Othello - Year 3

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo, mavo
• Leerjaar 3

Shakespeare’s Month

Year 3

Othello

Othello,
What do you know already?

Reading the novel

The teacher is the storyteller 

You can get assigned roles

Example 5-steps storyline 1

Example 5-steps storyline 2

Othello 5-steps storyline

Think about these 5 steps of the story and write down what you think happens where: 

1.Prologue

2.Rising Action

3.Climax 

4.Falling action

5. Denouement

Discuss Theme: Race/Prejudice
Throughout the play, Othello, a Moor, is seen as an outsider. Although he holds a position of high power in Venice, he is still a victim of racial prejudice. He marries a nobleman’s daughter and, because of their interracial marriage, jealousy, skepticism, and revenge ensue.

Does this happen now?

Throughout the play, there is no evidence or proof of Desdemona’s infidelity. However, it is Iago who constantly plants a seed of suspicion in Othello’s mind that causes his jealousy to flare. The smoking gun for Othello is the embroidered handkerchief Iago stole to plant in Cassio's room.

What would you do if a friend did this to you?

How do power and ambition influence a person’s choices?

What roles do prejudice, jealousy, and revenge play in our society and world?

How do our personal thoughts and feelings about life affect our friendships?

Would you date or marry someone that your society disapproved of?

Storyboard exercise

Create a storyboard that shows each time Iago planted a seed of jealousy in Othello’s ear.

Use either one of these two websites: 

https://www.storyboardthat.com/storyboard-creator

https://www.canva.com/create/storyboards/

Make a comedic or satire meme

Have you ever been online and run into a video or meme about something you've learned? It probably made you laugh out loud, and you probably learned something from it as well. Maybe it was a funny exaggeration of a theme or a character, or maybe it was done to make a particular point. Either way, there was value in the comedic relief it provided. 

This is your assignment. 

https://www.kapwing.com/meme-maker

Have you ever felt jealous of a friend's lover?

😒🙁😐🙂😃

Writing Exercise

Write a short story of your opinion on 1 of these 4 topics:

1. Jealousy and credulity;
   
2. love and hate;
   
3. issues of race and nationality
4. the idea of "honesty"

300-500 words. You may use online resources.

How is Lago so good at convincing everyone he is the honest one? How does he manipulate the others?

The handkerchief,
Where do we see it in the story?

Discuss

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

1. Compare and contrast the relationship between Othello and Desdemona with that of Cassio and Bianca. How are they healthy and unhealthy?

2. Examine the similarities and differences in class, freedoms, and wisdom of the three women, Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca, in the play. 

Relation to today

1. What struggles do those who marry interracially or inter-culturally face today?

2. Why, even after being strangled, will Desdemona not name Othello as her murderer. What does this have to do with abusive relationships?

3. Othello is referred to as “the Moor” nearly sixty times in the play but is called by his name only about twenty times. What might the effects of this labeling be on a person?

4. Considering both the good and bad, especially the pathetic end most of the characters meet, in the play do you think Shakespeare was or wasn’t ahead of his time in

consideration of racial and gender ideals?

An Othello Quiz

What pattern is embroidered on the handkerchief?

1. Strawberries
2. Dots
3. Daggers
4. Leaves

How is the Turkish fleet held back?

1. In battle with Othello's fleet
2. By a storm
3. Mutiny
4. In battle with ships from Rhodes

What rank is Cassio before Othello takes it away from him?

1. Corporal
2. Private
3. Colonel
4. Lieutenant

How old is Lago?

1. Thirty-five
2. Nineteen
3. Fifty
4. Twenty-eight

What is 'the beast with two backs?'

1. A mutant horse
2. Othello
3. Two people having a private time
4. Conjoined twins

What is Othello holding as he stands over the sleeping Desdemona?

1. A light
2. A sword
3. A pillow
4. A flower

Who made the handkerchief that Othello got from his mother?

1. Barbary
2. Othello's mother
3. Othello's former lover
4. A sibyl, or female prophet

What first attracted Desdemona to Othello?

1. His strong hands
2. His beautifully crafted armor
3. His handkerchief
4. The stories of his past

How does Othello kill Desdemona?

1. He stabs her
2. He smothers her
3. He beats her to death
4. He strangles her

What does Lago mean when he talks about the 'green-eyed monster'?

1. Envy
2. Greed
3. Jealousy
4. Sexual desire

The End!

What did you think about Shakespeare Month?