Othello Research Project
Directions and questions for a class research project on Venice, social class, geography, marriage, and key terms.
ENGLISH 11AP:
Research Project – Othello
You will receive a piece of research related to the play Othello and retrieved from the Internet. The assignment is simple and basic:
- Read the article.
- Determine the meanings of unfamiliar words.
- Prepare thorough notes in response to the question(s) indicated for your handout. Do not scribble them on this page.
- Be ready to report to the class regarding your research.
Venice During the Renaissance
- How important a city was Venice during the Renaissance?
- What were the primary criteria of its importance?
- How was Venice governed?
- How much freedom did Venetians enjoy?
Social Classes
- What social classes prevailed in Renaissance Venice?
- What was the basis of social status?
- How had that basis changed since the Middle Ages?
- What was the expanse and nature of slavery in Renaissance Venice?
Geography in Othello
- What is a Moor?
- How does Othello differ from a standard Moor?
- What was the role of Cyprus in the time of Othello?
- Culturally, how did Venice differ from Cyprus?
- What is the role of religion for Othello?
- How does geography impact the marriage of Othello and Desdemona?
Medieval and Renaissance Marriage
- How did late medieval and Renaissance thinkers view marriage?
- How did marriage in the Renaissance differ in custom and practice from modern times?
Definition of Terms and Concepts Used in Othello
- What is a Moor?
- What is an ancient?
- What is a lieutenant?
- What is an oligarchy?
- What are Othello’s two military titles?