OthelloOthello Frontloading Frontloading—written in 1604——written in 1604—

Know these characters well.Know these characters well.

Know what they say—and to Know what they say—and to whom.whom.

Jot notes after viewing each day.Jot notes after viewing each day.

The test (100 multiple choice or The test (100 multiple choice or matching) demands you know this matching) demands you know this

play very well, so you’ll have a play very well, so you’ll have a team of experts to work with. team of experts to work with.

84% average among non-AP 84% average among non-AP students.students.

Act PresentationsAct PresentationsEach of you will be part of two squads:Each of you will be part of two squads:

1. your test-taking team, which will have 1. your test-taking team, which will have an expert from each act (or four of the five an expert from each act (or four of the five acts)acts)

2. your act-presenting group, which will 2. your act-presenting group, which will have 20 minutes to teach the rest of the have 20 minutes to teach the rest of the class all of the important quotes, events, class all of the important quotes, events, settings, and so forth from one specific act.settings, and so forth from one specific act.

Act I on April 29 MAct I on April 29 M Act IV on May 2 HAct IV on May 2 H

Act II on April 30 TAct II on April 30 T Act V on May 7 TAct V on May 7 T

Act III on May 1 W Act III on May 1 W Test May 14 TTest May 14 T

GratianoGratiano

Brabantio’s brother.Brabantio’s brother. Desdemona’s uncle.Desdemona’s uncle. Travels from Venice Travels from Venice

to Cyprus late in the to Cyprus late in the play with Lodovico.play with Lodovico.

Has a limited role and Has a limited role and beard in the film—beard in the film—and is slightly visible and is slightly visible in the next image.in the next image.

MontanoMontano

Othello’s friend in Cyprus; he is not in Venice Othello’s friend in Cyprus; he is not in Venice scenes.scenes.

Also a leader in the government and military of Also a leader in the government and military of Cyprus.Cyprus.

Cassio loses his rank because he becomes drunk Cassio loses his rank because he becomes drunk and fights with Montano, angering Othello, who and fights with Montano, angering Othello, who has been “romantically involved” for the first time has been “romantically involved” for the first time with his new wife, Desdemona.with his new wife, Desdemona.

Duke of VeniceDuke of Venice Calls a meeting in Calls a meeting in

the middle of the the middle of the night to decide night to decide what to do about a what to do about a threat from the threat from the Turkish military.Turkish military.

Allows Desdemona Allows Desdemona to go to Cyprus, to go to Cyprus, following her new following her new husband, who is husband, who is leader of the leader of the Venetian military.Venetian military.

Urges Brabantio to Urges Brabantio to accept Othello as accept Othello as his new son-in-law.his new son-in-law.

BrabantioBrabantio Desdemona’s dad.Desdemona’s dad. Senator in Venice, Senator in Venice,

Italy, the first setting Italy, the first setting of the play. Does of the play. Does not go to Cyprus.not go to Cyprus.

Awakens to vulgar Awakens to vulgar shouts by Iago and shouts by Iago and Roderigo, who wants Roderigo, who wants to marry to marry Desdemona.Desdemona.

Goes to confront Goes to confront Othello, but is Othello, but is summoned to meet summoned to meet with the Duke about with the Duke about military military deliberations.deliberations.

EmiliaEmilia Iago’s wife.Iago’s wife. Desdemona’s maid and Desdemona’s maid and

mentor.mentor. Grabs the salient Grabs the salient

handkerchief from D. to handkerchief from D. to give to Iago, seeking give to Iago, seeking approval from the worst approval from the worst husband possible—and husband possible—and not understanding the not understanding the reason Iago wants the reason Iago wants the handkerchief.handkerchief.

Rumored to have slept Rumored to have slept with Othello (but Iago with Othello (but Iago uses this rumor as uses this rumor as justification for his justification for his sedition).sedition).

Roderigo, Roderigo, “the Puppet”“the Puppet”

Wearing a fake beard Wearing a fake beard in this photo, trying to in this photo, trying to hide his identity as he hide his identity as he attempts to sabotage attempts to sabotage the marriage between the marriage between Othello & Desdemona, Othello & Desdemona, which he witnesses.which he witnesses.

