Othello - deception and Iago

Deception is the key theme in the play, Othello by Wiliam Shakespeare, which is complex and each character is manipulated in different ways by Iado, affecting the outcome of the entire play. Iago's statement from earlier on the play, "I am not what I am", explains that he has different version and interation to especially Othello, Cassio and Roderigo.

Othello, the main character of the play, is manipulated by Iago's lies and tricks that Desdemona and Cassio is having an affair. Iago's character change infront of Othello, however he says, "I hate the Moor" (Act I, iii, 368). This is very significant because Iago acts as if he is the most caring and trustworthy friend to Othello, so that Othello would believe anything that he say, however he is deceiving Othello for his need to be in Cassio's position. Othello believes his dearly friend, "Iago is most honoest" (Act II, iii, 7) and his trust becomes stronger than his relationship with Desdemona which starts the tragedy, that Iago is planning. Iago's revenge on Othello for chosing Cassio as his lieutenant and his jealousy towards Cassio becomes noticable in the play too.

Cassio - by Sonya
Roderigo- by Khierah

Importance/Significance of Reputation in the play, Othello

In the play, Othello by William Shakespeare, the role of reputation was greately a big part as either to deceive someone or to use that power and turn the life of others around. Desdemona, Cassio and Iago all has a high reputation in Venice and what they do will be judged by others.

Desdemona, as known as The Moor, Othello's wife has a very high reputation, it is her gateway to the world community and it does before her to tell others of her honesty, trustworthiness and ethos. It is the last thing she wants to see tarnished. Her reputation of being unfaithful leads to her dawnfall, after lying to her father abotu her marriage to Othello. The vast difference between her reputation and character adds not only irony, but also conflict to Othello. It gives the play a twist.

Cassio's reputation changed at scenes in the play and it was everything for Cassio to have the best reputation. Later he caused trouble after being forced to drink by Iago, as a drunk man, he fought with Roderigo and Montano (who got injured) and he could not face Othello like he did before as he lost his reputation, "Reputaion, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial" (Act II, iii, 242-3). His tarnished reputation only help Iago to succees with his plan which is the main reason to the tragedy ending.

Iago had a reputation where everyone around him, even those he hates thought he was an honest man. Othello has his full trust on him and because of his such a strong and trickly convinceness, "I know thou'rt full of love and honesty" (Act 3, iii, 199). Othello begins to trust and listens to Iago more than Desdemona who is telling the truth that she is not cheating. No body suspects that he is lying or is a deceitful man. He used his reputation to manipulate Othello and set his plan in action to complete the goal to be in Cassio's stand.  

Therefore, reputation in this play plays a big role. The ending would have clearly been different if Iago didnt have the reputation as Othello's ancient and would have been killed to even mention that Desdemona might be cheating on him. If Iago was honest and Cassio's reputation was not tarnished, it wouldnt have affected Desdemona's reputation and also Othello's.

Character Profiles

Othello - The Moor

Personality
He is the main character in the play and is a hero in Venice as he is highly respected general of the army. He is a powerful character with pride and is always in control in the play. In Act I, Othello has a scuffle with Brabantio, who has come to kill him, but before anything could happen Othello said, "Hold your hands, both of you of my inclining and the rest. Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter" (Act I, ii, lines 80-3). In spite of his strong outside character, inside, as a person, he lets emotions run his life. Othello is nevertheless easy prey to insecurities because of his age, his life as a soldier, and his self-consciousness about being a racial and cultural outsider. He possesses a free and open nature that his ensign Iago exploits to twist Othello’s love for his wife, Desdemona, into a powerful and destructive jealousy.Everyone considered Iago as honest, and would be out of character for Othello to believe any different, "A man he is of honesty and trust" (Act I, iii, line 280). Therefore when Iago said Desdemona might be having an affair with Cassio, he said it in such a way that it was so convincing and Othello believed everything. This let Iago achieve what he wanted; revenge because of jealousy. If he had stronger self-confidence to believe himself and had a stronger tie with Desdemona, even though Iago has been his ancient for a long time, Othello should have listented to Desdemona before anyone else.


