A Cultural Context for OthelloName:_____________________Date:___________________________out of 24 points

1. When was Othello written? Had it been told in English before?

2. What are the similarities with Cinthios story? What are the differences?

3. Which story reflects the Moor positively? Why?

4. In 17th Century England, what were the attitudes toward Moors? Why?

5. How were the Moors stereotyped?

6. Why did Queen Elizabeth grant Moors full diplomatic immunity and deport them? How do these contradicting actions reveal attitudes of the time period?

7. In the play, who stereotypes the Moor?

8. How does Shakespeare transform Othello?

9. How does Shakespeare challenge the audience with their preconceptions?

10. Why would so scholars believe that Shakespeare wrote this play for King James?

11. Why did Shakespeare set this play in Venice? Why attitudes would the Venetians have toward Othello? Why?

12. Allegedly what was Shakespeares motive for writing Othello?