September 29

Othello Characters

Roderigo - Terrence Howard

Iago - Martin Lawerence
Emilia - Milla Jovovich
Brabanito - Bernie Mac
Desdemona - Aaliyah
Othello - Tyrese Gibson
Cassio - Will Smith Duke of Venice - Jack Nicholson
Montano - Samuel L. Jackson
Clown - Adam Sandler
Bianca - Megan Good

September 25

"I'm still over the moon, I ain't coming down." - Terrence Howard

The African-American actor Terrence Howard would be best fitted as Othello because of his characterization in every movie that I've seen. Such movie such as Ray, Hustle&Flow, The Brave One, Iron Man, and Big Momma's House. :)

September 24

Aim: What is the cultural as well as the social context of Shakespeare’s othello?
Please post on your Blog Page.

Do Now: In yesterday’s lesson, we created a scene. If you had to select an actor to play one of the characters (protagonist/antagonist) who would you choose and why?

1)Who were the Moors?
The Moors are a modernized society of Muslims.
Source.

2)Who were the Venetians?
The Venetians were the typical Venice imitators. (Also known for artistic handmade arts and crafts.)
Source.

3)What was the military duty of ranked officers?
The military duty of ranked officers were to give orders to the lower ranked officers while maintaining their status. (Protecting their land.)
Source.

4)What was the military hierarchy?
The military hierarchy of ancient Greece could in retrospect be viewed as running parallel to its social hierarchy. The aristocratic class were the wealthiest and most politically powerful individuals of the society. Their social position gave them such high identical structure in the military hierarchy, for they assumed complete authority as trierarchs of both land and sea forces.
Source.

5)What was the role of women?
The role of women in the 16th century society were viewed as sinful and imperfect by that time and English writers such as William Shakespeare gave these views with their works as women later on change little by little. In play, women were nearly in silence the entire time, as if their freedom of speech haven't been introduced to them yet. Little they only know, they only wrote what they felt inside in poetry. While noble women live easier lives like Queen Elizabeth, women that are poor have to work hard to keep their husbands and families happy.
Source.

6)What was expected of a daughter?
Daughters were seen as property to control by their fathers. They were expected to obey their father's wishes and to marry by the age of 13. They were like objects to always have a guard around and watched over, as they are so delicate to be sent to the opened world. They were also expected to preserve chastity until marriage, and provide a dowry when they finally did marry.
Source.

7)What was expected of a bride?
They were suppose to be follow the orders of their husbands and bear children.
Source.

8)What relationships between men and women were considered beyond reproach?
For women to marry to men who were less wealthy then their families was very looked down because women were not considered very useful of things other than marrying rich so the family could become wealthy.

9)What rules for getting married existed at the time of the play?
The Church required the consent of the wife and the husband but many parents used marriage as a way to gain wealth.
Source.

10)Who was the most famous Moor?
Edmund Kean, the most famous Moor, the great tragic thespian, who also performed in the other Shakespeare's plays such as Richard III, Macbeth, Lear, and Hamlet.
Source.

11)What were the rules of courtship?

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Homework

Catharsis - Purification or purgation of the emotions (as pity and fear) primarily through art.
Character - One of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual.
Climax - A figure of speech in which a series of phrases or sentences is arranged in ascending order of rhetorical forcefulness.
Denoument - the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in literary work.
Dialogue - a conversational element of literary or dramatic composition.
Diction - choice of words especially with regard to correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.
Dramatic Monologue - a literary work (as a poem) in which a speaker's character is revealed in a monologue usually addressed to a second person.
Dramatis Personae - the characters or actors in a drama.
Exposition - discourse or an example of it designed to convey information or explain what is difficult to understand.
Falling Action - part of a literary plot that occurs after the climax has been reached and the conflict has been resolved.
Monologue - a dramatic sketch performed by one actor.
Narrator - to tell (as a story) in detail.
Parody - a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule.
Pathos - an element in experience or in artistic representation evoking pity or compassion.
Plot - the plan or main story.
Point of View - a position or perspective from which something is considered or evaluated.
Resolution - the point in a literary work at which the chief dramatic complication is worked out.
Rising Action - means a related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward the point of greatest interest.
Soliloquy - a dramatic monologue that represents a series of unspoken reflections.
Stage Direction - a description (as of a character or setting) or direction (as to indicate stage business) provided in the text of a play.
Tragic Flaw - a flaw in character that brings about the downfall of the hero of a tragedy.

September 23

Aim: What are some of the major elements of drama?
Do Now: What comes to mind when you hear the word drama?Let’s Brainstorm.

What is a play?
What is involved in a play?
Where was Shakespeare’s plays staged?
Who did he write his plays for?
Who was his audience?
Who were the actors/resses?
How were the characters dressed?
How did they speak?
Can we plot a play? Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution.
What do you think was the cultural background of the actors/resses? Any people of color?
How many of Shakespeare’s plays have you read or know about?
Have you ever seen an On/Off Broadway play?
Do you like plays? Why or Why not?

Cooperative Learning:
Okay from what you already know, and learned now tell me if you had to put on a play what kind of play would it be, and what would be involved in putting on your play?

Here is a topic: that you can work on “if you see something say something” Now if this was the name of your play what monologue/dialogue would you expect or write for this play?

"If You See Something Say Something"
Two guys walk into a bar, a blood drenched groaning man pass them. The two talk amongst themselves to figure out what they should do. The two men decide to tell a near by cop about the strange blood stained man. The cop reluctantly goes over to the man after finishing his beer. The officer goes over to the bloodstained man to question him. The bloodstained man then bites the officer, biting a huge chunk of the officer's flesh out, ripping it. Blood were gushing down as the officer tries to cover up the bitten area as blood continually pour out of it. And the two men pointed out and mumbled, "If you see something, say something." P.S. - Why does cops always die when you call on them?

Martin Lawrence (Daquan) - Guy 1
Will Smith (George) - Guy 2
Vin Diesel (Me) - Cop, get bitten. :( (I still don't know why I am named after this actor. -_-)
Rob Zombie (???) - Zombie

September 4-5

Aim: Who likes Shakespeare why or why not?
Procedure: Teacher will give students handout and read aloud Sonnet 18.
Do Now: Students will read along and annotate. Answer the following questions on the handout.

Comprehension Check:
What is being described in the sonnet?
- A girl's description about this boy's greatest strength and flaws.
Identify literary techniques or devices?
- Imagery, personification, similes, symbolism, and metaphors.
What is the rhyme scheme of the sonnet? Indicate the rhyme scheme at the end of each line.
How many lines are in this sonnet?
- 14 Lines are in a sonnet.

Critical thinking:
What is this sonnet about?
- It is about the short season of summer.
What is the theme of this sonnet?
- The theme of this sonnet is that love is timeless.
Paraphrase the sonnet line by line as you would to a friend. You can paraphrase it using slangs, spanglish, abbreviated spellings etc.

On Handout: Write your definition of a sonnet on your handout.

My First Sonnet

"Patriotism."

A: I was a new recruit, drafted to war.
B: I have no idea, what's bound to happen.
A: They say that, I'm to be sent somewhere far.
B: Acknowledging that, my mom was saddened.

C: Being new, in a country you don't know.
D: It gives you this feeling, as a outcast.
C: With weapons in hands for soldiers to show,
D: This is a victory that I won't last.

E: With my back against a brick wall, I glanced.
F: To seek if there is an enemy scout.
E: I slowly duck down to a laying stance,
F: To inform my men with a glorious shout.

G: Frightened. I was scared but I have to fight.
G: To show my fellow men, the way of light.