Othello viewed by other people in the play
Desdemona loves Othello from her heart and would do anything for him.
Iago knows that Othello completely trusts him, so he uses that to take a revenge on him
Cassio respects Othello and thinks he has the highest reputation

Relationship in the play
Desdemona is his wife
Iago is Othello's ancient who he trusts but Iago hates Othello but hides it
Cassio is Othello's lieutenant
Duke sends Othello to Cyprus

Othello's main role
Because of Othello's reputation and resupect from others as 'The Moor', he controls the army of Venice. All men work for him and with Desdemona, they are like king and queen of Venice.

Specific Themes
What I thought Othello really made the play as a tragedy is because of his strong trust to Iago.


Iago - Othello's Ancient

Personality
He is pure evil and had no feeling of guilt in anything he does that affects people around him who even dies for what he has done. Without any proof he is ready trick people up and lie for his benefit. Iago even states at an early stage in the play that he has a mask, "I am not what I am" (Act I, i, Line 66). Also when he wants something, he will get it no matter the stealing, lies, relationships or even death. In Act 2 he is explaining his jealously, "...to diet my revenge, for that I do suspect the lusty Moor... at least into a jealousy so strong that judgement cannot cure" (Act II, i, Lines 275-6 and 282-3).

Iago viewed by other people in the play
Especially Othello, who is in the highest standard in Venice has the most trust on him. He believe Iago is an honest man, and belives whatever he says. Using that, Iago plans the entire trick so that the position Cassio has right now will be his, "I hate the Moor... to get his place and to plyme up my will..." (Act I, iii, Lines 368 and 375). To gain that position, his actions influences the play to be a tragedy. Therefore every character in the play is tricked into giving full trust to him and in the end the worst senerio is waiting for them.

Relationship in the play

Othello- hates but hides it
Desdemona - he slanders
Roderigo  - uses for his plan
Cassio - hates because he believes he should be in Cassio's position
Emilia - his wife

Iago's main role
To negatively influence every character's reputation, relationship and life. For only his revenge and for his strong jealousy, he is to cause Othello's mind to thinking that Desdemona is having a relationship or an affair with Cassio. Making sure that Othello tursts him more than Desdemona, in the end his wish is granted, but he dies anyway.

Specific Role
He pretty much is the main person to lead the play into a tragedy.

Othello Pre-reading Research

1. Venice
Where is it and what was it like in the 16th centry?
Venice is in Veneto Italy and in the 16th centry Venice became one of the most important musical centers of Europe. It was marked by a characteristic style of composition (the Venetian school) and the development of the Venetian polychoral style.
After the Italian turrmoil of the early 16th century, Venice entered a long and gradual period of decline. Losings its political will, Venice found the new role which it enjoyed ever since- as a place of pleasure and delight, Europe's most sparkling tourist attraction. The city has the world's first opera house, which opened in 1637

What was its economic status at that time?
The landscape of Venice is as much a product of its economic activities, past and present, as of its physical environment. The enduring foundation of Venetian wealth was maritime commerce, initially in local products such as fish and salt from the lagoon, but rapidly expanding to include rich stores of merchandise as Venice became the entrepôt between Europe and the Middle East and Asia.

Venice became the first and the biggest trading power in the world. That is, the world before the great expeditions during the fifteenth and the sixteenth century. Through trade the Venetians prospered and Venice rapidly accumulated wealth. Venetians merchants established monopolies and used the Crusades as a tool to increase their trading power. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, the Portuguese arrived in the Indies and the Venetians had to face the loss of their monopoly of spices. At the same time that Venice had to face the end of its trading status, it reached its artistic pinnacle, both in architecture and painting.
 What was the Venetians relationship with the Turks?
They were at war. Crete and Cyprus were important Venetian possessions, that Venice needed for trade and commerce.

