'Othello' and Aristotle's conventions of tragedy | English

Starter quiz

Who is the protagonist in Shakespeare's 'Othello'?
- Iago
- Othello ✓
- Desdemona
Starting with the first, put the five key parts of Freytag's pyramid in chronological order.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Exposition
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Rising action
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  Climax
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Falling action
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  Resolution
What is meant by the word 'patriarchy'?
- a male dominated society ✓
- a female dominated society
- an equal society
In Shakespeare's 'Othello', why did Iago manipulate Othello?
- Iago was angry that Othello did not promote him. ✓
- Iago was in love with Desdemona.
- Iago was Othello's less successful brother.
In 'Othello', why could Othello be seen as an outsider?
- his race - there was a lot of prejudice against non-white people ✓
- his gender - it was a female dominated society
- his authority - people did not like how much control he had
In 'Othello', how does Desdemona go against her filial duty?
- She hits her father.
- She steals money from her father.
- She marries someone without his permission. ✓

What is meant by 'hamartia'?
- a fatal flaw or error of the tragic hero ✓
- a strength of the tragic hero
- the moment the tragic hero faces a reversal in fortune
Which is *not* a convention of a tragedy according to Aristotle?
- Rise in fortune of a sympathetic central character ✓
- Audience feel pity and fear and end with catharsis
- Follows someone of high status
What does unity of place mean in the classical unities?
- the events of a tragedy must take place in one location ✓
- the events of a tragedy take place in numerous locations
- the events of a tragedy must start and end in the same place
What is *not* a characteristic of a tragic hero?
- has high status
- has a hamartia
- has an evil streak ✓
- is honourable
In Shakespeare's 'Othello', when does Othello experience anagnorisis?
- when he kills Desdemona
- when he kills himself
- when he finds out he was manipulated by Iago ✓
- when he is shown Desdemona's handkerchief in Cassio's possession
What event in the play 'Othello' are the audience likely to experience catharsis?
- when Othello kills Desdemona
- when Othello remarries
- when Othello kills himself ✓

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Aristotle prescribed criteria for tragedy and comedy.
Aristotle prescribed unity of time, place and action.
The plot in a tragedy should evoke pity and fear in an audience and end with catharsis.
A tragic hero - a man of noble standing with a fatal flaw and an error of judgement - must meet a demise.

A tragedy is simply a sad play.

Tragedies have specific conventions, such as a tragic hero and their hamartia, a tragic fall and elements of fate or the supernatural.

Tragic hero - A central character that experiences a tragic downfall.
Hamartia - A tragic hero’s fatal fault or mistake that leads to their catastrophic end.
Peripeteia - A pivotal action that changes the protagonist’s fate from secure to vulnerable.
Catharsis - The process of releasing emotions.
Anagnorisis - A moment of insight where the tragic hero understands their fate.