Winnie the Pooh - A.A Milne's Chapter 9

The version of childhood constructed in A.A Milne's classic children's story, Winnie the Pooh, is both complex and contradictory. This can be clearly seen when analyzing Chapter Nine from the book. The story starts with a narrator talking directly to the reader and the dialogue of the characters are very child-like. In the text, the description of the conversations are - "i said to him" "he said to me"...etc which conveys the idea that someone is talking to someone else in a simple but consistant way. The model reader created for this story is a child who is interested in adventure and resolving problems as a leader. The leadership is clearly seen when Pooh has developed an idea to save piglet and put it into an action which gives children an understanding about developing and learning life-long skills to solve problems. Whilst when Pooh is figuring out how to float; the steps he took to work out; the bottle can float on top of the water, so a honey pot can float → If Pooh wants to float on the honey pot then it needs to be big enough → balancing on the huge honey pot so he doesnt capsize. This technique of step by step overcoming the problems help child to experiment through trial and error. Therefore childhood is a time where individuals figure the solution to a difficulty through steps and using those skills to help others.

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.