One of the biggest confrontations between the Turks and Venice was the battle of Lepanto, 1571, when she defeated the Turks with the help of ships from Spain and (I think) the Pope.
Sometimes this is seen as a crucial event in the decline of the Ottoman Turkish empire, but the Turkish response was very quick and decisive. The Turks were able to rebuild the fleet in record speed, and soon took the island of Cyprus off Venice; an event that serves as the backdrop to Shakespeare's play, Othello. The loss of Cyprus proved, in the long run, far more important than the naval defeat.


2. Cyprus



Where is it?
It is a Eurasian island country in the Eastern Mediterranean, south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon.
What was its importance in the 16th century?
At the time of the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire would have been at its height. Cyprus was eventually part of this Empire in the 16th century. So the politics of this area was a Muslim Sultanate. In terms of importance, it would have been shipping. A lot ships passed in this area.


•Turkish – Venetian War (1570 – 1573)
◦Cyprus was initially under the rule of the Republic of Venice

■Venice annexed it in 1498

◦Turks had been raiding Cyprus’s coast on and off

◦July 2, 1570 - first real fight occurred: Turks sent 60,000 troops to Lissamol

◦Nicosia was the first major city in Cyrus to fall (Domino Effect)

■Nicosia’s fall = Cyprus Massacre

■Kyrenia fell next (no shots fired because of Massacre)

■Followed by Famagusta (all key cities of Cyprus)

◦The Fall of Famagusta marked the beginning of Turkish Rule in Cyprus

◦Cyprus remained under Ottoman rule for three centuries after defeat

•Cyprus Massacre (Ottoman rise to power) - (Wikipedia)

◦Occurred on September 9, 1570 because of the Turkish – Venetian War

◦A massacre of an unknown amount (20,000) of Christians in Cyprus

◦Massacre allowed Turks to conquer Kyrenia easily

•Ottoman Rule in Cyprus - (Wikipedia/History)

◦1570, the Turks took over Cyprus

◦Lala Mustafa Pasha became the first Turk governor in Cyprus

◦Original Cyprus inhabitants looked to Europe for help to over thrown the Turks

◦Between 1572 and 1668, 28 uprisings to over thrown the Ottoman Empire occurred

■All failed

How far is it from Venice?
2,107.83 kilometres


What were the politics of the countries nearest it?






3. Moors


Who are they?


Where did they come from?


What were they doing in Europe in the 16th century?


Are there religious or cultural practices associated with them?






4. Turks.


What was the Elizabethan attitude to foreigners in general and non-Christians such as Turks in particular?






5. Epilepsy.


What are the symptoms of epilepsy? How was it treated and regarded in the Renaissance? Now?


Are there conditions which render an epileptic vulnerable to a seizure?

VORONEZH - For Osip Mandelshtam

In her poem, "Voronezh", Akhmatova focuses heavily on the weather. How does this assist in evoking a sense of atmosphere and emotion for the reader?


In the poem, 'Voronezh', Anna Akhmatova focuses heavily on the weather and it evokes a sense of atmosphere and emotions to be felt for the reader so that they can imagine and feel the place and put them selves in the enviornment she describes. The location this is written would be in a city called St Petersburg where she loved, and was written for her poet friend, Osip Mandelshtam who had been exiled to Voronezh for writing a poem critical of Stalin. The first few lines in her poem described the landscape and the weather, "the town is frozen solid...trees, walls, snow, beneath the glass. Over crystal, on slippery tracks of ice..." which sets the reader to place themselve in the image of the cold winter type of weather. When she has mentioned the field of Kulikovo, she has included the feeling of the atmosphere again describing the sight, "battlegroud caught. Frozen poplars...clash now..." This helps to evoke the sense of the emotion, with the knowledge about the battle, how the feelings would be depressing, sad and isolating. The atmosphere is sensed more to the end of the poem, when the poet describes the happiness at the wedding, but completely flips to a miserable emotion when she mentions the execusion of Mandelshtam, "But Fear and the Muse take turns to guard the room where the exiled poet it banised". These lines from the poem explains how she had written another poem for Mandelshtam which is named 'Fear and the Muse' who had been executed because he had written what the government didnt want to read, therefore was banised for his poem. In result, instead of him writing what he wanted to do, she wrote poems for him. This adds to the atmosphere created throughout the poem for the reader to understand the meaning of the poem which is for her friend, and sense the coldness of the environment around her when the poem was written.

