Home » English » AP English Literature & Composition » Othello

Rebekah Hendershot

Rebekah Hendershot

Othello

Slide Duration:

Table of Contents

Section 1: Introduction
Introduction

8m 43s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:10
Why Does This Test Exist?
0:36
Designed to test your ability to understand and interpret English literature
0:42
Tests skills you'll develop in a first-year English literature class
0:54
Worth college credit if you score a 4 or 5 on the exam
1:00
What's on the Test?
1:12
Section I - Multiple Choice
1:16
Section II - Essays
1:36
Poetry
1:56
Prose
2:10
Open Essay
2:26
How is the Test Scored?
2:50
There is no penalty for guessing
2:58
Each essay is scored by a different reader
3:46
Essay's scored from 0 to 9
4:00
What Does All That Mean?
4:30
You want to get 30 out of 55 right on multiple choice section
4:40
You want to get at least 5 out of 9 points on each essay
4:52
How is the Test Scored? (Table)
5:10
How This Course Will Work
6:30
Introduction
6:36
Multiple Choice
7:04
The Essays
7:16
The Walkthrough
7:42
Bonus Unit: Shakespeare
8:00
Literary Movements at Lightspeed

27m 10s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:12
Lesson Overview, cont.
0:34
What is a Literary Movement?
0:58
A group of writers who have something in common
1:00
Why Do Literary Movements Matter?
1:42
Knowledge of literary movements is like a cheat sheet for the exam
1:48
Gives you context
1:54
Gives you great buzzwords
2:16
Metaphysical
2:40
When/Where
2:42
What is it?
2:54
What to look for
3:22
Examples
3:50
Augustans
4:28
When/Where
4:30
What is it?
4:44
What to look for
4:46
Examples
5:10
Romantics
5:40
When/Where
5:48
What is it?
5:52
What to look for
6:14
Examples
6:28
Symbolists
7:18
When/Where
7:22
What is it?
7:46
What to look for
7:52
Examples
8:46
Modernists
9:28
When/Where
9:38
What is it?
9:52
What to look for
10:08
Examples
11:04
Harlem Renaissance
11:54
When/Where
12:02
What is it?
12:12
What to look for
12:30
Examples
12:58
Postmodernists
13:30
When/Where
13:34
What is it?
13:42
What to look for
14:10
Examples
15:02
The Beats
15:26
When/Where
15:28
What is it?
15:34
What to look for
15:50
Examples
17:02
Confessionals
17:32
When/Where
17:40
What is it?
17:44
What to look for
17:52
Examples
18:36
New York School
18:54
When/Where
18:56
What is it?
19:02
What to look for
19:08
Examples
20:04
Black Arts Movement
20:34
When/Where
20:40
What is it?
20:48
What to look for
21:10
Examples
21:24
Black Mountain Poets
22:00
When/Where
22:06
What is it?
22:18
What to look for
22:24
Examples
22:34
Other Poets
22:52
Emily Dickinson
22:58
Robert Frost
23:54
W.H. Auden
25:00
Elizabeth Bishop
25:32
Adrienne Rich
26:04
Seamus Heaney
26:24
A Great Resource for Poetry
26:41
www.poets.org
26:51
Reading List

9m 40s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:12
What Does This List Do?
0:38
Provides you with an overview of what the exam expects you to know going into the test
0:40
Provides a context for the passages you'll encounter
0:52
Great place to start
1:00
What Does This List Not Do?
1:10
Not a substitute for not reading
1:12
Won’t get you a good score by itself
1:18
Do not try to read everything on this list
1:32
Pre-20th Century Authors
1:50
20th Century to the Present
2:34
20th Century to the Present, cont.
3:24
20th Century to the Present, cont.
4:10
20th Century to the Present, cont.
4:58
Wait. What?
5:33
Essential Texts
5:41
Don't read everything on that list!
5:47
Go back and look for authors you recognize
6:11
Pay attention to what's been assigned to you
6:35
What if you don't recognize any names?
6:47
Essential Texts, cont.
6:53
Anthologies
7:05
Textbooks
7:23
Your teacher's bookshelf
7:35
Ten Good Starting Points
7:59
Frankenstein
8:08
Hamlet
8:09
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
8:17
The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass
8:19
Walden
8:23
Guns, Germs, and Steel
8:25
Letter from Birmingham Jail
8:31
Heart of Darkness
8:33
1984
8:35
Oedipus Rex
8:41
If All Else Fails…
8:53
Literary Criticism

11m 23s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:10
What is Literary Criticism
0:36
The study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature
0:40
Asks the questions, what is the work about?
0:46
What is the author trying to say?
0:48
What does [something] mean?
0:50
How do these works relate to one another
0:58
Is this work any good?
1:12
Why Does Literary Criticism Matter?
1:24
Helps you get through high school and college literature classes
1:28
Helps you understand what smart people are talking about
1:36
Helps you understand human beings
1:40
Wait. What?
1:46
Where to Find Literary Criticism
2:33
Critical anthologies
2:41
Literary journals
2:53
Book reviews
3:07
Popular literary magazines
3:13
Major Critical Movements
3:19
How to Write Your Own Literary Criticism
5:19
All about observation and interpretation
5:31
How to Write Your Own Literary Criticism: Things to Look At
6:05
Context
6:15
Biography
6:51
Content
7:11
Undercurrents
7:29
Language
8:17
Critical Perspectives
8:37
The Quick and Dirty Secret of Lit-Crit
8:49
Write about whatever the author didn't have to include
8:57
Three Great Books on Lit-Crit
10:49
The Critical Tradition
11:03
Critical Theory Today
11:09
Beginning Theory
11:15
Section 2: Shakespeare: Plays & Sonnets
Introduction to William Shakespeare

22m 20s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:18
Lesson Overview
1:02
Who Was William Shakespeare?
1:38
Playwright
1:40
Poet
1:44
Businessman
1:52
Wordsmith
2:00
What Do We Know About Shakespeare?
2:06
Birth
2:08
Father
2:34
Education
2:56
Marriage
4:10
Children
4:51
The “Lost Period”
5:52
Work in London
6:36
Globe Theater
8:14
Real Estate Investments
8:28
Writing Style
8:52
Early Plays
9:30
Comedies
9:36
Histories
9:54
Others Written in Early Period
10:26
Big Plays
10:36
Problem Plays
11:02
What Else Do We Know About Shakespeare?
11:30
Wrote Poetry
11:32
Fewer plays after 1607
11:42
Died
12:28
What Don't We Know About Shakespeare?
14:02
Few Personal Records
14:46
No Portraits During Lifetime
14:52
Little Unpaid Writing
15:40
Limited Education
15:54
Religion
16:16
Sexuality
16:54
Authorship
17:32
Why Does Shakespeare Matter?
18:12
Invented Modern English
18:16
Most Quoted
19:08
Changed Storytelling
19:26
Most Human Human Being
19:40
Am I Ever Going to Use This in the Real World?
20:16
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
21:10
How This Course Will Work

