Othello Theme Analysis

Over the next 5 weeks, students in Mrs. Fong's and Mrs. Henry's sophomore English classes will be reading and discussing major theme topics in Shakespeare's Othello. At the same time, the students will be reading one of several contemporary young adult novels that contain themes similar with those in the play.

This blog is being set up as a cross-class discussion board for the next month. If you use the blog effectively, you should be able to get some help with understanding both the play and your novel. This will produce a better essay at the end of the unit.
During the next 5 weeks, you will be expected to make at least 10 posts to the blog:

• Five of the posts will be either questions or comments about how the literary features (diction, symbol, characterization, or imagery) help to reveal the theme topic you are studying in your YA novel. See the blog postings below and post your comments there.
• Five additional posts will be either questions or comments about how the literary features (diction, symbol, characterization, or imagery) help to reveal the same theme topic in the play, Othello. Those posts will be made in the comment section of this post.
• You must post at least once per week. I will not give full credit if all 10 posts are made on the same day, or in the same week. Be sure to blog throughout the unit.
• You may earn bonus points after the required 10 posts if the additional postings demonstrate insightful thinking.
• You may blog about the other YA books being read, if you have read one of them before. This will count in the bonus blog category.

Below you will find indvidual postings for each of the Othello-themed YA novels being read.

Inventing Elliot by Graham Gardner

Interested in hearing the author talk about the book? Check out this video.

Elliot Sutton wears many masks to change his reputation and become one of the popular people instead of the outsider he is. When you live under illusions, how do you know what the reality is anymore? If you need to change yourself, are you allowing yourself to be exploited by others? Or are you exploiting yourself? Can your desire to fit in to the crowd be a tragic flaw? What power does Louise give Elliot in his struggle with illusion versus reality? Start blogging about the Othello themes in this novel.

Shattering Glass by Gail Giles

Within the opening paragraph, the narrator tells us that 'one person had the power to change so many lives'. Is Young Stewart referring to Rob or Simon? Simon Glass is definitely an outsider at the beginning of the book. Is it his choice? Or does Simon allow Rob and the others to exploit him because he wants to change his reputation? How much is Simon in control of the manipulation? How do Young's flaws control his participation in Simon's rebirth? How is Young able to suppress his jealousy and suspicions about Simon and Young's girlfriend, Ronna? Why does Young suffer the most in the end? Why were all of the boys unable to see the reality of Simon's manipulation of them? Start blogging about this book. As you get into it, you may want to check out the discussion guides at the author's website. Start connecting with the themes in Othello.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyers

What has suddenly drawn Bella to choose Forks over Arizona? Is it just another example of her klutziness? Will this klutziness become a tragic flaw? What about her makes all the boys desire her? How will this lead to more jealousy and suspiscion?
Will it be possible for Edward to control his desires? his flaws? Who has more power in this relationship-Bella or Edward? How do Edward, Bella and Jacob manipulate each other to get what they desire? The Cullens appear to be the 'perfect' American family that has it all--looks, personality and money. How does this illusion both protect and hinder them? Everyone in this novel seems to be somewhat of an outsider. Is that just normal in high school today?

Start posting your comments to these questions and others you have about the thematic connects to Othello.

By the way, did you know the Twilight movie starts filming this month? Check out the choices for Bella and Edward. Do they match your images?

Looking For Alaska by John Green

Does the Colonel (Chip) give himself and Pudge (Miles) new names to counteract their feelings of being outsiders at Culver Creek? Or is he hoping the new identities will change their realities and/or enhance their reputations? How easily is Pudge/Miles manipulated by Chip and Alaska? Does Alaska have power over the boys because she is attractive or is it simply because adolescent males with raging hormones are ripe for manipulation by any female? Is it their flaw? Does jealousy/suspicion make it difficult, if not impossible for males and females to be good friends? Start blogging about this book as it relates to the theme topics in Othello.

As Simple As Snow by Gregory Galloway

The story of Anna Cayne, as told by our unnamed narrator, so thoroughly touches on all of our Othello themes. Is it simply Anna's gender that gives her so much power over everyone in the town? Or as an outsider is she so in tune with people's illusions and realities it makes it easy for her to manipulate everyone around her? Did Anna use jealousy and suspicion to manipulate the narrator? Who is more flawed--Anna or the narrator?Once you get into the book, you may want to check out the As Simple as Snow website to more fully understand Anna by learning more about the authors and musicians that intrigued her.

