Subtext: characters* objectives & Superobjectives

SUBTEXT: CHARACTERS’ OBJECTIVES & SUPEROBJECTIVES Exploring the text via modern performance

Today’s Objective 

Today I will evaluate the language, content, meaning, and significance of a passage in Act 2 of Othello by constructing responses to prompts about subtext and characters’ objectives.

Looking Ahead… 

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In a few days, you will start working in groups on creating a modern script of a particular scene in either Act 3 or Act 4. This activity today should give you a small taste of that fun exercise as well as some things to think about when you construct your modern scripts and prepare for your performances.

Subtext – What is it? 

Meaning that is not explicitly stated in a text, but is understood by readers/viewers  Implicit

meaning

 Inference

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Metaphors provide subtext Characters’ thoughts and motives can also provide subtext

Character’s Objective 

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Examining a character’s objective is one way to help us understand the subtext of a text A character’s objective = what he/she wants in that scene—the goal (Folger 169) A character will attempt to achieve that goal until he/she is successful, at which point he/she will identify a new objective (Folger 169)

Character’s Superobjective 

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Examining a character’s superobjective is another way to help us understand the subtext of a text A character’s superobjective = what he/she wants by the end of the play/text—the ultimate goal “big picture” goal (Folger 169)

Determining Characters’ Superobjectives 

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THINK / WRITE: (quickwrite #1) Group 1:  What is Iago’s superobjective?  What is Desdemona’s superobjective?

Group 2:  What is Othello’s superobjective?  What is Cassio’s superobjective?

Discussing Characters’ Superobjectives 

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PAIR-SHARE / SMALL GROUP / WHIP-AROUND: Group 1:  What is Iago’s superobjective?  What is Desdemona’s superobjective?

Group 2:  What is Othello’s superobjective?  What is Cassio’s superobjective?

Reading to Understand Subtext…  

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Round-Robin reading: 2.1.181 – 2.1.233 Need 5 volunteers to read aloud to the class:  Someone to read stage directions  Iago  (groups 1, 2, 5)  Othello  (group 3, 4)  Desdemona  (group 1, 2, 5)  Cassio  (group 3, 4)

As they are reading, think about your character’s objective in this scene

Writing to Understand Subtext… 

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THINK / WRITE: (quickwrite #2) Independently and silently, write down your two characters’ objectives in this scene  Iago  (groups 1, 2, 5)  Othello  (group 3, 4)  Desdemona  (group 1, 2, 5)  Cassio  (group 3, 4)

Performing to Understand Subtext… 

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Same passage (2.1.181 – 2.1.233) 4 volunteers to perform this passage using modern language:  Iago  Othello  Desdemona  Cassio

Perform with your character’s objective in mind

Discussing to Understand Subtext… 

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4 performers explain their character’s objective in this scene Agree? Disagree? Let’s discuss based on the quickwrites you just did  What

did you notice in the reading? In the performance?  Compare/contrast the reading vs. the modern performance

Reflecting to Understand Subtext… 

For homework tonight: grab a half-sheet on your way out; it contains the following prompt:  How

did the combination of reading, viewing, and/or participating in the modern performance today impact your understanding of this passage and/or of the play so far? How did our discussion of subtext help you better understand this passage, scene, act, and/or the play so far as a whole? Please be specific in your explanation.