In order to prepare for a fishbowl discussion on Othello complete the two tasks below.
TASK #1: Read the article entitled "Othello's Alienation" by Edward Berry.
* Annotate as you read -- underline, make notes (questions, comments, and connections) in the margins.
* On the back make a list of
questions (things from the article that were confusing or that you were wondering about),
ideas you got from the article, and
points of agreement and/or disagreement with Berry's interpretation of the play. Connect your questions, ideas, and arguments with page numbers from the article.
* Also make a
list of 4-5 passages from the play worth revisiting in our discussion.
TASK # 2: Read the MOTIF BLOG
* Read through the entries and notice patterns. Make a list of patterns and ideas that come to you.
* Pick 2 of the motifs and find evidence of that motif in the dialogue of acts 4 or 5 of the play. Write down the quotes and page numbers.
* What does an examination of the motifs in the play add to our discussion of the following themes from the play
(write down ideas for each): IAGO'S WEB OF MANIPULATION, OTHELLO'S TRANSFORMATION, and THE PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN IN THE PLAY.
If there is another theme that you want to bring into the discussion, please add that here.
