Reading Tips:
- As you make your way through Othello, don't forget to jot down summary notes to remind yourself what happened in each scene and Act. When you go to reflect on what you've read, these notes will be hugely helpful to you.
- Also, highlight or bracket passages & speeches that you find really interesting, even if you don't fully understand them. Read and reread these sections. Maybe you can ask your roommate or classmate to read a couple lines or scene with you out loud. Hearing things aloud sometimes helps.
- Underline patterns of language, images, or words you notice over and over (honesty, black/white, honor, see/sight...). This way you can identify those areas quickly later on. You might also keep note cards with you as you read so you can write down some of these thoughts and reactions and store them in your book.
- Summaries are very helpful. However, beware the quick analysis sites you can find online--through Sparknotes, enotes or any other random website. Generally, websites with "edu" are more reliable because they have affiliation with universities or colleges.
- Some HUST majors recently read Othello, and they took some notes online that you might find useful. Check out their historical analysis and summaries.
- Don't forget to consult your book. Kim Hall's introduction to the Bedford/St. Martin's edition of your text is very useful, especially for its explanation of how race is understood in Shakespeare's time.
Questions to Think About:
- What are Iago's reasons for plotting against Othello?
- After Cassio gets drunk and fights Montano (2.3), he laments the loss of his reputation (2.3.240). Why is reputation so important to Cassio? How essential is it for the other characters?
- Why do Iago, Othello, Branbantio and other characters keep talking about what you can see? Othello claims he needs "ocular proof" of Desdemona's faithfulness--what are limitations does "ocular proof" present? Can we always trust what we see?
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