Minase Sangin

a)
 The poet has written this poem for his/her own comparison to the seasons and the different times of the day. It may be written for his/her lover as a means of relationships developing everysingle day at different times, as well as moving forward from spring to autum. As it says in the poem, 'At twylight on a spring day... the autumn is drawing to its close', describes the change from a season to season. This could relate to his/her reason to why this is being written, for example if it has only been written for his/her own interest in the difference of seasons and the morning and afternoon, or if he/her is using them as a metaphor of love.

b)
The landscape from the poem is described in the second line, 'The gentle slopes of the mountains' and 'the river descends far and distant'. This helps to give the audience some idea and image of where this poem may be written and the feeling of being there. Even the smell of the place can be sensed, 'Plum-fragrance filling the village'. Also the sense of noise can ge achieved from the line, '... every push of the oar is audible from a passing boat'. This helps to further visualise the landscape and the noise and the l around the place which then creates the audience to feel as if they are exactly where the poet was.

c)
I believe the poet was a woman because i know some history of japanese poem etc, was always written by  a woman. A long time ago, all women did was to sit with few kimonos on, and write poems expressing feelings and often about their love for someone through many different metaphors. Therefore i already have the impression and an idea that the poet is a women who is writing about where she is and what the different seasons are like, but maybe the poet is also trying to express her love for someone though the metaphors used, eg-seasons and times of a day.

Things Fall Apart - Positioning

• Narrative voice – what judgements does the narrator make about the event
• Implied audience – what role is assigned to the reader (insider/outsider)
• Whose voices/thoughts/opinions/culture are privileged
• Whose voices/thoughts/opinions/culture are silenced
• Binary oppositions or contrasts – do they work to represent some things as good, making the opposite bad? Or do they increase the level of sophistication or complexity of the representation? (see next point)
• Level of complexity of the representation – the more complex and ambiguous, the less the reader is positioned to completely accept or reject a point of view or character
• Consequences of actions – how are the consequences represented (deserved? Tragic? Triumphant?)

These are just some possible positioning techniques, common to many texts. There are some very specific techniques used in Things Fall Apart, which we will discuss.
Consider each of these events:

Chpt 2
• The argument with Mbaino P10
• Okonkwo’s treatment of his own son and relationship with his father p12

In both sections from this chapter, Okonkwo is represented as a strong leader, by the narrative which position us to understand that Okonwko is a nice man, "Perhaps down in his heart Okonkwo was not a cruel man" (p. 12). Also he leads the people around him, "Okonkwo rules his household with a heavy hand" (p.12).The 3rd person narrative gives the effect of a non-bias and multiple perspectives. This then helps to have some knowledge of Okonkwo as a man who leads, however is a kind person. Also, there’s a strong cultural assumption which underpins the idea of male who are higher than the women and it connects with a binary opposition of female and males. This is clearly shown when Okonkwo brought Ikemefuna to his house and called the wife to look after him, the wife was silenced for her questioned as he says, "Do what you are told, woman,' Okonkwo thundered, and stammered." (p.14) The audience is positioned to regard his behaviour of his over ruling the household and especially women, he is expecting them to do whatever he says to do, just like his slaves. Additionally, the elements of Ibo culture are revealed because of Okonkwo's ruling in his household, meaning, the man owns the house and the wives should do whatever he says because he is higher than them. Another binary opposition in this chapter is the difference between Okonkwo and his father. It betrays Okonkwo as a better and powerful man, where his father was a gentle and weak man, "Okonkwo was ruled by one mission- to hate everything that his father Unoka had loved. One of those things was gentleness and another was idleness" (p.13). It is privileging Okonkwo therefore the audience is then positioned to regard the Ibo culture where strong man leads the household.



