
Thou told’st me
Thou didst hold him in thy hate.
RODERIGO
You told me you hated him.
10
15
20
25
IAGO
Despise me
If I do not. Three great ones of the city
(In personal suit to make me his lieutenant)
Off-capped to him, and by the faith of man
I know my price, I am worth no worse a place.
But he (as loving his own pride and purposes)
Evades them with a bombast circumstance
Horribly stuffed with epithets of war,
And in conclusion
Nonsuits my mediators. For “Certes,” says he,
“I have already chose my officer.”
And what was he?
Forsooth, a great arithmetician,
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine
(A fellow almost damned in a fair wife)
That never set a squadron in the field,
Nor the division of a battle knows
More than a spinster—unless the bookish theoric,
IAGO
I do hate him , I swear. Three of Venice’s most
important noblemen took their hats off to him and
asked him humbly to make me his lieutenant, the
second in command. And I know my own worth
well enough to know I deserve that position. But
he wants to have things his own way, so he
sidesteps the issue with a lot of military talk and
refuses their request. “I’ve already chosen my
lieutenant,” he says. And who does he choose? A
guy who knows more about numbers then
fighting! This guy from Florence named Michael
Cassio. He has a pretty wife but he can’t even
control her. And he’s definitely never commanded
men in battle. He’s got no more hands-on
knowledge of warfare than an old woman—
unless you count what he’s read in books,
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 2
30
Wherein the toged consuls can propose
As masterly as he. Mere prattle without practice
Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had th' election
And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof
At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds
Christian and heathen, must be belee’d and calmed
By debitor and creditor. This counter-caster
He (in good time) must his lieutenant be
And I, bless the mark, his Moorship’s ancient.
which any peace-lover can do. His military
understanding is all theory, no practice. But
Cassio’s been chosen over me. My career is cut
short by some bookkeeper, even though the
general saw my fighting skills first-hand in
Rhodes and Cyprus. This accountant is now
lieutenant, while I end up as the Moor’s flag-
bearer.
35
RODERIGO
By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman.
RODERIGO
By God, I’d rather be his executioner.
40
IAGO
Why, there’s no remedy. 'Tis the curse of service.
Preferment goes by letter and affection,
And not by old gradation, where each second
Stood heir to th' first. Now sir, be judge yourself,
Whether I in any just term am affined
IAGO
And there’s nothing I can do about it. That’s the
curse of military service. You get promoted when
someone likes you, not because you’re next in
line. Now, you tell me: should I feel loyal to the
Moor?

Technicolor Life
by
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DIRECTED BY
JOSEPH W. RITSCH
OCTOBER 21-NOVEMBER 8, 2015
BY
JAMI BRANDLI
LIFE