Othello: Oxford School Shakespeare (Oxford School Shakespeare Series) Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
This edition of Othello is especially designed for students, with accessible on-page notes and explanatory illustrations, clear background information, and rigorous but accessible scholarly credentials. This edition includes illustrations, preliminary notes, reading lists (including websites) and classroom notes, allowing students to master Shakespeare's work.About the Series:Newly redesigned and easier to read, each play in the Oxford School Shakespeare series includes the complete and unabridged text, detailed and clear explanations of difficult words and passages, a synopsis of the plot, summaries of individual scenes, and notes on the main characters. Also included is a wide range of questions and activities for work in class, together with the historical background to Shakespeare's England, a brief biography of Shakespeare, and a complete list of his plays.
Series: Oxford School Shakespeare Series
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; Reprint edition (May 23, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0198328737
ISBN-13: 978-0198328735
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 0.5 x 6.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #28,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #7 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Dramas & Plays > Children's #20 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Reference #47 in Books > Literature & Fiction > British & Irish > Dramas & Plays
In terms of format, this is one of the best annotated editions of "Othello" for which one could ask. (The same is true of the "Oxford School Shakespeare" editions generally.) It's an easy, yet studious, format that edifies yet doesn't make the reader jump around and flip pages to find notes. No one should lose their spot or get frustrated on account of the notes being a distraction from the content of the text.As for the play itself, it is certainly Shakespeare's most theatrical tragedy; at times it borders on melodramatic. To this reviewer's mind, the key to appreciating its depth lies in the concept of the public mask. Othello is a man who always wears a mask in public: the mask of the thoroughly professional military leader who is far too noble to be moved by the emotions that might cause others to be petty or untrustworthy. Iago wears a similar mask: the mask of the thoroughly professional military subordinate who is frank and blunt and incapable of dishonesty. Othello's mask hides a snake's nest of fears bred from the insecurity of being a black man in an alien white society; Iago's mask hides the fact that he is a stone-cold sociopath motivated by jealousy and rage. Othello cannot see the reality of the evil beneath a mask so similar to his own, and instead misinterprets every frank gesture of his devoted wife as proof of the diabolical mask of an accomplished adulteress. This is Othello's fatal error, and he and Desdemona pay dearly for it.
I performed a selection from Othello at a Shakespeare intensive this summer and tracked down many, many editions for insight into the text. The Oxford School Edition remains my favorite. The extensive footnotes are all in the margins, making it so easy to bounce between the text and the notes without loosing your place. The notes are thorough with the exception that as a student edition, it skims over the bawdier innuendo, but you can figure those out pretty easily on your own. The typography is very well done and gentle on the eyes. There are wonderful summaries of the scenes and history of the play which gives deeper insight. The punctuation is well done (some other editions go crazy with the commas) and lends itself logically to the text. I picked up a copy of Oxford School Edition's Romeo and Juliet earlier this year and loved that one. This continues the trend of excellence. I'm thoroughly impressed.
Othello was a fascinating and disturbing play. Iago was the dastardly villian in the play. He nursed a grudge against Othello (The Moor). He believed that his commanding general had an affair with his wife Emilia. Iago had gained the full confidence of his master and his plans to betray Othello were quite successful.Iago had Roderigo do his bidding. He had him start a drunken brawl with Cassio. This disturbed Othello who was spending time with his new bride Desdemona. Cassio lost his rank for his transgression. Iago convinced Cassio to seek reconciliation through the liasion of Desdemona. He parlayed the interaction to Othello as unfaithfulness on the part of his wife.Othello became more and more paranoid and consumed by jealousy. He turned violently on his former beloved bride. Othello was beside himself when he found out that Cassio had his wife's handkerchief. This was proof in his mind of her unfaithfulness. Othello wound up murdering his wife in a passionate rage.Cassio survived Roderigo's attempt to murder him. It was discovered that Iago had ordered the attack and Emilia revealed that he lied about the affair between Cassio and Desdemona. Othello could not live with himself and he committed suicide. Cassio rose to prominence and Iago's fate as a criminal was sealed after he murdered Emilia.This play reveals the dark side of human nature. Iago could not deal with his wife's unfaithfulness. Othello became a monster inflamed by jealousy by the very hint of impurity on the part of Desdemona. There were dark undertones of racism and misogyny throughout the play. Cassio and Desdemona were of noble character and were the true victims in this grim tragedy.The Oxford series provides good translations of unfamiliar Elizabethan words and idioms. There are several photos of the play being acted on the stage. This is a nice edition that explains the plot clearly.
This text includes it all for both the classroom and for independent study of Shakespeare's Othello.It provides helpful background information about the play and about the time period in which it's set. In addition, it includes photos and graphics. In the back of the book, it includes a section called, Exploring Othello in the Classroom. This is the best version I've seen as of yet and am glad I stumbled upon it!!You won't be disappointed with this series!
I skimmed it. The previous owner left some amusing annotations, which will no doubt brighten my school days. There is lots of supplementary material.
Love this edition. The copy was just as advertised; used but in very good condition.
Good condition and very helpful in understanding the book.
Was a great play. Was used for senior class student I assistanted. Loved the play and have it now in my own library at home. A+++++++++++++
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