Chpt 3:
• The oracle to Unoka, and Unoka’s deathp 16
• Okonkwo’s struggles for wealth p.19

In this chapter Okonkwo is represented as a man with a great past, who has been through many tough times. His life started a bit different to others because of his father, "With a father like Unoka, Okonkwo did not have the start in life which many young men had... in spite of these disadvantages, he had begun even in his father's lifetime to lay the foundations of a prosperous future. It was slow and painful... and indeed he was possessed by the fear of his father's contemptible life and shameful death. (p.17). Unoka went to consult Agbala, and said sadly about his fail in his land but was turned by the oracle; by Chika who was full of the power, "You, Unoka, are known in all the clan for the weakness of your matchet and your hoe...Go home and work like a man" (p.16). This gives a cultural assumption that man should have a success in its land and know how to control the yams. Also that man should never be weak; they should work like a strong man. The audience is then positioned to regard his behaviour through his past, the cultural assumption made. Okonkwo's struggle in wealth affected his life and his success in his yams. After asking for some yam seeds from Nwakibie, every attempt he has made has failed, wasting 1600 yam seeds in total. However Okonkwo learns from his mistakes of failure, "He knew he was a fierce fighter, but that year had been enough to break the heart of a lion... he did not sink under the load of despair.(p.22) The Ibo culture are revealed through the 2 parts in this chapter, one being - the importance to stay strong as a man and the second is to have success in its yams. The audience is positioned to regard this culture by the cultural assumptions which are clearly identified.


Chpt 4:
• Okonkwo’s treatment of others, and the arrival of Ikemefuna P23
• Okonkwo’s mistreatment of his wife in the week of peace. P26

Okonkwo is still being represented as a tough but a kind man in this chapter. Again, the same cultural assumption is made here, as man should be strong and never show signs of weakness, "To show affection was a sign of weakness; the only thing worth demonstrating was strength. (p.25). Also another cultural assumption is shown where man rules the house, and the woman should be organising food for the children and the husband. Okonkwo mistreats his first wife in the week of peace and beats her up terribly as he was frustrated by her commitment to make food. "When she returned he beat her very heavily. In his anger he had forgotten that it was the Week of Peace." (p.26) This helps to give a binary opposition of male and female, where male dominates female. The audience is positioned to regard his behaviour by understanding his leadership and power he has in his household, but at the same time stays strong. Some elements of Ibo cultures are revealed, where the priest (of the earth goddess) comes to Okonkwo's obi to tell him the consequence of his mistreatment of his wife during the peace week. He says that the 'evil' has come to him, "The evil you have done can ruin the whole clan. The earth goddess whom you have insulted may refuse to give us her increase, and we shall all perish" (p.27). Therefore after this, Okonkwo's consequence was to bring many things to the shine of Ani. This then helps to position the audience regarding to the culture in Ibo with the use of strong cultural assumption, and it shows that a mistake done in the week of Peace damages everyone else and the consequence is to recover that. Also the people in the tribe all believes in goddess and sprits whom they follow with and make certain decisions regarding them.

Use quotes from your assigned section to answer:
• How is Okonkwo represented?
• How is the audience positioned to regard his behaviour? What techniques are being used to achieve this?
• Explain what elements of Ibo culture are revealed
• How is the audience positioned to regard the culture


Chpt 25
Okonkwo was driven him to think theeres noting left to him, colonialists - are seen to be deteramental to the ibo tribe and the culture. Okonkwo's suicide is tragic = the colonialists are seen to be 'bad'**

ThingsFallApart

Chapter 7.


1. How does the author position you to view the Ibo tribe? (Consider social structure, culture, values, attitudes, beliefs, etc).

