Historical Context In Othello Flashcards
(12 cards)
Define the Great Chain of Being
Chain which place God at the top followed by angels, white people, black people and animals
Define xenophobia
Fear of foreigners
Post-colonial literary theory
Explores the impact oof colonialism on literature
Post-colonial critics argue that in literature, people of a different race are always classed as “the other”
The “other”
Describes individuals or groups perceived as being different or outside from dominant social norms
Define antithesis
The direct opposite, sharp contrast
Define stereotype
Generalised belief about a group of people
What type of language does Iago use to describe Othello?
Crude and racist language
What is the impact of racism on Othello?
Othello internalises the racist ideology of those around him which leads to the insecurity he feels in his marriage
Define subservient
Being prepared to obey others unquestioningly
Define the domestic sphere
Belief that women’s role should be within the home, the Industrial Revolution made it so men could work and women would stay home
How was the renaissance period a time of change for women?
Some upper-class women gained access to education, intellectual pursuits and even public life, most women remained in the domestic sphere
What stereotypes were prevelant in the renaissance period?
Believed that women were the weaker sex both mentally and physically
