Othello 1 Jealousy and Mistrust

• English
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Introductie

Othello A Level lesson - it's a non traditional style interactive lesson with a near-future/ sci fi/ videogame aesthetic. There's still a place for the quill pen and the Shakespeare portraits but this is a different style. The activities are all tied to the text, and is really designed for students who have read and/or watched a production. In theory the lesson could work after Act 3 when Bianca is introduced. This lesson would also make a nice revision class. Edit to your requirements!

Instructies

There are more detailed instructions for the slides that particularly require it!

Welcome to this interactive lesson on Othello.

I've gone for something different here, a near future tech, movie/videogame feel - I've consciously avoided the Shakespeare cliches - this is a quill pen free zone!

I hope you enjoy this less traditional take on Othello (inspired by a production I saw years ago!) Feel free to adjust as you wish!

This is more of an overview of jealousy and mistrust in Othello, but it could still work well after either a viewing of the play or at least until the end of Act 3 when Bianca first appears.

However you use these slides, I hope you and your learners find them useful!

What do the words jealousy and mistrust make you think of?

What do the words jealousy and mistrust make you think of?

A mind map activity here - just a simple engaging lesson starter, it doesn't have to directly link to Othello but it could work like that if you prefer!

Learning Objectives

OTHELLO

JEALOUSY AND MISTRUST

Learning Objectives

Understand how Shakespeare explores jealousy and mistrust in Othello.

Analyse key moments and language in the play.

Discuss how these themes shape characters’ relationships and actions.

Develop critical thinking through textual analysis.

The learning objectives page! Classic. With added graphics!

Learning Objectives

The central figure in the play, Othello is consumed by jealousy. 

His jealousy is initially sparked by Iago’s manipulations and the suggestion that his wife, Desdemona, may be unfaithful. 

His jealousy grows as Iago further feeds his suspicions, ultimately leading Othello to doubt Desdemona’s loyalty and fall into a destructive spiral that causes him to murder her.

OTHELLO

JEALOUSY AND MISTRUST

Othello

Othello character overview.

Where do you think the turning point is for Othello?

Where does he shift from loving Desdemona unquestioningly to doubting her fidelity?

Each one of these overviews has an open  question afterwards.

Learning Objectives

Iago’s jealousy is driven by several factors. 

He resents Othello for promoting Cassio over him. He (falsely) suspects that Othello has had an affair with his wife, Emilia. 

This jealousy propels him to plot Othello’s downfall, manipulating everyone around him, especially Othello, to satisfy his desires for revenge and power.

OTHELLO

JEALOUSY AND MISTRUST

Iago

Character slide for Iago. I like how the AI generator I used gave him a sinister grin!

Why is Iago jealous of Cassio?

Open question on Iago re Cassio.

Learning Objectives

Desdemona does not explicitly experience jealousy in the play.

 Instead, her innocence and loyalty fuel Othello’s jealousy.

 However, she does face the consequences of his jealousy when she is wrongly accused of infidelity and ultimately murdered.

OTHELLO

JEALOUSY AND MISTRUST

Desdemona

Desdemona character slide.

How does Shakespeare convey Desdemona's innocent character?

Desdemona question slide.

Learning Objectives

While Cassio doesn’t experience jealousy in the traditional sense, his role in the play indirectly triggers Othello’s jealousy.

 Iago manipulates Cassio into being the object of Othello's suspicions, even though Cassio himself harbours no ill intentions toward Desdemona.

OTHELLO

JEALOUSY AND MISTRUST

Cassio

Cassio character overview. You could get a mini discussion out of this and the next slide.

Is Cassio actually as gentlemanly as he seems?  

  How does Shakespeare make the audience question this?

Michael Cassio isn't as perfect as he seems! There's a good discussion to be had here.

You could also ask why Shakespeare presents Cassio in this way.

Learning Objectives

 Emilia, though loyal to her husband, Iago, is caught in his schemes and ends up revealing his manipulation.

 Though not as consumed by jealousy as other characters, Emilia’s jealousy toward Desdemona’s seemingly ideal marriage and her eventual confrontation with Iago highlights her complex emotions.

OTHELLO

JEALOUSY AND MISTRUST

Emilia

Emilia character overview

What evidence can you find that Emilia is envious of Othello and Desdemona's marriage?

This is a more challenging question!

Learning Objectives

Bianca’s jealousy in Othello highlights love and insecurity. Her suspicion of Cassio, triggered by Desdemona's handkerchief, contrasts Desdemona's innocence. 

As a courtesan, her lack of influence underscores her vulnerability.