The tribe; the men should not and should never be seen as weak. Ikemefuna was tricked into thinking that he was going to be returned home, while he was actually going to get killed. The decision was made by Umuofia and Okonkwo was told not to get involved, as his relationship with Ikemefuna was close, ‘That boy calls you father. Do not bear a hand in his death’ (p. 50). However as the tribe sees killing people meaning strong- and weak is seen when you cant kill someone for a reason, Ikemefuna was finally killed by Okonkwo. ‘Okonkwo drew his matchet and cut him down. He was afraid of being thought weak’. (p. 54)

2. How does the author position you to view the individual characters? (Focus only on those characters who are essential to the plot).
Okonkwo: he cannot be seen weak, and never should be. He has a self pride and his strong leadership leads the tribe. He kills Ikemefuna without showing his true weakness, even though after he does, he really didn’t want to kill his own ‘half’ son who he has been looking after for 3 years and even Okonkwo’s eldest son, Nwoye looks up to Ikemefuna.
Nwoye: Okonkwo’s oldest son, he is starting to leave and move on from being a mum’s boy and become very tough and strong. He has a good relationship with Ikemefuna, but hears and understands that he will be killed by his dad.
Ikemefuna: He lived with Okonkwo for 3 yrs. He saw Okonkwo as his dad, ‘He could hardly imagine that Okonkwo was not his real father’ (p. 52). He thought he was going to go home, and see his family and where he belongs, but he somehow knew what wouldn’t be right.

3. How does the author position you to view men?
Men are tough, should be strong and be able to support and lead the family and the tribe. Nwoye was slowly beginning to become a man, talking about women, and becoming a strong man, ‘Nwoye knew that his father wanted him to be a man’ (p. 41). Men were never seen as weak, if they were, it was a big deal to be seen as opposite of weak.

4. How does the author position you to view women?
Women had no opinion and were silenced for any violence that happened around the tribe. They were not told of the decision of the killing of Ikemefuna in this chapter, the men was in charge of it all, and it seemed like women was only there to feed the man and children.





Chapter 19.

1. How does the author position you to view the Ibo tribe? (Consider social structure, culture, values, attitudes, beliefs, etc).
When a leader is leaving a place, they have a big feast to thank everyone and appreciate the gratefulness of the people. As Okonkwo says, ‘I must thank my mother’s kinsmen before I go’ (p.144).
Also he says, ‘My mother’s people have been good to me and I must how my gratitude’ (p. 145).
The oldest members of the umunna rose to thank Okonkwo:, ‘Thank you…a man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. ….An abominable religion has settles among you.’ (p.147)
The umunna tribe warns Okonkwo and his family for the Europeans. The tribes support and thank each other for any ceremonies.

2. How does the author position you to view the individual characters? (Focus only on those characters who are essential to the plot)
Okonkwo: He shows a great appreciation to the kinsmen and the umunna members in Mbanta. He thanks them with a great feast, which they did not expect, ‘We all know him, and we expected a big feast. But it turned out to be even bigger than we expected.’ (p.147)

3. How does the author position you to view men?
The men lead any tribes and are always supporting one another. They are in charge of the meat in feasts and give thankful and warning messages to each other.

4. How does the author position you to view women?
The women were there in this chapter to collect and harvest some food. They cooked most of the food except meat for the feast. They didn’t have many opinions and were silenced for decisions made, for example, what kind of food should there be at the feast…

5. How does the author position you to view the Europeans? (If relevant to the chapter).
When the oldest members of the umunna warned Okonkwo about the Europeans, it was said that they were, ‘An abominable religion has settled among you… I fear for you; I fear for the clan’ (p. 147). Europeans are said to be an abominable in another words, horrible and dreadful religion/people has come to the Ibo tribe. It then gives an awful view and image of the Europeans.

COMPARISON BETWEEN CHAPTERS 7 and 19 with 25.