Brabantio has told him Brabantio has told him he cannot marry D.he cannot marry D.

Succumbs to Iago’s Succumbs to Iago’s verbal treachery verbal treachery throughout the play.throughout the play.

Sells everything he Sells everything he has to chase has to chase Desdemona.Desdemona.

Lodovico, the Lodovico, the eyes and eyes and

voice of the voice of the audienceaudience

Desdemona’s cousin.Desdemona’s cousin. Major role late in the Major role late in the

play at Cyprus. Tries to play at Cyprus. Tries to stand up against Othello stand up against Othello for Desdemona. for Desdemona. Chastises Iago severely. Chastises Iago severely. Strips Othello of his title Strips Othello of his title and laments the sadness and laments the sadness of the resolution for the of the resolution for the audience. Will tell the audience. Will tell the story to those in Venice.story to those in Venice.

This actor, Michael This actor, Michael Sheen, wears silly tights Sheen, wears silly tights in this film, but has in this film, but has performed as Tony Blair performed as Tony Blair and in and in Frost/NixonFrost/Nixon, , TwilightTwilight, , UnderworldUnderworld, , and many other popular and many other popular films and shows.films and shows.

BiancaBianca Follows a “loose” moral Follows a “loose” moral

compass.compass. Lives in Cyprus; like Lives in Cyprus; like

Montano, is never in Montano, is never in Venice.Venice.

Is “available,” Is “available,” especially to the especially to the handsome, charismatic handsome, charismatic Michael Cassio.Michael Cassio.

Functions largely as a Functions largely as a pawn in Iago’s scheme.pawn in Iago’s scheme.

Is angered when she Is angered when she finds the handkerchief finds the handkerchief left by Cassio on her left by Cassio on her bed.bed.

CassioCassio Othello’s best man at Othello’s best man at his elopement—and is his elopement—and is promoted by Othello promoted by Othello in the opening scenes.in the opening scenes.

Cannot control himself Cannot control himself while drinking alcohol while drinking alcohol (notorious).(notorious).

Enjoys an affair with Enjoys an affair with Bianca.Bianca.

Tricked by Iago, who Tricked by Iago, who advises Cassio to advises Cassio to commiserate with D. commiserate with D. to regain Othello’s to regain Othello’s favor.favor.

Irene Jacob as Irene Jacob as Desdemona Desdemona

Brabantio’s daughter.Brabantio’s daughter. Pursued by Roderigo.Pursued by Roderigo. Wife of Othello, who Wife of Othello, who

attracted affection & attracted affection & attention by telling, attention by telling, within earshot of D., within earshot of D., Brabantio exotic Brabantio exotic stories of the Orient—stories of the Orient—of war, slavery, of war, slavery, barbarism, etc.barbarism, etc.

Her “Willow” song Her “Willow” song functions as functions as foreshadowing.foreshadowing.

Laurence Laurence Fishburne as Fishburne as

OthelloOthello A “Moor” from northern A “Moor” from northern Africa who has somehow Africa who has somehow swiftly gained rank in swiftly gained rank in Venice.Venice.

Described harshly, Described harshly, prejudicially by many.prejudicially by many.

Brilliant militaristically, Brilliant militaristically, childish (like “Pantaloon”’s childish (like “Pantaloon”’s Rider) emotionally/socially.Rider) emotionally/socially.

To London audiences, a rare To London audiences, a rare representation of blackness representation of blackness to judge—a source of the to judge—a source of the justification for slavery, justification for slavery, which followed, of course?which followed, of course?

Iago, the Iago, the spider/viperspider/viper—played by —played by

Kenneth BranaghKenneth Branagh

Has been ranked as top villain of all literature.Has been ranked as top villain of all literature. Speaks in many “asides” (like above) to audience.Speaks in many “asides” (like above) to audience. Married to Emilia, passed by Cassio for promotion.Married to Emilia, passed by Cassio for promotion. Verbally seduces Roderigo throughout the play.Verbally seduces Roderigo throughout the play. True reason/source of wickedness debated endlessly.True reason/source of wickedness debated endlessly.