4m 18s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:10
What Does This Course Do?
0:30
What Does This Course Not Do?
0:54
What’s in Each Lesson?
1:56
Background of the work
2:04
Content of the work
2:12
Tips and tricks
2:20
How to Use These Videos
3:28
Romeo and Juliet

26m 51s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:10
Lesson Overview
0:44
Background
1:30
Setting
2:34
Characters
3:30
Romeo
3:31
Montague
3:44
Benvolio
3:56
Prince Escalus
4:04
Count Paris
4:12
Mercutio
4:26
Juliet
4:44
Capulet
4:58
Tybalt
5:04
Rosaline
5:24
Nurse
5:42
Friar Laurence
6:06
Plot
6:24
The brawl
6:26
The barty
7:32
The balcony scene
9:14
Marriage arrangements
10:34
Lots and lots of fighting
11:08
Lots and lots of angst
12:34
The plot thickens
13:30
The tomb
15:06
Themes
17:06
Major Passages
20:02
Jumping-off Points
21:40
Love
21:42
Fate
22:08
Blame
22:16
Light and Darkness
22:44
Tragedy or Dark Comedy?
23:00
Source of Family Feuds
23:28
Remakes
24:06
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
25:28
Hamlet

39m 28s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:10
Lesson Overview
0:40
Background
1:20
Setting
2:54
Major Characters
4:02
Hamlet
4:10
Claudius
4:34
Gertrude
4:54
Polonius
5:14
Laertes
5:38
Ophelia
5:48
Horatio
6:14
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
6:28
The Ghost
6:44
Fortinbras
7:14
Gravediggers
7:18
Plot
7:32
A death, a wedding, and a coronation
7:34
Appearance of the ghost
8:36
The mad prince
9:54
Laertes leaves for Paris and Ophelia gets advice
10:30
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
11:08
Hamlet and Ophelia
11:38
The Mouse-Trap
12:08
Reaction
15:44
Ophelia's madness
16:52
Laertes returns and Ophelia dies
17:40
Hamlet returns; Yorick and Ophelia's grave
18:40
The duel
20:22
Everybody dies (except Horatio)
20:56
Themes
22:10
Major Passages
26:18
Act I, scene 2, 129-158
26:34
Act I, scene 4, 67
27:12
Act II, scene 2, 297-298
28:04
Act III, scene 1, 58-90
28:52
Act V, scene 1, 122
29:46
Act V, scene 1, 185-195
31:18
Jumping-off Points
31:58
Uncertainty in the play
32:00
Examine comedy
32:38
“Hinge points” in the play
33:46
The role of women
34:30
Suicide
35:28
Examine theatricality
36:32
Soliloquies
37:10
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
38:10
Macbeth

24m

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:10
Public Service Announcement
0:44
Lesson Overview
1:18
Background
1:54
Setting
4:20
Major Characters
4:52
Macbeth
4:58
Lady Macbeth
5:20
Duncan
5:28
Malcom and Donalblain
5:30
Banquo
5:32
Fleance
5:38
Macduff
6:04
Lady Macduff
6:16
Witches
6:22
Siward
6:25
Hecate
6:27
Ross, Lennox, Angus, Menteith, Caithness
6:39
Plot
6:45
Macbeth's and Manquo's victories
6:46
The witches' prophecy
6:59
Prophecy fulfilled
7:59
Lady Macbeth's encouragement
8:05
The murder of Duncan
8:29
Malcom and Donalblain flee
8:41
Banquo killed, Fleance excapes
9:05
The feast
9:23
Witches redux
9:59
Move against Macduff
11:05
Lady Macbeth's madness and suicide
12:29
Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane
12:41
Macbeth vs. Macduff
12:59
Prophecies fulfilled
13:31
Macbeth dies, Malcolm becomes king
13:43
Themes
13:47
Major Passages
17:19
Act I, scene 5, 36-52
17:25
Act I, scene 7, 1-28
18:09
Act II, scene 2, 55-61
18:21
Act V, scene 1, 30-34
18:55
Act V, scene 5, 16-27
19:19
Jumping-off Points
19:55
How does the idea of prophecy play out?
19:57
How are the five kings in the play alike and different?
20:11
Who is the hero of the play?
20:39
Is Macbeth villainous or tragic? Or both?
20:59
Is this play misogynistic?
21:11
What role does blood play in the story?
21:23
Key events offstage
21:39
Is Macbeth a moral play?
22:39
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
23:03
King Lear

30m 59s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:38
Background
1:08
Setting
2:26
Major Characters
3:04
Lear
3:05
Goneril
3:12
Regan
3:16
Cordelia
3:24
Earl of Kent
3:32
Fool
3:44
Dukes of Albany and Cornwall
3:48
Oswald
3:50
Earl of Gloucester
3:58
Edgar/Poor Tom
4:06
Edmund
4:12
Plot
4:26
Gloucester and his bastard
4:40
Lear's contest; kingdom divided; Cordelia disinherited
5:00
Lear's visit and Goneril's complaints
6:36
Kent becomes Caius
7:00
Message to Gloucester and off to Regan's castle
7:24
Plot, cont.
7:36
Edmund tricks Gloucester
7:42
Kent vs. Oswald
8:42
Edgar's disguise
9:12
Lear Betrayed
9:42
The storm
10:06
Edmund rises with Cornwall
11:42
Kent and Gloucester make plans
12:14
Plot, cont.
12:24
Gloucester captured and tried
12:30
Lear's madness and the Fool vanishes
13:22
Gloucester reunited with Edgar
14:10
Albany splits from Goneril and Cornwall dies
14:34
Kent arrives in Dover; Lear won't see Cordelia
15:10
Plot, cont.
15:28
Regan schemes against Goneril
15:34
Gloucester's “miracle”
15:52
Edgar kills Oswald
16:34
Mad Lead pardons Gloucester's sins and flees
16:58
Edgar gives Albany a letter, theres a fight and more scheming
17:32
Plot, cont.
17:56
Battle; Lear and Cordelia captured
17:58
Edgar saves Gloucester
18:18
Lear and Cordelia sent away; Edmund lies
18:26
Edgar vs. Edmund; treachery revealed
19:02
Goneril and Regan die
19:20
Lear weeps over Cordelia; Edmund dies; Lear dies
19:58
Kent dying; Edgar ascends
20:16
Themes
20:22
Major Passages
22:40
Act I, scene 2, 1-22
23:28
Act IV, scene 1, 37-38
24:04
Act V, scene 3, 256-260
24:42
Jumping-off Points
25:44
What is nature's role in the play?
25:45
How do your perceptions of the major characters change throughout the play?
26:30
Relationship between Cordelia and Lear; Edgar and Gloucester; Goneril and Regan and Edmund
26:40
What purpose does the Fool serve? Why does he vanish?
27:26
What role does age play in the story?
28:10
Dissolution of authority
29:12
Why did Shakespeare change the ending?
29:26
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
29:58
Othello