The chapters 7 and 19 provoke a strong sense of men's leadership and their strong influence on younger males. 'That man was one of the greatest men in Umuofia. You drove him to kill himself; and now he will be buried like a dog...' (p. 183)

Every single day, Okonkwo was looked up upon, however in chapter 25 when the commissioner says; 'The story of this man who had killed a messenger and hanged himself would make interesting reading. One could almost write a whole chapter on him.' (p.183) states that, even though the whole book was about him and his tribe, he is silencing Okonkwo's life.
Colonial discourse is shown with the relation of "superior" Europeans in chapter 25 compared to the "inferior" Ibo tribe. This is clearly seen by the way the colonialists talking to the Ibo people, 'Shut up!' shouted one of the messengers, quite unnecessarily." (p. 183).
This discourse is used to set up a binary opposition of the 'civilised' Europeans and 'primitive' Ibo people, with their

Invited Reading

The invited reading for the story of The Three Little Pigs is that smartness will keep you alive. This is clearly demonstrated when the 3rd pig does not get captured by the wolf as it was smart enough to build a brick house, unlike a straw house or a furze house that the first 2 pigs built. The wolf was unsuccessful to blow down the brick house and he could not catch the pig for his last meal. After all the lies he had said, the pig catches the wolf while it tries to sneak in from the chimney, get cooked and eaten happily by the 3rd pig which then demonstrates that if you tell lies you will be punished.

Ideology Inquiry Sheet - identifying the invited reading

NARRATIVE:
The story is written with the perspective of 3rd person.

SETTING:
safe/happy/good places in the story is at the brick house which the last little pig builds by bricks.

unsafe/unhappy/bad locations in the story is at the house made out of straw and furze which the 1st and 2nd little pigs make. This is because it gets blown away by the wolf, then the pigs get eaten by it.

CHARACTERS:
Heroic: the 3rd/last little pig - because it kills the wolf in the end = happy ending

Villainous: the wolf - because he is evil, and plans to eat/kill 3 of the pigs.

POWER:
highest to lowest=
1. the 3rd Pig
2. the wolf
3. the 2nd pig
4. the 1st pig

it is naturalised by the 1st and 2nd pigs being killed by the wolf in the 1st half of the story, however in the end the wolf is killed by the 3rd pig. Therefore the 3rd pig has the most power.


CONSEQUENCES:
The 3rd pig is being rewarded with a big feast of dead wolf all for himself.

The wolf is being punished because he ate 2 pigs and tried to trick the 3rd pig and planned somehow to kill the 3rd one, however it was unsuccessful, therefore it was punished with death, and being eaten by the 3rd pig.


BINARY OPPOSITIONS:
Good/Evil
Good: will always win
Evil: will always loose no matter what (main message and idea throughout all folktales/disney stories

Smart/Not smart
Smart: will win
Not smart: will be eaten by the wolf

Therefore the better side of the 2 binary oppositions: Good and Smart is being privileged.
GAPS AND SILENCES:
-Where is the man when the pigs are getting eaten?
-Does the wolf have a pack? or by itself?
-Were the pigs brothers? female or male?
-Why were the 3rd pig smarter than the other 2?

MYSTIPIED/ ROMANTICISED:
There is an exaggeration to the wolf easily eating the first 2 pigs.

uncomfortable realities: can pigs actually eat wolves?
why does wolves try and eat pigs?
why are the pigs so easy to catch?
why are the pigs making their own houses?
why are the pigs all doing different things?

VALUES:
Smartness overrules: making a house out of bricks = no wolves can blow it and break the house.

IDEAS:
Main message of the story:
Being smart will keep you alive- will give you power to overrule the evil
(3rd pig makes its house by bricks - so it can never be blown by the wolve and be destroyed)
Take actions before it is too late
(3rd pig does everything that wolves tell it to do, eariler than the time wolve suggested, and in the end the wolve died because of its mistake to try and keep killing the 3rd pig)

The Three Little Pigs

Once upon a time there were three little pigs, who went from home to seek their fortune. The first that went off met a man with a bundle of straw, and said to him:--


"Good man, give me that straw to build me a house."
The man gave the straw, and the little pig built his house with it. Presently came along a wolf, and knocked at the door, and said:--

"Little pig, little pig, let me come in."
But the pig answered:--

"No, no, by the hair of my chiny-chin-chin."

So the wolf said:--

"Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in."

So he huffed, and he puffed, and he blew his house in, and ate up the little pig.

The second little pig met a man with a bundle of furze, and said:--

"Good man, give me that furze to build me a house."

