Copy of Act 5 scene 2 Close Read Othello Speech PDF

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shakespeare work espesically on Othello. It is actually a document in highschool but didn't know how to do it at a school...

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Act 5, scene 2 Close Reading: Othello’s Speech Directions: Read Othello’s speech after he enters the bedchamber and sees Desdemona sleeping (Page 227-229). Answer the questions below to help you conduct a close-reading analysis of the passage. OTHELLO 1 It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul, -2 Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars! -3 It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood; 4 Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow, 5 And smooth as monumental alabaster. 6 Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men. 7 Put out the light, and then put out the light: 8 If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, 9 I can again thy former light restore, 10 Should I repent me: but once put out thy light, 11 Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature, 12 I know not where is that Promethean heat 13 That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd thy rose, 14 I cannot give it vital growth again. 15 It must needs wither: I'll smell thee on the tree. [He kisses her] 16 Oh, balmy breath, that dost almost persuade 17 Justice to break her sword! One more, one more. 18 Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee, 19 And love thee after. One more, and that’s the last. [He kisses her] 20 So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep, 21 But they are cruel tears. This sorrow's heavenly; 22 It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.

1. In the first three lines, Othello tries to reassure himself that he is doing the right thing. How does his choice of language reflect this? Identify and explain. He repeats the same line “I have to do it” to keep in his mind that he is doing the right thing. His choice of language reflects this because he has a justice like tone as if it's the only option.

2. Why does Shakespeare have Othello use the word “chaste” to describe the stars? What is implied by this? Shakespeare uses the word chaste to describe as if it’s so dirty a thought that it might besmear the chastity of the stars themselves. However, if he puts it out of his mind, he will not be able to do what he must.

3. What images does Othello use to describe Desdemona’s skin? How are these images alike? What do they reveal about his attitude to Desdemona? He says her skin is as smooth snow like a finest marble. These images are alike because they both glow and shine and are smooth objects. This reveals that his attitude toward her is a gentle on that he still sees her as a angel. 4. Othello begins several clauses with words such as “yet,” “else,” “if, and “but.” What does this reveal about his current state of thinking? Othello uses these clauses reveal that he is second guessing his decision about killing Desdemona.

5. Othello repeats “put out the light” with a shift in meaning. What does he mean in each case? What is the effect of his stating it this way? How does he extend the metaphor in the next few lines? The light in his heart is Desdemona but he has to put it out. He means in each case that if he puts out the candle he may be able to relight it but if he puts out the candle he will not be able to bring her back. He extends the metaphor by using a rose image in the next few lines.

6. Prometheus was a Greek god who gave fire to mankind and was punished for doing so by being chained to a rock and having an eagle eat his liver, which grew back every day – only to be eaten again. What is the effect of Othello’s use of this mythological allusion?

Othello using this mythological allusion because if he lets Desdemona live she will cheat more and more and it will be like the gods liver growing back everyday.

7. What extended metaphor does Othello use in lines 13-15? What does this reveal about his attitude towards Desdemona?

He uses a rose metaphor in line 13-15 which reveals that if you pluck the rose it will not blossom and will die eventually.

8. Examine the last seven lines of the passage. What is the tone? What effect does the tone have on the audience? Identify examples of the following devices in these last lines and examine how they help establish the tone: Personification, alliteration, and exclamation. The tone is a loving and forgivable tone. It affects the tone of the audience because it shows that he still loves Desdemona a lot and doesn’t know what he’s doing is right.

9. When Othello uses the word “justice,” who he is referring to? Why does he do this?...