24m 32s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:30
Background
1:04
Setting
2:58
Major Characters
3:54
Othello
4:02
Desdemona
4:04
Michael Cassio
4:28
Iago
4:46
Brabantio
5:04
Emilia
5:10
Bianca
5:20
Roderigo
5:26
Duke of Venice
5:32
Gratiano
5:34
Lodovico
5:40
Montano
5:46
Clown
5:52
Plot
5:58
Roderigo and Iago; Othello's secret marriage; Iago's plot
6:00
Othello's trail
7:04
The army goes to Cyprus
7:48
The feast of Cyprus
8:06
Iago sends Cassio to Desdemona
9:16
Plot, cont.
9:30
Cassio asks Desdemona for help
9:36
Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful
9:42
Othello's self-doubt
10:28
Handkerchief stolen
11:04
Iago goads Othello even more
11:06
Iago gets Cassio to laugh and Biana gets Othello to believe
12:20
Plot, cont.
12:48
Othello rages at Desdemona
12:56
Othello goes for a walk
13:56
Roderigo and Iago attack Cassio; Iago kills Roderigo
14:50
Othello “kills” his wife
15:18
Iago is revealed; Emilia dies
15:54
Othello kills himself
16:16
Themes
16:18
Major Passages
18:14
Act I, scene 1, 57-65
18:26
Act I, scene 3, 179-188
19:08
Act III, scene 3, 267-279
20:00
Act V, scene 2, 341-354
20:40
Jumping-off Points
22:00
How does race play out in this play?
22:12
Examine the role of sex in this play
22:40
How does Emilia change?
22:54
How does Iago play with the audience's sympathies?
23:00
Male characters' dual roles as military men and lovers
23:10
Physical and emotional isolation
23:24
How is this Iago's story? How is it Othello's?
23:38
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
23:50
A Midsummer Night's Dream

30m 12s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:54
Background
1:48
Setting
3:50
Characters
5:44
Theseus
5:50
Hippolyta
5:56
Hermia
6:02
Lysander
6:10
Helena
6:22
Demetrius
6:52
Egeus
7:04
Bottom
7:16
Quince, Flute, Starveling, Snout, Snug
7:32
Oberon
7:56
Titania
8:08
Puck
8:20
Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, Mustardseed
8:46
Plot
9:02
A wedding or an execution
9:04
The lovers run away
10:12
Helena and Demetrius run after them
10:18
Everybody gets lost in the woods
10:48
Titania and Oberon fight
11:00
Flower juice
11:42
Oberon feels sorry for Helena
13:20
Stupid actors in the forest
13:24
Puck “helps”
15:32
Plot, cont.
15:44
Lysander falls in love with Helena
15:52
Everyone runs around in circles
17:40
Demetrius falls in love with Helena
17:46
Duels, tears, and more running around
18:16
Plot, cont.
18:32
The actors rehearse
18:38
Puck, Bottom, and the donkey head
18:44
Titania in love
19:20
Oberon gets the child
19:28
Lovers go back to normal
19:36
Discovery
19:54
A group wedding
20:24
And it was all a dream!
20:36
Themes
20:54
Love
20:58
Shape-shifting
21:08
Dreams
21:56
Authority
22:26
Gender roles
22:48
Major Passages
23:24
Act I, scene 1, 132-134
23:28
Act I, scene 1, 227-235
23:50
Act III, scene 2, 115
24:22
Act IV, scene, 199-209
24:52
Act V, epilogue, 1-8
25:18
Jumping-off Points
26:30
Development of dreams
26:34
Love
26:48
Rules and tradition
26:58
Changes
27:12
Sex and coarse jokes
27:22
Puck and Bottom
27:45
Honesty
28:22
Play within a play
28:36
Humor
29:02
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
29:24
Much Ado About Nothing

30m 34s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:44
Background
1:18
Setting
2:44
Major Characters
3:32
Don Pedro
3:34
Benedick
3:48
Claudio
4:20
Don John
4:34
Borachio and Conrade
5:06
Leonato
5:20
Major Characters (Cont.)
5:30
Hero
5:32
Beatrice
6:00
Antonio
6:26
Ursula and Margaret
6:32
Friar Francis
6:42
Dogberry
6:46
Plot
6:58
Visitors on the way home from the wars
7:04
The guests arrive
7:36
The ball
8:42
A plot against the lovers
10:26
Eavesdropping in the garden
11:16
Beatrice and Benedick in love-ish
13:18
An accusation and promised proof
13:28
The polite watchmen
13:42
The wedding
14:28
An interrogation
16:28
Two challenges to a duel
16:48
The watchmen reveal all
16:50
Claudio's grief
16:58
Leonato's terms
17:08
The Bs attempt to flirt
17:40
The wedding day
18:18
Themes
19:36
Major Passages
22:32
Act II, scene 3, 204-208
22:33
Act IV, scene 1, 217-221
23:54
Act IV, scene 2, 67-78
24:24
Jumping-off Points
26:28
Beatrice and Benedick
26:34
Tragedy or Dark Comedy?
26:54
Deception
27:26
Language and puns
27:42
Honor
28:22
Words and wit
28:56
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
29:40
The Merchant of Venice

30m 55s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:54
Background
1:24
Setting
2:54
Characters
5:16
Antonio
5:16
Bassanio
5:24
Gratiano
5:44
Lorenzo
5:48
Portia
5:58
Nerissa
6:14
Shylock
6:36
Jessica
7:02
Duke of Venice
7:06
Launcelot Gobbo and Old Gobbo
7:16
Plot
7:28
Antonio and Bassanio
7:30
Portia and Nerissa
8:38
Shylock
10:02
The Prince of Morocco
11:24
Gobbo's new job
12:14
Jessica and Lorenzo
12:58
The Prince of Morocco fails
13:42
Shylock's daughter and ducats
14:04
The prince of Arragon fails
14:54
Antonio' s fortune lost?
15:20
Bassanio wins Portia's hand
15:42
Antonio in prison
16:32
“I'll have my bond”
16:46
Portia and Nerissa: Road trip!
17:00
Antonio and Shylock go to trial
17:32
Balthazar
17:34
“The quality of mercy is not strained”
18:14
A loophole in the contract
18:34
Shylock loses everything
19:18
Fun with rings, happy ending
20:30
Themes
20:48
Major Passages
24:14
Act IV, scene 1, 89-99
24:42
Act IV, scene 1, 179-197
24:52
Jumping-off Points
25:58
The portrayal of Shylock
26:06
How would you portray Shylock?
27:02
Justice and mercy
27:40
Is this play a comedy or not?
27:54
The relationship between Antonio and Bassanio
28:14
The roles of Venice and Belmont
28:40
The relationship between Jessica and Shylock
29:06
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
30:04
Twelfth Night

