Othello: Methods

Othello: Methods

1. Figurative Language

   • Simile
     • 'She was false as water', Othello, 5.2
     • 'Like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my insides', Iago, 2.1
   • Metaphor
     • 'O, beware, my lord, of jealously,/ It is the green eyed monster.' Iago, 3.3
     • 'I must show a flag of love', Iago, 1.1

2. Allusions

   • Biblical references
     • 'I am not what I am', Iago 1.1
     • 'I kissed thee, ere, I killed thee.' Othello, 5.2
   • Classical mythology
     • 'Her name, that was as fresh/ As Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black...' Othello, 3.3
     • 'By Janus, I think no', Iago, 1.2

3. Animal Imagery

   • 'An old black ram/Is tupping your white ewe', Iago 1.1
   • '...your daughter covered with a Barbary horse', Iago, 1.1
   • 'And will as tenderly be led by the nose/as asses are', Iago, 1.3

4. Soliloquies

   • 'Thus do I ever make my fool my purse', Iago, 1.3

5. Verse/ Prose

   • Verse
     • 'Goodnight, goodnight: heaven me such uses send / Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend! Desdemona', 4.3
   • Prose
     • 'What, man! There are ways to recover the general again.' Iago, 2.3

6. Dramatic Irony

   • 'I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter...', Othello, 2.3
   • 'My lord, you know I love you', Iago, 3.3

7. Black & White Imagery

   • 'Arise black vengeance, from the hollow hell!', Othello, 3.3
   • 'O, the more angel she/And you the blacker devil!', Emilia, 5.2