The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 15.0127  Monday, 19 January 2004

From:           Ruth Ross <
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Date:           Friday, 16 Jan 2004 08:35:10 -0500
Subject: 15.0112 Shakespeare Blacks and Jews
Comment:        RE: SHK 15.0112 Shakespeare Blacks and Jews

Regarding Shakespeare's knowledge of Moors, especially since Africans
had been expelled from England during his time: the Folger Shakespeare
Library has a lesson plan using Leo Africanus' History and Description
of Africa (1526) which was translated into English by John Porys in
1600. Perhaps Shakespeare got his hands on a copy and used it to flesh
out the character of the Moor. My students use Leo's text to write a
paper in which they compare Othello to Leo's description. The
similarities are striking. The URL for this lesson is:
http://www.folger.edu/education/lesson.cfm?lessonid=61

Ruth Ross

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