19m 8s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:10
Lesson Overview
0:42
Background
1:24
Setting
3:08
Characters
3:40
Viola/Cesario
3:38
Sebastian
4:04
Orsino
4:10
Olivia
4:24
Malvolio
4:52
Maria
5:08
Antonio
5:16
Sir Toby Belch
5:34
Sir Andrew Aguecheek
5:36
Feste
6:00
Plot
6:11
Orsino in love
6:28
The shipwreck
6:32
A visit to Olivia
7:26
A prank on Malvolio
8:12
Viola and Orsino
8:18
Olivia tries to woo “Cesario”
9:10
Antonio and Sebastian appear in town
9:18
Malvolio tries to woo Olivia
9:32
Sir Andrew picks fight with Viola
9:52
Antonio rescues “Sebastian,” is arrested
10:12
Sebastian is challenges, courted, married
11:04
The clown mocks Malvolio
11:30
Marriage and beating revealed
11:48
Twins are reunited
11:56
Orsino falls for Viola
12:22
Prank on Malvolio is revealed
12:28
Laughing and singing
12:34
Themes
12:36
Major Passages
14:33
Act I, scene 1, 1-15
14:34
Act I, scene 5, 237-245
14:54
Act II, scene 4, 91-101
15:28
Act V, scene 1, 258-266
15:48
Jumping-off Points
16:28
Gender roles
16:22
The Twelfth Night Holiday
16:44
Comical characters
16:58
Malvolio
17:18
The ending
17:34
Compare Orsino and Olivia
17:48
Mistaken identity
18:14
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
18:30
Julius Caesar

23m 55s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:38
Background
1:18
Setting
3:29
Major Characters
4:41
Julis Caesar
4:47
Calpurnia
4:53
Octavius, Mark Antony, Lepidus
5:07
Cicero, Publius, Popilius Lena
5:33
Brutus
5:37
Cassius
6:03
Portia
6:17
Casca, Tredonius, Ligarius, Decius Brutus, Metellus, Cimber, Cinna
6:23
Cinna
6:25
Soothsayer
6:33
Flavius and Marullus
6:47
Plot
6:53
The two tribunes
6:55
Caesar's triumph
7:11
Brutus and Cassius
7:59
The conspiracy
8:43
Plot, cont.
8:51
The assassination
8:55
The funeral
10:09
Brutus and Cassius fall out
11:43
Plot, cont.
12:03
Conspirators go to war
12:04
A tribute to Brutus
12:29
Themes
13:07
Major Passages
15:37
Act III, scene 2, 82-96
15:41
Act IV, scene 2, 269-276
15:51
Jumping-off Points
17:51
The use of fate and prophecy
17:55
How can the text be applied to different moments in history?
19:05
Deviations from the oringinal
19:18
The role of reputation in the play
20:09
Is Brutus truly the hero?
21:03
Friendship in the play
21:41
Who is the protagonist?
22:25
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
22:56
Henry V

29m 12s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:10
Lesson Overview
0:54
Background
1:38
Setting
2:56
Major Characters
3:26
Henry V
3:30
Cambridge, Scrope, Grey
3:40
Chorus
3:46
Dukes of Exeter
4:12
Charles VI
4:18
Dauphin
4:28
Catherine
4:30
King Fluellen
4:48
Pistol, Bardolph, Nim
5:36
Michael Williams, John Bates, Alexander Court
5:42
Hostess
5:46
Sir John Falstaff
6:10
Plot
6:22
The chorus
7:10
The plan to invade France
7:16
The plot against the prince
8:36
In France
9:20
Charles' offer
10:04
Henry's speech and its dubious reception
10:24
Harfleur surrenders
11:26
Catherine's English lessons
11:38
French taunting
12:00
Plot, cont.
12:22
Hanging a friend
12:26
A French ultimatum
13:04
Henry in disguise
13:18
Agincourt
14:44
Plot, cont.
17:14
Victory at Agincourt
17:20
Aftermath
18:32
Themes
19:44
Major Passages
22:14
Act I, scene 1, 1 ff
22:46
Act III, scene 1, 6-27
23:02
Act IV, scene 1, 242-266
23:50
Act IV, scene 3, 20-39
24:24
Jumping-off Points
25:12
How does the play deal with relationships between men?
25:22
What kind of king is Henry?
26:00
Examine Henry's use of language in the play
26:32
Does this play glorify war and conquest?
26:54
Marriage, families, and parenting
27:20
How does this play deal with diversity among the English forces?
27:46
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
28:09
Richard III

23m 42s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:40
Background
1:16
Setting
2:04
Major Characters
2:58
Richard III
3:04
Edward, Prince of Wales and Richard, Duke of York
3:14
Lady Anne
3:42
Lord Buckingham
3:48
Edward IV
3:54
Clarence
4:04
Queen Elizabeth
4:28
Dorset, Rivers and Gray
4:40
Duchess of York
4:48
Margaret
4:54
Young Elizabeth
5:20
Tyrell
5:34
Richmon
5:46
Hastings
5:54
Plot
6:06
Richard's jealousy
6:14
Clarence in the Tower of London
8:16
Marriage to the Lady Anne
8:24
Queen Margaret warns the court about Richard
9:00
Clarence is killed, Edward is blamed
9:18
The Princes in the Tower
9:38
Richard's next marriage
11:10
Plot, cont.
12:12
Richard's paranoia grows
12:18
The Earl of Richmond invades
12:24
Richard's nightmare
12:36
The Battle of Bosworth Field
13:06
Richmond becomes King Hengry VII, marries Elizabeth
13:14
Themes
13:20
Major Passages
16:14
Act I, scene 1, 1-40
16:20
Act I, scene 3, 220-230
16:58
Act IV, scene 4, 118-123
17:30
Act V, scene 5, 134-145
18:48
Jumping-off Points
19:46
Is Richard a hero or a villain?
19:56
Examine the use of language in the play?
20:28
What form does evil take in the play?
20:46
How does Shakespeare portray the relationship between monarchs and those they rule?
21:24
Portrayal of Richard against history
21:56
The roles of men and women in the play, who has power?
22:06
Examine the concept of loyalty in the play?
22:16
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
22:47
The Winter's Tale

20m 46s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:40
Background
1:12
Setting
2:01
Major Characters
3:09
Leontes
3:10
Hermione
3:17
Polixenes
3:37
Camillo
3:51
Paulina
3:59
Antigonus
4:13
Perdita
4:27
Dion and Cleomenes
4:35
Manilius
5:07
Florizel
5:15
Shepherd
5:21
Clown
5:29
Autolycus
5:33
Plot
5:43
Polixenes visits Leontes
5:45
Leontes suspects Hermione
6:21
Hermione on trial
7:13
Antigonus and the baby
8:17
Prince Florizel finds the coutryside interesting
9:45
Polixenes and Camillo go in disguise
9:55
The sheep-shearing
10:07
An escape
11:15
At the Sicilian court
11:31
At Paulina's house
12:21
Themes
13:33
Major Passages
15:09
Act II, scene 1
15:33
Act II, scene 3
15:51
Act IV, scene 4
16:11
Act v, scene 3
16:31
Jumping-off Points
17:01
Contrast Leontes and Florizel
17:03
Two stories at once
17:23
Traditional fairytales
17:33
Influence of women in the play
17:59
Jealousy
18:25
Autolycus
18:51
Comedy? Tragedy? Romance?
19:13
Innocence and guilt
19:27
Hermione's return
19:55
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
20:13
The Tempest

