What literary devices does Shakespeare use in Othello?

What literary devices does Shakespeare use in Othello?

What literary devices does Shakespeare use in Othello? Iago, the antagonist, plots against Othello which results in the crumbling of his marriage to Desdemona. The main literary devices Shakespeare uses to enhance the play are allusion, simile, symbolism, and foreshadowing.

How does Shakespeare use setting in Othello? As a setting, Venice serves Shakespeare’s needs of a place where a non-European, and potentially non-Christian, man could both hold significant authority but still be distrusted.
A second factor which may have informed Shakespeare’s decision to set his play in Venice was the city’s reputation as a hub of prostitution.

Why does Shakespeare use repetition in Othello? This repetition suggests that he is so overwrought he has lost control of his words. He also may be repeating himself in an attempt to convince himself that what Iago says is true, and that murdering Desdemona is the only acceptable course of action.

How is imagery used in Othello? Iago uses a lot of animal imagery to describe Othello. In Act 1 Scene 1, he calls him a ‘Barbary horse’ and an ‘old black ram’, using these images to make Desdemona’s father angry and telling him that Othello and Desdemona ‘are making the beast with two backs’. This continues in Iago’s soliloquies.

What literary devices does Shakespeare use in Othello? – Related Questions

What metaphor does Othello use for killing Desdemona?

When Othello talks about putting out the light, he is referring to killing Desdemona and he says he wouldn’t be able to restore her life (or light) once she is gone.
Also Othello uses another metaphor for her death when he says “When I have plucked (the) rose, I cannot give it vital growth again” (Line 13-14).

What are the two settings in Othello?

The Tragedy of Othello is a tale set in two vastly different settings, Venice, a refined and civilized city and Cyprus, a war clambered island.

What position does Othello hold?

Role. Othello is a Moorish prince living in Venice, as an ambassador of the Moors. After time in Venice, Othello is appointed general in the Venetian Army. His officer Iago tricks him into believing that his wife Desdemona is having an affair with his Lieutenant, Michael Cassio.

What are some symbols in Othello?

Symbols are central to understanding Othello as a play and identifying Shakespeare’s social and political commentary. The significance of red is love, red strawberries like red hearts on the love token handkerchief, and like the red stains from Othello and Desdemona’s first night of love on the marriage sheets.

How is dramatic irony used in Othello?

Dramatic irony is when the audience knows more about what is happening in the story than the characters. A main example of dramatic irony from Othello is the plot to destroy Othello’s life. For the rest of play, Iago manipulates the other characters so that he can exact his revenge against Othello.

Does Shakespeare use Old English?

When you pick up of one of the texts though, you may groan, and complain that they are too hard and need translating from Old English into Modern English. However, Shakespeare’s English is actually very similar to the English that we speak today, and in fact isn’t Old English at all!

How does Shakespeare use imagery in Othello essay?

Othello is also strongly characterised by imagery too. Imagery depicts to us his animalistic nature that his cultural background suggests to the audience he has. Youll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, youll have your nephews neigh to you, youll have coursers for cousins and gennets for germans.

How is animal imagery used in Othello?

In Shakespeare’s play Othello, beast imagery is used throughout the entire play. Animal imagery helps show who the characters truly were. It also makes everything said a lot more dramatic. Vivid images are placed in the reader’s head, which makes the play a lot easier to understand.

How is Othello unique?

Othello is an outsider who is intelligent and confident in military matters but socially insecure. He leads an intense life, swinging between triumph and dread. He is different from those around him, due to his origins and his life history, but he shares their religion, values, and patriotism to Venice.

What are Desdemona’s last words?

In response to Emilia’s question, “O, who hath done this deed

Does Iago kill Emilia?

She ends up sacrificing her life so that Desdemona won’t be remembered as a “whore.” Iago kills Emilia as payback for unmasking him, but Emilia dies proud that she set the record straight.

How does Shakespeare use foreshadowing in Othello?

The first comes in Act III, scene iii, after Othello has evaded Desdemona’s attempts to designate a time to dine with Cassio. Once Desdemona exits, Othello utters to himself: “Excellent wretch! Desdemona says her mother’s maid died while singing the song, further foreshadowing that Desdemona will soon die as well.

How old is Iago in Othello?

28
Iago, the great deceiver of Othello, is 28 according to Shakespeare – but actors have a habit of tweaking the lines

What are the conflicts in Othello?

The main conflicts in ‘Othello’ are between friends and foes. Othello’s inner conflict, cultural and racial differences which lead to racial judgement and discrimination, to express these conflicts; Shakespeare uses many techniques such as soliloquies, dramatic irony, imagery foreshadowing and symbolism.

Who is the tragic hero in Othello?

In William Shakespeare’s Othello, Shakespeare creates Othello as a tragic hero and has him change throughout the story in order to fit the plot and makes sure the reader knows Othello has culpability for Desdemona’s murder.

Why does Roderigo hate Othello?

Roderigo hates Othello because he was one of the suitors for Desdemona. He is still in love with Desdemona and hates Othello because she chose Othello over him. One can see why Desdemona rejected him because he is so gullible and easily duped.

What is the most important symbol in Othello?

handkerchief
The most predominant symbol in Othello is the handkerchief that Othello gives to Desdemona as a token of his love. Othello describes it as a token of love from his mother, who received it from an Egyptian sorceress. The strawberries embroidered on it were known to be a symbol of chastity.

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