Literary Techniques in Othello - created from Mind Map

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Animal Imagery

Allusions (reference to other texts)

Black and white Imagery

Figurative Language

Soliloqiues

Verse & Prose

Dramatic Irony

Iago says "An old black ram//Is tupping your white ewe" Act1.1

Iago says "your daughter covered with a Barbary horse" Act1.1

Iago says "And will as tenderly be led by the nose//as asses are" Act1.3

use of color and juxtaposition to emphasis the indignity of the situation

comparison of Othello to a horse to emphasis his stupidity and gulibility

reference to the bible

classical mythology

Iago "I am not what I am" Act1.1

Othello "I kissed thee, ere, I killed thee." Act5.2

parody/reversal of God's description of himself in Exodus "I am that I am" therefore suggest Iago is opposite to God.

reference to Judas' kiss in the bible followed by his betrayal. Therefore Othello compares himself to the greatest betrayer in Christianity

Othello "Her name, that was as fresh// As Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black..."

Iago "By Janus, I think no" Act1.2

reference to Roman virgin goddess Dian, to show that Othello has lost trust in Desdemona's chastity

Iago refers to the roman twofaced god of time(two faced to see the future and past). ironical as Iago himself is a twofaced character

Othello "Arise black vengeance, from the hollow hell!" Act3.3

Brabantio"...a maid, so tender, fair and happy...run...to the sooty bosom//Of such a thing as thou:" Act1.2

Emilia " O, the more angel she//And you the blacker devil!" Act5.2

Duke "If virtue no delight beauty lack// Your son-in-law is far more fair than black"

association of "black" with vengeance and hell

Disbelief that beautiful Des. could love a black man.

association of "black with evil and devil

"fair" connotes to good and desirable.

metaphors

Similies

Iago says "O, beware, my lord, of jealously,// It is the green eyed monster." Act 3.3

Iago says " I must show a flag of love" Act1.1

Iago says "When devils will the blackest sins put on//they do suggest at first with heavenly shows." Act 2.3

Iago says "Trifles light as air//are to the jealous confirmations strong..." Act3.3

Iago says "So will I turn her virtue into pitch..." Act2.3

foreshadowing if the monstrous deeds in store due to Othello's jealousy

"flag" suggest very elaborate and obvious

juxtaposition- "devils", "blackest sins" and "heavenly" very contrasting idea . Represents Iago's contrasting personality

"pitch"- use of the color black to suggest something bad"

Othello "She was false as water" Act5.2

Iago " The food that to him now is luscious as locusts shall be to him shorts as acerbe as the coloquintida"

Iago "Like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my insides"

she was fickle and unreliable/faithful as water is

uses this simile to describe the uncertainty of Des. and O. love

Iago uses this strong simile to describe his hate towards Othello

Shakespeare uses soliloquies to allow the audience a glimpse into the mind of the characters of the play. so that we may understand their motives

Verse

Prose

The noble/important characters in Othello speak in poetry i.e: blank verse form as it is a formal way of speaking. it shows literacy and elegance

This is used by characters of a lower-class as it is the usual way of speaking and has no special poetic rythm

Othello "I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter.." Act2:3

Iago "My lord, you know I love you." Act3:3

Othello calls Desdemona "devil" and strikes her.

Othello believes Iago is trustworthy and truly loves him

Iago pretends to love Othello though in truth he plots against him

Othello believes Desdemona cheated on him and he hates her for this.