The man gave the furze, and the pig built his house. Then once more came the wolf, and said:

"Little pig, little pig, let me come in."

" No, no, by the hair of my chiny-chin-chin."

"Then I'll puff, and I'll huff, and I'll blow your house in."

So he huffed, and he puffed, and he puffed and he huffed, and at last he blew the house in, and ate up the little pig.

The third little pig met a man with a load of bricks, and said:--

"Good man, give me those bricks to build me a house with."

The man gave the bricks, and he built his house with them. Again the wolf came, and said:--

"Little pig, little pig, let me come in."

"No, no, by the hair of my chiny-chin-chin."

"Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in."

So he huffed, and he puffed, and he huffed, and he puffed, and he puffed and huffed; but he could NOT get the house down. Finding that he could not, with all his huffing and puffing, blow the house down, he said:--
"Little pig, I know where there is a nice field of turnips."
"Where?" said the little pig.
"Oh, in Mr Smith's field, and if you will be ready to-morrow morning we will go together, and get some for dinner."

"Very well," said the little pig. "What time do you mean to go?"

"Oh, at six o'clock."

So the little pig got up at five, and got the turnips before the wolf came crying:--

"Little pig, are you ready?"

The little pig said: "Ready! I have been and come back again, and got a nice potful for dinner."

The wolf felt very angry at this, but thought that he would be a match for the little pig somehow or other, so he said:--

"Little pig, I know where there is a nice apple-tree."

"Where?" said the pig.

"Down at Merry-garden," replied the wolf, "and if you will not deceive me I will come for you, at five o'clock to-morrow, and get some apples."

The little pig got up next morning at four o'clock, and went off for the apples, hoping to get back before the wolf came; but it took long to climb the tree, and just as he was coming down from it, he saw the wolf coming. When the wolf came up he said:--

"Little pig, what! are you here before me? Are they nice apples?"

"Yes, very," said the little pig. "I will throw you down one."

And he threw it so far that, while the wolf was gone to pick it up, the little pig jumped down and ran home. The next day the wolf came again, and said to the little pig:--

"Little pig, there is a fair in town this afternoon; will you go?'

"Oh yes," said the pig, "I will go; what time?"

"At three," said the wolf. As usual the little pig went off before the time, and got to the fair, and bought a butter-churn, which he was rolling home when he saw the wolf coming. So he got into the churn to hide, and in so doing turned it round, and it rolled down the hill with the pig in it, which frightened the wolf so much that he ran home without going to the fair. He went to the little pig's house, and told him how frightened he had been by a great round thing which came past him down the hill. Then the little pig said.--

"Ha! ha! I frightened you, then!"

Then the wolf was very angry indeed, and tried to get down the chimney in order to eat up the little pig. When the little pig saw what he was about, he put a pot full of water on the blazing fire, and, just as the wolf was coming down, he took off the cover, and in fell the wolf. Quickly the little pig clapped on the cover, and when the wolf was boiled ate him for supper.
(Adapted from Joseph Jacobs's English Fairy Tales (David Nutt, 57-69 Long Acre, W.C. 6s.))
from How to Tell Stories to Children, and Some Stories to Tell , by Sara Cone Bryant

The Story of Abraham and Isaac: Genesis, Chapter 22

What is left out?
- Are there daughters?
- How old is his son?
- Where are other people?
- No indication about Abraham reconsidering?
- How did the son react when he started to get tied by his own father?
- Isaac didnt reject the idea?
- Why would God even ask Abraham to sacrifice his only son in the 1st place?
- Does the wife get told about this?
- How did she react?

What are the gaps?
- At any point did Abraham think why would God wanted him to do it?
- Afterwards, Abraham and Isaac didnt talk?
- Wouldnt Isaac be afraid of his father for what he was about to do for him only to sacrifice for God?
- Did Abraham and Isaac explain what happened to the wife?


seed of abraham - off spring - i will give you  many sons - name will continue - around the world, the offspring will end up living and able to take over the "enemies"
basically giving power