Mapping the Ancient World

For todays discussion I will be covering ACT 3 scene 4

Hi class, tomorrow I will be leading a discussion on Act III Scenes 1-3 of Othello.

I’d like to focus in on the use of ‘the handkerchief’ in these scenes, as a token or a symbol for other themes in the story. The handkerchief in these scenes is somewhat repetitive and often demands the audience’s attention. To further discuss the meaning of this prop, I will be using, “Felt Absences: The Stage Properties of ‘Othello’s‘ Handkerchief” an article by Andrew Sofer. Sofer discusses the usage and meanings of the handkerchief. He also refers to how it is interpreted to each character to mean something different.

Discussion Question:

How important is the handkerchief in Act III? What do you think it represents, if anything at all?

Here are the ways in which you can use your secondary source:

1. It can provide a counter-argument. In this case you are using the source in a significant way  (so make sure you understand it and are very comfortable using it. If not, you may not want to go this route — in order to argue against a source you have to understand it!) The use of a counter-argument can serve as an essential part of your thesis. Here’s an example:

In his chapter on mapping, Franco Moretti argues for the usefulness of maps in understanding literature. He argues that mapping a work can help us better understand the characters’ lives, their social status, and the text’s setting. While this is an interesting viewpoint, this paper argues against Moretti’s strategy as mapping obscures our understanding of texts by denying their more creative aspects. Instead, this paper argues that understanding literature through temporality rather than space is a more productive way of reading.

2. It can support your thesis. It can also provide a point that comes up during a body paragraph and supports / adds to something you’re saying there.  You can bring up the article multiple times just make sure it doesn’t drown out your voice.

If you use it to support your thesis then you have to make sure that your central argument is distinct from what the article is arguing. In other words, your thesis cannot simply state that the article”s viewpoint is correct.

3. Background info. This is probably the easiest way of using a source, and a good idea if you’re not very comfortable using a source. Background info can include historical information, info about the author, cultural context, etc etc. This can come in at any point (or at multiple points) in your essay. You can use an argumentative essay for background information (many argumentative essays include background info).

Homer. The Odyssey of Homer. Trans. Richmond Lattimore. New York:

HarperCollins Publishers, 2007. Print.

Aeschylus. The Orestia. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York:

Penguin Classics Publishers, 1999. Print.

Shonagon, Sei. “The Pillow Book.” The Norton Anthology of World Literature  

Volume B. Eds. Martin Puchner, et al. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2012.

1127-1153. Print.

Li, Bo. “The Sun Rises and Sets.” The Norton Anthology World Literature Volume 

      B. Eds. Martin Puchner, et al. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. 2012.

1023-1024. Print.

Article in a scholarly journal:

Author(s). “Title of Article.” Title of Journal Volume.Issue (Year): pages. Medium of publication.

Orkin, Martin. “Othello and the “plain face” of Racism.” Shakespeare Quarterly 38.2 (1987): 166-188. Web.

Final Paper Submission Guidelines:

Here are the guidelines / information concerning plagiarism policies at Baruch College. Please review:

http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/academic/academic_honesty.html

************************

Your final paper must be 4-5 pages long, double spaces in 12-point times new roman font (with 1-inch margins all around—make sure your Word is correctly set). These are MLA guidelines and if you do not follow these guidelines points will be deducted. You may either submit your paper on Dec 11 (and it will be returned by Dec 18 with a grade and comments). You may also choose to submit your paper after the 11^th and up to Dec 18 at midnight. Those papers submitted after the 11^th will receive a grade only and no comments.

Here’s a very helpful link for MLA Style. Please consult this!:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

This is a thesis-driven argumentative paper. Please follow guidelines for argumentative writing previously distributed and discussed in class. I am looking for clear and specific analysis and interpretation.

Requirements:

1. Your paper must have a title (and the title cannot be The Odyssey or The Oresteia—i.e. the name of the book you’re writing on—that title is already taken!)
2. Your paper must follow MLA guidelines for formatting, in-text citations, and the works cited page. Papers will lose points that do not properly follow MLA guidelines.
3. The paper must have an argument and it must use quotes and analysis of those quotes to support that argument.
4. Your paper must include at least one secondary source. That source must be a peer-reviewed scholarly article that you find on the library databases (such as JStor, Academic Search Premiere, etc). You should be familiar with how to find these articles from your discussion sessions. Please consult guidelines for finding articles (posted to the blog) if you’ve forgotten how to do so.
5. While your paper should engage with the article, your must say something distinct from what your article is saying. This means that your argument can’t simply be an affirmation of the article (you can’t just say “this scholar is right!”) You must have a distinct voice throughout.
6. Any paper found plagiarizing will receive an “F” with the possibility of also receiving an “F” in the course. Plagiarism can include even one sentence or one idea taken from a secondary source and not cited. Be careful! This leads to 7:
7. All papers must be submitted as follows:

-you must submit via email as a Word Doc OR PDF to [email protected]

-You must also submit via BlackBoard through SafeAssign. Log into our class’s blackboard page and you will see a folder titled “final papers.” Submit your paper there. Your paper is not considered submitted until it has been received via BlackBoard. SafeAssign checks your paper against the internet, etc, to make sure nothing is plagiarized.

-It is not necessary to submit a hardcopy.

8. Papers will not (under any circumstances) be accepted after Dec 18.

Please log into BlackBoard and double check that you understand SafeAssign BEFORE the due date. Technical difficulties will not be considered a valid excuse for late submission.

For my discussion on Tues Dec 2nd, I will be focusing on the idea of whether racism plays a factor in Iago’s motives to plot against Othello.

Othello has many blatant racist remarks made almost exclusively by Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio. I wish to focus mainly on the remarks made in Act I, their relevance to the issue of the interracial marriage, and how these things tie into Iago’s plot.

To drive my discussion, I will be using the article “Othello and the Plain Face of Racism” by Martin Orkin. Orkin’s article highlights the racism found in the play and analyzes the remarks and their overall impact on the events that occur. To avoid spoilers, I will only be covering the arguments that Orkin makes for the first two Acts.