Kindred by Octavia Butler

Dana's life has been pretty normal up until her 26th birthday when she is suddenly sent back in time. How does Dana's gender affect her power both in the present time and her travels to the past? Who is more in control--Rufus or Dana? Is it Rufus' flaws, or some other force that manipulates Dana's travels? Is she more of an outsider in the present or in her slave past? Does Kevin struggle more with jealousy and suspicion or with illusion and reality when his wife disappears for periods of time? Start blogging about the theme connections to Othello.

Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn

Why does Nick need to promote the illusion that it was 'just a slap' because Caitlin pushed him too far? Is this the only illusion Nick needs to believe to survive? Why is it important to him that he feels Caitlin is controlling his behavior? Who or what is really manipulating the situation? Is it Nick's tragic flaws of jealousy and suspicion? Is control/abuse a way for him to overcome his feelings of being an outsider? Or does his father as a role model contribute to his feelings that the male must have the power in the relationship at all costs? Start blogging about the Othello theme connections. Once you have read most of the book, you may want to check out the discussion guide for the book. Be careful, it may spoil the book if you read it too soon.

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Annabel Greene, as she appears in the Back to School commercial for the local department store, creates the illusion she is living the 'perfect' life. Like her model sisters, the reality of her life is so different from the illusion created for the public. How has jealousy and suspicion led to Annabel's new reputation as the novel opens? Has Annabel always been an outsider, or is this a new role for her? Owen tells only the truth, while Annabel rarely tells her true feelings. Which character suffers more as the result of their flaws? Why is Sophie so successful with her manipulation of others? Start finding the connections to the Othello themes.

C'mon, Get Happy? It's Easier Said Than Done

Last week I came across an interesting article about happiness in the Washington Post. What caught my attention was the statement that "we are poor judges of what will make us happy and unhappy." According to Daniel Gilbert's book, Stumbling on Happiness, a person that wins 314 million dollars in the lottery and a person who becomes paraplegic in an accident will be equally happy with their lives one year after the event. I find that mindboggling. My mind tells me that I would be so much happier with the lottery win.

Having open choices or options does not make one happier. In fact, it does the opposite.

For those of you that prefer listening and watching the Harvard professor, Daniel Gilbert explain his theories on happiness, check out this podcast. He goes into more detail and clearly explains the experiments mentioned in the Post article.

When I was growing up and started to throw a tantrum, my mother often said to me, "You can get glad just as easy as you got mad (or sad, depending on the event)." According to Gilbert, my mom was on to something. If you make the choice to accept what you cannot change, you will be happier.

Check out the article and the podcast. Let me know your thoughts about his ideas on happiness.

What Privileges Do You Have?

Based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you please acknowledge their copyright.

Last night I was watching the Presidential Candidates debate the issues. Mitt Romney received much flak for being wealthy and privileged. John Edwards spent much of his time pointing out the extreme differences between the life where his father struggled to provide for his family as a mill worker and his own life because of his college education and the privileges it has provided him.
Today when I came across this exercise to determine just how privileged of a life you have lived, I thought it might be an interesting entry for the blog. Since my mom is visiting from Kansas, I had her answer the questions, and then we compared our answers. Sometime this week, I'll ask my daughter to do the same. It came as no surprise to me that my mother, born and raised during the Depression, answered only 3 questions with a yes. She went to Catholic elementary and high school and her parents owned their own home. She knew how much the heating bills were because her family often went without the coal for the stove because they could not afford to buy it. I could answer 10 with a yes. I'm certain that my daughter will double my score.

It would seem that each new generation is becoming more privileged. Why do you think that is?

For our first blog of 2008, your task is to go through the questions with at least one older relative, hopefully a parent, and compare your responses. Did you notice the same trend with your responses. What did you learn that was interesting? What are your thoughts about what defines privilege?

1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
6. Were the same class or higher social class than your high school teachers.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
9. Were read children's books by a parent
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18.
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18.
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private elementary or high school
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child
23. You and your family live in a single family house
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
25. You had your own room as a child
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college
30. Flew anywhere in a commercial airplane before you were 16
31. Went on a cruise with your family
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to art galleries and museums as a child
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family