19m 38s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:08
Lesson Overview
0:44
Background
1:16
Setting
2:24
Major Characters
2:46
Prospero
2:47
Miranda
2:56
Ariel
3:02
Caliban
3:06
Antonio
3:20
Gonzalo
3:28
Alonso
3:54
Sebastian
3:56
Ferdinand
4:04
Trinculo
4:12
Stephano
4:16
Plot
4:26
The tempest and the shipwreck
4:42
The island
4:46
Elsewhere
6:42
The lovers get to know each other
7:38
Ariel messes with the murderous drunks
7:58
Prospero's banquet
8:02
Pretty clothes and supernatural dogs
8:54
A lost son and a lost daughter
9:30
All is revealed
9:40
Loose ends
9:56
Themes
10:54
Major Passages
13:14
Act II, scene 2, 366-368
13:22
Act III, scene 1, 77-86
13:42
Act IV, scene 1, 148-158
13:58
Epilogue
14:40
Jumping-Off Points
15:32
Is Prospero Shakespeare?
15:38
Analyze the character of Caliban
15:43
Prospero's and Miranda's relationship
16:37
Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban
17:04
Examine the use of noise in the play
17:50
Governing the island
18:22
The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
18:34
The Sonnets

21m 9s

Intro
0:00
First Things First
0:10
Lesson Overview
0:40
What is a Sonnet?
1:26
A 14-line lyric poem, usually about love
1:32
Structure calls for four quatrains and a couplet
1:36
Rhyme scheme
1:50
Written in iambic pentameter
2:04
What is a Sonnet?, cont.
2:46
First quatrain establishes theme
2:48
Second quatrain develops theme
2:50
Third quatrain rounds off theme
2:56
Final rhyming couplet concludes with twist or surprise
3:04
What Do We Know?
3:10
Poems probably written in the 1590s
3:12
Theaters closed in 1592 due to plague
3:14
Some poetry written on commission
3:46
Probably circulated in manuscript form
4:06
Published in 1609 without Shakespeare's permission
4:14
What Don't We Know?
4:58
Who commissioned the sonnets
5:04
How Thomas Thorpe for his hands on them
5:12
Who “W.H.” was
5:18
Who the characters were
5:48
Why Do the Sonnets Matter?
5:54
Some of the finest poetry ever written
6:00
Created new sonnet form
6:12
Writing by Shakespeare that isn't a play
6:32
Great for quoting
6:52
What It Means: Sonnet 18
6:58
What It Means: Sonnet 20
9:00
Sonnet Characters: The Fair Youth
11:06
Attractive young man, identity unknown
11:20
Some sonnets encourage him to procreate
11:26
Romantic or platonic love?
11:32
Affair with Dark Lady?
11:50
Possibly Henry Wriothesley
12:02
Was Shakespeare gay?
12:22
Sonnet Characters: The Dark Lady
13:58
Attractive young woman, identity unknown
14:00
“Dark” features
14:20
Object of sexual love
14:30
Married?
14:56
Mystery
15:08
Sonnet Characters: The Rival Poet
15:20
A competitor
15:26
Possibly George Chapman or Christopher Marlowe
15:28
Possibly fictitious
16:02
What It Means: Sonnet 130
16:26
How to Read a Shakespearean Sonnet
19:06
Break it up
19:08
Section 3: Multiple-Choice Section
Multiple-Choice Introduction

14m 22s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:12
Standardized Tests Are Like Video Games
0:32
They don't test real world competence
0:38
It only matters that you win
1:10
There are “cheat codes”
1:46
You must be smart and aggressive
2:12
There is a time limit
2:54
Multiple-Choice Basics
3:18
Pace yourself and keep eye on your watch
3:24
Do easy passage first, hardest last
3:36
Eliminate wrong answers
4:48
Pick the strongest answer
5:18
Concentrate, be present
5:56
Multiple-Choice Masterclass
6:13
Read the questions first
6:17
Skim the passage, then read it
6:53
Watch for the main idea
7:17
Guess aggressively
8:29
Answer questions according to type
9:09
Recheck
9:23
Remember only College Board keeps score
9:43
Final Tips
10:43
Bring a watch
10:51
Read for answers
10:57
Watch for what the author didn't have to include
11:11
When it doubt…
11:53
Save hardest for last
12:53
Be aggressive
13:17
Know thyself
13:35
Breathe
14:05
Multiple-Choice Question Types

9m 17s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:12
General Comprehension Questions
0:42
Ask about passage as a whole
0:50
Answer them based on entire passage
1:10
Examples
1:24
Detail Questions
2:20
Ask about specific parts of a passage
2:22
Always go back and look at the part in question
2:38
Examples
2:44
Factual Knowledge Questions
3:30
Ask about English language, grammar, terminology
3:24
Can't really study for these
4:00
Examples
4:12
Grammar Questions
5:08
Ask about subsets of factual knowledge
5:14
Reading comprehension questions in disguise
5:26
Examples
5:46
How to Order Your Questions
6:58
Answer in the best order for you
7:10
If you feel confident…
7:18
If you're not confident…
7:46
Making Friends with the Hobgoblin
7:58
Prose Passages

11m 41s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:10
Prose Passage Sources
0:38
Authors you've had in class but works you haven't read
0:44
Pre-twentieth century
1:04
20th century and later
1:10
Adapted passages
1:16
Fiction and nonfiction
1:28
How To Read Prose Passages
1:34
Questions first?
1:36
Don’t skip italicized text
2:04
Skim then read
2:18
Read for main idea
2:26
Watch for details
2:42
Keep going
3:08
The Topic Sentence is Not There
3:28
Look for tone and flow
4:30
The Great Detective Takes the AP Exam
4:42
Read for details
5:20
Let the details build
5:32
Infer, don’t assume
6:34
Data, data, data
6:58
Eliminate
7:20
How to Know Words You Don't Actually Know
7:50
Context
7:52
Look for familiar parts and roots
8:24
Use other languages
8:54
Replace word with a black
9:06
Use opposite of the wrong word
9:30
What to Do if You're Out of Time
9:54
Go to the questions
10:08
Focus on literary terms and grammar
10:24
Answer questions with line references
10:42
Answer tone questions
10:56
Read if you can, guess if you can't
11:16
Poetry Passages