 Manipulated by Iago, Bianca's jealousy adds depth to the theme of love's destructive power across different social standings.

OTHELLO

JEALOUSY AND MISTRUST

Bianca

Character overview of Bianca. I liked how the AI chose orange as that was the colour of choice for ladies of her profession in Shakespeare's time. Just ignore that her outfit blends with her skin!

How does Shakespeare depict Bianca's jealousy? Why does he show her to be a jealous character?

Open question on Bianca. Always an interesting character to discuss, even though she's a minor character.

OTHELLO

JEALOUSY AND MISTRUST

Most Jealous

Least Jealous

Share this on to student devices - the idea is they can drag the characters on to the hexagons.

Alternatively this can be teacher led, with students directing you where they think they should go.

I deliberately made the pattern ambigous to encourage discussion.

Another way is to put students into groups either with their own screen or they can feedback and you can rearrange the characters based on what they say.

Learning Objectives

In groups, discuss why you ranked the characters in the way you did.

Are any of these characters consistently jealous throughout the whole play?

Be prepared to feed back! 

OTHELLO

RANKING THE JEALOUS

Feedback and discussion

Feedback time!

There is a randomiser here if you wish to use it.

Act 1 Scene 3: What is the context of this quotation? What does it mean?

How does Shakespeare use jealousy here? How does Shakespeare convey meaning?

Different layout for an open question here.

Students can ask for extra help if they need to see the quotation.

Act 3 Scene 3: What is the context of this quotation? What does it mean?

How does Shakespeare use jealousy here? How does Shakespeare convey meaning?

Open question.

Act 4 Scene 4: What is the context of this quotation? What does it mean?

How does Shakespeare use jealousy here? How does Shakespeare convey meaning?

Open question

The phrase "the green-eyed monster" used by Iago is an example of which literary device?

The phrase "the green-eyed monster" used by Iago is an example of which literary device?

1. Metaphor
2. Simile
3. Hyperbole
4. Allusion

Multiple choice question.

In Othello, how does Shakespeare use dramatic irony to build the audience's understanding of Othello's jealousy?

In Othello, how does Shakespeare use dramatic irony to build the audience's understanding of Othello's jealousy?

1. The audience knows Desdemona is innocent
2. Iago openly expresses his hatred of Othello
3. Othello is unaware of audience sympathy
4. Othello is aware of Iago's duplicity

Multiple choice question.

In Othello, how does Shakespeare use dramatic irony to build the audience's understanding of Othello's jealousy?

When Iago manipulates Cassio into drinking too much, causing him to fight, this scene is an example of which literary technique?

1. Foreshadowing
2. Dramatic Irony
3. Symbolism
4. Allusion

Multiple choice question.

In Othello, how does Shakespeare use dramatic irony to build the audience's understanding of Othello's jealousy?

In Act 3, Scene 3, Iago manipulates Othello’s thoughts through subtle suggestions. This is an example of which rhetorical device?

1. Logos
2. Pathos
3. Ethos
4. Anecdote

Multiple choice question.

This one is more difficult. The beauty of these questions are though that you can modify them to your learners.

OTHELLO

JEALOUSY AND MISTRUST

MISSION OBJECTIVES

Divide group into three

You yon't need to move anyone.

If come up on spinner they have to say a PEEL point to advance a hexagon for their character.

Can also land on other character space and force it to another hexagon. 

After I wrote this I thought I needed to put the instructions on the screen somewhere, so I put them in the hotspot.

Find critical opinion on Jealousy and Mistrust in Othello

OTHELLO

CRITICAL OPINION

Find critical opinion

Your students may not need critical opinion but many do.

You can always hide this mind map if you wish!

I thought of this as an effective and open way of getting quotations from critics. You can save these of course. You may need to remind students to credit the critics!

Take ANY point from today's lesson and create a full point with integrated critical opinion

Remember to agree or challenge the critical opinion. Demonstrate how and why.

Bringing everything together in one slide!

An open question with additional advice.

Use this slide to ask about anything you aren't sure about yet.

This is phase 1 of the plenary.

What was the best point the person sitting next to you made today?

This is a new one for me, but I thought it was quite a nice way of encouraging a sense of communal learning.

Write something new you've learned today

This is more of a classic exit ticket!

Rate your understanding of how Shakespeare explores jealousy and mistrust in Othello.

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Feedback polls linked to the learning objectives.

How confident do you feel about 

discussing how these themes shape characters’ relationships and actions?

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Feedback polls linked to the learning objectives.

How confident do you feel analysing Othello?

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Feedback polls linked to the learning objectives.