Carly's+Group

 ​​ = = =__//Mythological Allusions//__ =

Mythological Allusions are references to outside work and are presented in all Shakespeare plays. These references to mythological stories would be well known by Shakespeare’s audience at this time. Most of the allusions listed below from the play //Othello// corresponded to Greek Mythology which describes why we used the Olympic Theme Song as entertainment while each of you gain more knowledge on each allusion.

=JULIOUS CAESAR - Pg. 32= =Othello: "You see this fellow that is gone before; He is a soldier fit to stand by Caesar"=

[[image:http://www.philadelphia-reflections.com/images/JuliusCaesar.jpg]]
**//Background Info.//**
 * Caesar was a hero who provided security for the roman empire for more than 500 years, he spread customs, languages, and Roman laws throughout Europe. He was a strong leader; his victories created the world largestest empire in that time.


 * //Connection// **:
 * Iago is referring back to Caesar by saying Othello is a strong and ambitious leader.

= =

=== PROMETHEAN HEAT - Pg. 82 OTHELLO: "I know not where is that Promethean Heat that can thy light relume."  === **//Background Info.//**


 * Prometheus was known as the saviour of all men. He tricked the gods into eating bare bones instead of good meat. He stole the sacred fire from Zeus and the gods to protect save the cretures.In punishment, Zeus commanded that Prometheus be chained for eternity in the Caucasus. An eagle would eat his liver, and each day the liver would be renewed, so the punishment was endless.


 * //Connection// **:
 * In this scene Othello is trying to get Desdemona to ask for forgiveness before he kills her, so she will die and go to heaven. When he says this quote, he explain that he doesn't know the old Othello anymore, he has lost his state of mind. Othello cannot undo this punishment that he is about to commit to Desdemona. She cannot be saved.

=JOVE - Pg. 30, 51 "Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts A se'nnight's speed. Great Jove, Othello guard, And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath, That he may bless this bay with his tall ship" = **//Background Info//**
 * Jove was the Roman God of Love also known as Jupiter. Jove saw how the people on earth were acting and disapproved. He then caused great flood; when the rain cleared there was only one man and one woman left. Jove became the god of love.
 * []


 * //Connection //**
 * Othello asks Jove (god of love) to bring Desdemonna to Cyprus quickly so that he can see and be with her again.

=**Hydra - Pg. 37**= =Cass. "Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such an answer would stop them all." = **//Background Info.//**
 * Hydra symbolizes the gateway to Hell.


 * Hydra had the body of a serpent and many heads (the number of heads deviates from five up to one hundred,but generally nine is accepted as standard), of which one could never be harmed by any weapon, and if any of the other heads were severed another would grow in its place.


 * The stench from the Hydra's breath was enough to kill a man.

>
 * //Connection// **:
 * Cassio was being burdened with questions from Iago about what had occureded during the incident between Desdamona and Othello, that he was not able to answer all at once.
 * Cassio would be able to silence all the questions if he had as many mouths as Hydra because no matter how many questions he was asked, there would be enough heads to answer all of them.

=Olympus High - Pg. 26= =Othello: "And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas, Olympus-high; and duck again as low."=  **//Background Info.//**
 * Olympus are based upon a group of 12 Olympians; Gods who ruled after Zeus in the overthrow of the Titans.
 * All of the Olympians are related in some ways.


 * The Olympians are named after Mount Olympus.


 * According to the myth, the top of the Olympus, which is covered in snow and hidden in the clouds, reaches all the way into the aether.

**//Connection// **:

=**CUPID - Pg. 17 Othello: " No, when light-wing'd toys of feather'd Cupid seel with wanton dulness."**=

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 99%;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">**//Background Info.//**


 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px;">Roman god of love and the son of Venus. He is a small, winged boy, blindfolded, carrying bow and arrows. The arrows, once struck the heart, makes the victim fall in love. He is also portrayed as a young man with his beloved Psyche, with Venus or with a small group of winged infants (the Amoretti or Amorini). Some traditions say that he was born from a silver egg.


 * []


 * This quote is meant to describe the blind love that must have caused he and Desdemona to fall in love with each other.

=**KHAOS - Pg. 43 Othello: "Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul but I do love thee! and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again."<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> **=

[[image:Chaos.jpg width="401" height="316"]]
=<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;"> : =


 * Khaos was the first of the primeva l gods to emerge at the creation of the Universe. She was the lower atmosphere which surrounded the Earth. She is sometimes described as being a confusing, shapeless entity which was later ordered, creating the cosmos.


 * The word "Khaos" means space, gap, darkness and void, - literally meaning the space and gap between heaven and Earth.


 * Khaos was the mother or grandmother of the other substances in the air: Nyx (Night), Erebos (Darkness), Aither (Light), and Hemera (Day). She was also the goddess of fate.


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px;">//Connection// **:
 * Thoughts of perdition and chaos aren't the normal signs of a healthy relationship. Othello can only imagine falling out of love with Desdemona as the collapse of all form and order in his life

=Muse - "It plucks out brains and all: but my Muse labours, And thus she is deliver'd. If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit, The one's for use, the other useth it".= == <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 90%;">

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px;">**//Connection//** :
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 80%;">Muses lived on Mount Helicon. The role of Muses was to make people forget their sorrows and not think about their cares. Muses also were there to praise the gods.
 * []
 * Iago is going to use Desdemona so that Othello will focus all his attention on her and he will forget about everything else going on so that Othello will not catch on to what Iago is doing.