9m 48s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:10
Poetry Sources
0:48
Poets you've read in class, but works you haven’t read yet
0:54
Pre-twentieth century
1:16
20th century and later
1:18
A variety of forms
1:20
Rhyming and non-rhyming
1:26
Poetry Questions vs. Prose Questions
1:38
More about literary terms and poetic devices
1:40
Maybe rhyme scheme or structure
1:56
More grammar questions
2:18
How to read Poetry
2:44
Read poems like they're prose
2:56
Focus on main idea
3:04
Watch for what poet didn't have to include
3:32
Except/Not/Least
3:42
Can be tricky
3:46
Cross out the negative word and eliminate
4:14
Watch Out for Grammar
5:08
Poetry questions likely to involve grammar
5:16
Usually pretty simple
5:48
Answer based on your understanding
5:58
Example
6:18
One Group of Poets to Read
7:42
The Metaphysicals
7:46
Section 4: The Essays
Intro to The Essay Section

21m 54s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:12
The Numbers
0:34
Three Essays, 120 minutes
0:40
Worth 55% of your grade
1:10
Scored 0 to 9
1:42
The Prompt
1:48
What the prompt says
1:50
What does that mean?
2:16
Holistic Scoring
3:16
What the Reader Wants
4:34
An essay that is easy to score
4:36
An essay that is interesting
5:06
Scoring Guide
5:38
Scores 8-9 (6%)
5:40
Scores 6-7 (30%)
6:16
Score 5 (23%)
6:58
Scores 3-4 (37%)
8:10
Scores 1-2 (4%)
8:42
Score 0
9:16
Score “--”
9:28
The Two Secrets of Essay Scores
9:34
Clarity is everything!
9:38
Its all about level 5
10:04
How to Make Any Essay Better
11:14
Write neatly
11:16
Indent your paragraphs
11:54
Write first paragraph perfectly
12:22
Use literary vocab
13:06
Use verbs that sizzle and nouns that soar
13:32
Be specific
14:30
Beware of logorrhea
14:50
Answer the question
15:40
How to Make a Good Essay Great
15:58
Focus on the what and the how
16:00
Talk about language
16:14
Use opposition
16:32
Trust your instincts
17:20
Make it original
18:24
The Ultimate Essay Secret
18:47
The Prose Essay

11m 3s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:10
Passage Sources
0:36
May be an introductory text
1:02
There may be footnotes
1:06
May be abridged from original
1:10
Two Questions to Ask
1:22
What does this passage mean?
1:28
How does the author make me understand that?
2:00
Elements to Include
2:18
Content
2:26
Point of View
2:46
Characterization
2:58
Diction
3:18
Imagery
3:36
Metaphor
3:40
Oppositions
3:52
Your Job is to Score Above a 5
4:28
Tips and Tricks
5:18
Get mechanics right
5:20
Make first paragraph perfect
5:40
Perfectly structured essays are boring
6:10
Don't restate the prompt
6:54
Don't summarize
7:02
Use clear transitions and topic sentences
7:28
Don't pad, don't ramble
7:38
Have a hook and conclusion
7:52
The Ultimate Essay Secret
8:10
The Poetry Essay

11m 8s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:10
Passage Sources
0:36
There's an effort to avoid duplication
0:46
May have introductory text
1:00
If given two poems to compare, may be from same or different poets
1:06
There may be footnotes
1:12
Two Questions to Ask
1:19
What does this poem mean?
1:23
How does the poet make me understand that?
1:59
Elements to Include
2:13
Content
2:19
Diction
2:31
Imagery
2:43
Metaphor
2:49
Rhyme
3:03
Form
3:15
Oppositions
3:33
Your Job is to Score Above a 5
3:59
Get mechanics right
4:59
Make first paragraph perfect
5:11
Perfectly structured essays are boring
5:57
Don't restate the prompt
6:29
Don't summarize
6:33
Use clear transitions and topic sentences
6:59
Don't pad, don't ramble
7:11
Have a hook and conclusion
7:25
The Ultimate Essay Secret
7:49
The Open Essay

17m 28s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:10
What is the Open Essay?
0:54
Usually the third essay on the exam
1:00
Prompt gives you a theme
1:06
You can study for it
1:30
What ETS Wants
1:36
All about your ability to think deeply
2:08
A well-written essay
3:12
An essay showing complex thought
3:16
An essay that applies the given theme to the work
3:30
An Essay About Anything
3:42
Work it out in advance
3:50
Use sample prompts
4:04
How will you know which books to prepare?
4:12
Your First Book
4:18
Prepare at least one major work of literature
4:26
Choose something you've read in class
4:34
Choose something with a lot of themes
4:44
Choose something you like
4:50
Shakespeare!
5:14
Some Good Choices
5:20
Your Second and Third Books
6:38
Have backups
6:40
Choose something different
7:12
Choose something shorter
7:44
Some Good Choices
7:52
How to Prepare a Book
8:34
Reread within four weeks of test
8:36
Work from critical editions
8:50
Write your own study guide
9:14
A Dirty Trick You'll Want to Use
10:20
Download samples
10:26
Writing beginning of each essay for each
10:36
Make sure you've got…
10:42
Your Job is to Score Above a 5
11:18
Tips and Tricks
11:54
Get mechanics right
11:56
Make first paragraph perfect
12:04
Perfectly structured essays are boring
12:20
Don't restate the prompt
12:42
Don't summarize
12:44
Use clear transitions and topic sentences
13:22
Don't pad, don't ramble
13:30
Have a hook and conclusion
13:48
The Ultimate Essay Secret
14:06
How to Use Hamlet For Everything

21m 15s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:10
Why Hamlet Works for Everything (Almost)
1:16
Considered one of the greatest works of English literature
1:36
It's long enough to be broken down
1:58
Rich range of male and female characters
2:10
Variety of interpretations
2:32
Elements of many genres
2:52
It's public domain
3:02
Where to Find the Questions
3:18
2011: Hamlet and the Search for Justice
4:18
“Life is a search for justice”
4:28
What are you being asked to analyze?
4:48
How to Answer
5:06
How does Hamlet understand justice?
5:16
Is his search for justice successful?
6:10
2011B: Hamlet and the Illuminating Incident
7:10
A work of fiction uses the “illuminating incident“ as a ”magic casement”
7:24
What are you being asked to explain?
7:44
How to Answer
8:08
The play Hamlet puts on before Claudius
8:16
Literal summary and window into the soul
8:38
Focus on Claudius's prayer
9:20
2009: Hamlet and the Symbol
9:40
The definition of a symbol
9:48
What are you being asked to focus on and analyze?
10:10
How to Answer
10:24
Yorick's skull
10:28
How does it function in the work?
10:48
What does it reveal about the characters or themes?
11:38
2009B: Hamlet and the Social Issue
12:14
What are you being asked to do?
12:34
How to Answer
12:52
Uh-oh! Hamlet isn't very socially or politically conscious
12:54
Class conflict in the play
13:10
Gender in the play
13:42
How to Answer, cont.
14:02
What literary elements does Shakespeare use to explore this issue?
14:04
How does this contribute to the meaning of the work as a whole?
15:44
Don't Just Use Hamlet
16:37
How about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and racism?
17:15
Remember you are writing under a time limit
17:47
Don't use Hamlet if you haven't read it
17:55
The Ultimate Essay Secret
18:03
Section 5: Test Walkthrough
Multiple-Choice Walkthrough, Part 1

15m 24s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:14
Where to Find the Questions
0:28
College Board's 1999 multiple-choice section
0:32
Questions begin on page 23 (page 17)
0:42
Reading the Passages
0:54
What's the point of this passage?
0:56
How does the author get that point across?
1:02
Passage 1
1:08
The Big Idea
1:10
How It's Expressed
1:32
The Questions
1:52
Passage 1, Question 1
1:58
Answer
2:26
Passage 1, Question 2
2:32
Answer
3:10
Passage 1, Question 3
3:14
Answer
3:28
Passage 1, Question 4
3:36
Answer
3:56
Passage 1, Question 5
4:00
Answer
4:30
Passage 1, Question 6
4:38
Answer
5:14
Passage 1, Question 7
5:20
Answer
5:46
Passage 1, Question 8
5:52
Answer
6:00
Passage 1, Question 9
6:06
Answer
6:26
Passage 1, Question 10
6:32
Answer
6:48
Passage 1, Question 11
6:54
Answer
7:20
Passage 1, Question 12
7:24
Answer
7:52
Passage 1, Question 13
7:58
Answer
9:00
Passage 2
9:10
The Big Idea
9:12
How It's Expressed
9:28
The Questions
9:54
Passage 2, Question 14
10:00
Answer
10:18
Passage 2, Question 15
10:24
Answer
10:38
Passage 2, Question 16
10:46
Answer
11:12
Passage 2, Question 17
11:18
Answer
11:22
Passage 2, Question 18
11:28
Answer
11:42
Passage 2, Question 19
11:46
Answer
12:02
Passage 2, Question 20
12:10
Answer
12:28
Passage 2, Question 21
12:32
Answer
12:46
Passage 2, Question 22
13:10
Answer
13:40
Passage 2, Question 23
13:42
Answer
14:00
Passage 2, Question 24
14:06
Answer
14:52
Passage 2, Question 25
14:58
Answer
15:18
Multiple-Choice Walkthrough, Part 2

19m 25s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:16
Where to Find the Questions
0:30
College Board's 1999 multiple-choice section
0:32
Begin on page 29 (page 23)
0:52
Reading the Passages
1:00
What's the point of this passage?
1:10
How does the author get that point across?
1:12
Passage 3
1:20
The Big Idea
1:28
How It’s Expressed
1:38
The Questions
1:46
Passage 3, Question 26
1:52
Answer
2:02
Passage 3, Question 27
2:08
Answer
2:58
Passage 3, Question 28
3:02
Answer
3:22
Passage 3, Question 29
3:28
Answer
3:54
Passage 3, Question 30
4:00
Answer
4:24
Passage 3, Question 31
4:30
Answer
5:02
Passage 3, Question 32
5:08
Answer
5:42
Passage 3, Question 33
5:52
Answer
6:12
Passage 3, Question 34
6:18
Answer
6:40
Passage 4
6:46
The Big Idea
6:48
How It’s Expressed
7:08
The Questions
7:36
Passage 4, Question 35
7:48
Answer
8:00
Passage 4, Question 36
8:06
Answer
8:40
Passage 4, Question 37
8:48
Answer
9:04
Passage 4, Question 38
9:10
Answer
9:40
Passage 4, Question 39
9:46
Answer
10:06
Passage 4, Question 40
10:12
Answer
10:38
Passage 4, Question 41
10:44
Answer
11:00
Passage 4, Question 42
11:06
Answer
11:28
Passage 4, Question 43
11:34
Answer
12:18
Passage 5
12:26
The Big Idea
12:28
How It’s Expressed
12:48
The Questions
13:06
Passage 5, Question 44
13:12
Answer
13:28
Passage 5, Question 45
13:34
Answer
13:56
Passage 5, Question 46
14:02
Answer
14:18
Passage 5, Question 47
14:24
Answer
14:56
Passage 5, Question 48
15:02
Answer
15:22
Passage 5, Question 49
15:30
Answer
15:54
Passage 5, Question 50
16:02
Answer
16:26
Passage 5, Question 51
16:32
Answer
17:08
Passage 5, Question 52
17:14
Answer
17:34
Passage 5, Question 53
17:40
Answer
17:56
Passage 5, Question 54
18:07
Answer
18:39
Passage 5, Question 55
18:45
Answer
19:15
Prose Essay Walkthrough

10m 7s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:12
Where to Find the Questions
0:30
From the 2010 free-response questions
0:34
Page 3 of PDF
0:38
Belinda by Maria Edgeworth
0:46
What are you being asked to do?
0:52
Reading the Passage
1:04
What's the point of this passage?
1:06
How does the author get that point across?
1:08
Reading the Passage, cont.
1:12
The answer to: What's the point of this passage?
1:14
The answer to: How does the author get that point across?
1:34
Point of View
1:38
Tone
1:52
Language
2:02
Outlining the Essay
2:16
Thesis
2:20
Point of View
3:14
Tone
3:58
Language
5:10
Conclusion
6:10
Tips and Tricks
7:37
Get mechanics right
7:41
Make first paragraph perfect
7:55
Perfectly structured essays are boring
8:17
Don't restate the prompt
8:29
Don't summarize
8:31
Use clear transitions and topic sentences
8:39
Don't pad, don't ramble
8:43
Have a hook and conclusion
9:05
The Ultimate Essay Secret
9:23
Poetry Essay Walkthrough

7m 24s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:16
Where to Find the Questions
0:30
From the 2010 free-response questions
0:32
Page 2 of the PDF
0:36
“The Century Quilt” by Marilyn Nelson Waniek
0:38
What are you being asked to do?
0:52
Reading the Passage
1:09
What's the point of this passage?
1:11
How does the author get that point across?
1:13
Reading the Passage, cont.
1:19
The answer to: What's the point of this passage?
1:21
The answer to: How does the author get this point across?
1:37
Structure
1:41
Imagery
2:01
Tone
2:15
Outlining the Essay
2:27
Thesis
2:29
Structure
2:43
Imagery
3:21
Tone
3:58
Conclusion
4:29
Tips and Tricks
5:29
The Ultimate Essay Secret
6:53
Open Essay Walkthrough

14m 43s

Intro
0:00
Lesson Overview
0:14
Where to Find the Question
0:32
Essay from the 2010 free-response questions
0:36
Page 4 of PDF
0:40
What are you being asked to do?
1:00
Choosing the Work
1:20
Brainstorming
2:02
How does Odysseus fit this question?
2:04
How is his exile both alienating and enriching?
2:08
How does it illuminate the meaning of the work?
3:28
Outlining the Essay
4:16
Thesis
4:20
Hook
5:14
Alienation
6:38
Enrichment
8:08
Theme
9:50
Conclusion
10:58
Tips and Tricks
12:10
The Ultimate Essay Secret
14:03
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Othello

  • First Things First
    • This lesson will teach you how to read and understand a play by William Shakespeare, one of the greatest playwrights in the history of the English language (and the man who invented quite a lot of it).
    • These videos are not a substitute for reading Shakespeare, listening to Shakespeare, or watching Shakespeare performed.
    • Seriously. Don’t be that guy.
  • Background
    • Written in 1603
    • Taken from a 1565 short story (“A Moorish Captain”) by Cinthio, a follower of Boccaccio
    • Original story was not available in English during Shakespeare’s lifetime
    • “Moor” and “black” could have meant just about anything—Morocco, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa …
  • Setting
    • Venice and Cyprus
    • War with the Turks
    • Racism
  • Major Characters
    • Othello—Moorish general working for Venice; friend of Brabantio and Cassio, husband of Desdemona
    • Desdemona—Venetian-born wife of Othello; daughter of Brabantio
    • Michael Cassio—Lieutenant, proxy wooer and friend of Othello
    • Iago—Ensign serving under Othello, champion manipulator
    • Brabantio—Nobleman of Venice, father of Desdemona, friend of Othello
    • Emilia—Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s maidservant
    • Bianca—Cassio’s lover
    • Roderigo—A Venetian in love with Desdemona
    • Duke of Venice—Doge, or leader of the city
    • Gratiano—Brabantio’s brother
    • Lodovico—Desdemona’s cousin
    • Montano—Othello’s Venetian predecessor in Cyprus
    • Clown—A servant
  • Plot
    • Roderigo and Iago: Othello’s secret marriage, Iago’s plot
    • Othello’s trial and the explanation of “witchcraft”
    • The army goes to Cyprus; Iago plots some more
    • The feast at Cyprus
      • Cassio drunk, disgraced, fired
    • Iago sends Cassio to Desdemona, plays the reluctant tattletale to Othello
    • Cassio entreats Desdemona for help
    • Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful
      • His charges: Cassio’s sleep behavior and the handkerchief token
    • Othello’s self-doubt
    • The handkerchief is stolen
    • Iago goads Othello even more
      • Othello’s trance
    • Iago gets Cassio to laugh and Bianca gets Othello to believe
    • Othello rages at Desdemona; wedding sheets on the bed
      • Emilia questions Iago
    • Othello goes for a walk; Emilia and Desdemona prepare for bed
    • Roderigo and Iago attack Cassio; Iago kills Roderigo
    • Othello “kills” his wife
      • Emilia enters
      • Desdemona’s “suicide”
    • Iago is revealed; Emilia dies
    • Othello kills himself
  • Themes
    • Deception and manipulation
    • Racial and cultural “otherness”
    • Love, sex, and fidelity
    • Warrior vs. husband
    • Isolation
  • Major Passages
    • “Were I the Moor I would not be Iago.
      In following him I follow but myself;
      Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
      But seeming so for my peculiar end…”

      -Act I, Scene 1, 57-65

    • “My noble father,
      I do perceive here a divided duty …”

      -Act I, Scene 3, 179-188

    • “Haply for I am black,
      And have not those soft parts of conversation
      That chamberers have; or for I am declined
      Into the vale of years—yet that’s not much—
      She’s gone …”

      -Act III, Scene 3, 267-279

    • “Then must you speak
      Of one that loved not wisely but too well,
      Of one not easily jealous but, being wrought,
      Perplexed in the extreme; of one whose hand,
      Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away
      Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes,
      …And say besides that in Aleppo once,
      Where a malignant and a turbaned Turk
      Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,
      I took by th’ throat the circumcised dog
      And smote him thus …”

      -Act V, Scene 2, 341-354

  • Jumping-Off Points
    • How does race play out in this play? How do different characters portray Othello as an “other”, or defend him as an “insider” ally of Venice, at different points in the story? How does Othello perceive his own insider/outsider status?
    • Examine the role of sex in this play—the repeated interruptions of the wedding night between Othello and Desdemona, the virgins’ blood on the handkerchief, the accusations of infidelity. How does sex alter the plot?
    • How does Emilia change? To whom is she loyal, and when? What causes her to turn against Iago at the end?
    • Iago plays constantly with the audience’s sympathies, first holding them and then spurning them. Dissect one of his soliloquies to see this effect.
    • How does Othello play with its male characters’ dual roles as military men and as lovers? Compare the pairings of Othello and Desdemona, Cassio and Bianca, and Iago and Emilia. Who is most comfortable in which role?
    • Some of the most important moments in the play happen when characters are alone, or alone with Iago. How does physical and emotional isolation change the course of Othello?
    • This play is called Othello, but Iago gets more lines, and better ones. How is this Iago’s story? How is it Othello’s?
  • The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare
    • Watch it performed (or on film if you can’t get to a theatrical production). All of Shakespeare makes more sense when it’s spoken by actors who have lived his words and know, bone-deep, what he’s talking about. Never underestimate the power of performance. Remember that this is how Shakespeare meant his work to be seen …

Othello

Lecture Slides are screen-captured images of important points in the lecture. Students can download and print out these lecture slide images to do practice problems as well as take notes while watching the lecture.

  • Intro 0:00
  • First Things First 0:08
  • Lesson Overview 0:30
  • Background 1:04
  • Setting 2:58
  • Major Characters 3:54
    • Othello
    • Desdemona
    • Michael Cassio
    • Iago
    • Brabantio
    • Emilia
    • Bianca
    • Roderigo
    • Duke of Venice
    • Gratiano
    • Lodovico
    • Montano
    • Clown
  • Plot 5:58
    • Roderigo and Iago; Othello's secret marriage; Iago's plot
    • Othello's trail
    • The army goes to Cyprus
    • The feast of Cyprus
    • Iago sends Cassio to Desdemona
  • Plot, cont. 9:30
    • Cassio asks Desdemona for help
    • Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful
    • Othello's self-doubt
    • Handkerchief stolen
    • Iago goads Othello even more
    • Iago gets Cassio to laugh and Biana gets Othello to believe
  • Plot, cont. 12:48
    • Othello rages at Desdemona
    • Othello goes for a walk
    • Roderigo and Iago attack Cassio; Iago kills Roderigo
    • Othello “kills” his wife
    • Iago is revealed; Emilia dies
    • Othello kills himself
  • Themes 16:18
  • Major Passages 18:14
    • Act I, scene 1, 57-65
    • Act I, scene 3, 179-188
    • Act III, scene 3, 267-279
    • Act V, scene 2, 341-354
  • Jumping-off Points 22:00
    • How does race play out in this play?
    • Examine the role of sex in this play
    • How does Emilia change?
    • How does Iago play with the audience's sympathies?
    • Male characters' dual roles as military men and lovers
    • Physical and emotional isolation
    • How is this Iago's story? How is it Othello's?
  • The Secret of Understanding Shakespeare 23:50

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