OTHELLO
1 - THE SETUP
What kind of relationship do Iago and Roderigo have?
ACTIVITY
Watch the excerpt of Act 1 Scene 1 being performed by RSC actors on stage here.
As you watch, write down any words that stand out or that you find interesting. These might not
be words that you understand in context just yet.
Based on the words you wrote down, complete the following sentence: “I think Othello will be a
play about….”
Now visit this page on the RSC Learning Zone. Click ‘Read the Scene and Explore.’ You can click
on the highlighted text to familiarise yourself further.
Read the whole scene from Line 1 to Line 82 (Brabantio’s entrance). Ask yourself: what is the re-
lationship like between Roderigo and Iago? Who has control, or the upper hand? Does one
character lead, and the other follow? Does this ever change? Think about why this might be.
Shakespeare opens the play without the title character Othello; instead, we hear him being
talked about by Iago and Roderigo. Why has the playwright chosen to do this?
Think again on the sentence “I think Othello will be a play about…”. Has your definition
changed?
EXTENSION
The scene begins with Iago and Roderigo in mid-conversation. Speculate what Iago may have
said to Roderigo for him to reply ‘Tush, never tell me! …’ Write the conversation that went before
in your own words.
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to visit this page and watch this clip.
A copy of Act 1 Scene 1, to read either on the page or onscreen.
2 - THE STORY
What kind of journey does this play take the audience on?
ACTIVITY
Load this page on the Plot Overview from the RSC Learning Zone here.
Read through the 10 sections of the Plot Overview. Notice the new characters we are yet to meet.
Click ‘Test Yourself’ and try and re-arrange the plot in the correct order.
Imagine you are now a journalist from Venice, who is commissioned to write a short 150 word
article summarising this story. What are the essential facts? Also notice when writing your article:
is anything you are saying speculation? We can often base the retelling of stories on assump-
tions.
The plot summary on this page is very straightforward. As a journalist, what more would you like
to know to better report the story? Write these questions down.
EXTENSION
For a more in-depth synopsis, take a look at this ‘Scene-by-Scene’ page on the RSC Learning
Zone, here.
Browse the breakdown of each scene, potentially trying to find some answers to your questions
from the above activity.
Modern playwrights and screenwriters sometimes use what is known as a storyboard to ‘see’ the
overall arc of their story. Using Post-it notes, summarise each scene into one short sentence, and
lay out the play on a wall or board. Perhaps you may want to colour code the scenes depending
on a particular theme or character thread that links them for you?
Take a look at the Othello timeline on the RSC Learning Zone here and compare your scene ti-
tles with ours.
Evaluate: Does even the act of writing a synopsis or scene breakdown involve artistic interpreta-
tion and/or bias from the author?
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
(Optional: PostIT Notes)
A computer with internet connection, ready to visit this page.
3 - THE CHARACTERS
Who are the main protagonists of this story?
ACTIVITY
Take a landscape piece of paper, and divide the page into 5 columns. At the top of each column
write the following characters: Othello, Desdemona, Iago, Emilia, Cassio. Underneath give each
character a one-line summary (from the point at which we first meet them): i.e. Othello: a Vene-
tian General, recently married Desdemona in secret.
Go to the Character page on the RSC Learning Zone here. Click ‘Test Yourself’ and play the
game of Who’s Who.
For each of your five characters, think about what they want the most at the moment when we
first meet them in the play. Write in the form ‘Iago wants…’ It can be as simple as ‘Iago wants a
promotion.’
Actors sometimes use this exercise to explore the emotional journey their character goes through
in the course of the play. Ask yourself: Does each character ever get what they want? How do
their wants clash with the wants of other characters?
Do the same activity but this time for a moment in Act 5. What are the wants of your five charac-
ters now? Write them at the bottom of the column.
Think about the journey of the characters - where do they begin and where do they end up? The
actions of which characters affect the others most?
EXTENSION
Fill in the middle sections of the columns by ‘mapping’ the character’s wants as the story pro-
gresses. Maybe choose 2 or 3 pivotal moments between Act 1 and Act 5 for each character and
write what you believe their greatest wants to be at these pivotal points. Keep the sentences sim-
ple.
Give each of the five characters another one-line summary, this time describing them at the end
of the play. Notice any emotive adjectives or descriptions that you use when describing them i.e.
Desdemona: a wronged wife, cruelly murdered. Why did you choose these words?
Write a speech justifying these one-line summaries. Members of an audience may all respond
differently to the story and the actions of the characters based on their own experiences. Pretend
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of paper, landscape (minimum size A4) or a large notebook and something to write
with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to visit this page.
now it is your job to convince the whole audience at the end of the play. Are your statements
based on fact, or opinion?
Do the exercise again, this time pretending you are the character presenting
themselves. Do the summaries change when speaking in the first person? Which characters are
better ‘convincers’? What are the character’s own impressions of themselves?
4 - TRAGEDY
What makes this play a tragedy?
ACTIVITY
Have a think about the word Tragedy and what it means in a dramatic context. Have a go at
writing a definition of Tragedy. Look up a definition online: how well do your definitions match?
Think of other Shakespeare Tragedies you may know. Take a piece of paper and divide the sheet
in half: ‘Similarities’ and ‘Differences’. From what you know about Othello, and anything you
know about any other Tragedies, write down any similarities and differences you notice in
the plays. This can be anything: relating to their plots, character types, structures, titles etc. An
example for a similarity could be: ‘Characters die in Act 5.’
Watch an excerpt of the final scene, Act 5 Scene 2, in performance here.
Read the rest of the scene. How did the characters get to this point?
Put yourself in the mind of our hero Othello at the beginning of Act 5 Scene 2. Write the follow-
ing statement ‘Desdemona must die because…’ - finish this sentence. Repeat twice. (Or more if
you want!).
A ‘Tragic Flaw’ can be defined as the trait in a literary character leading to their downfall. From
what you know about the play so far, write down any aspects of Othello’s personality that con-
tribute to his tragic flaw. Keep these to hand: we will explore these again later.
EXTENSION
Look at Othello’s first entrance, in Act 1 Scene 2. Read Othello’s first speech “Let him do his
spite.” What do we learn about Othello here? Even though Othello admits he doesn’t like to
boast, why does Shakespeare tell us that he fetches his “life and being from men of royal siege”?
Notice too how is Iago different here from the previous scene?
Take a small notebook, or notecards, Post-it notes etc. Start collecting quotes which help summa-
rise Othello’s tragic demise. Begin by finding three quotes from Act 1 Scene 2 which present
Othello as ‘a hero’.
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to watch this clip.
A copy of Act 5 Scene 2, to read either on the page or onscreen.
5 - THE WORLDS OF THE PLAY (PART 1)
Why does Shakespeare set Othello in Venice and
Cyprus?
ACTIVITY
Take a piece of paper, landscape. Near the left hand edge write Venice, and near the right hand
edge Cyprus. Draw a line down the middle to divide the two worlds.
Shakespeare sets most of the play in Cyprus: a fortified military outpost on the edge of Christian
territory. Venice is a republic controlled by the wealthy merchant classes; a place where capital-
ism thrives.
Choose five adjectives that describe these worlds. How different are they? The words could be
describing what you might expect the location to feel like. Do these words match with the action
of the play?
Take the five characters Othello, Iago, Desdemona, Cassio and Emilia. From your descriptions
of the two worlds, think about where they most ‘feel at home’. Write their name somewhere that
feels logical on the paper. The position of their name might be definitely ‘in Venice’, but it also
might be close to the adjective ‘civilised’ for instance.
On a new page, develop these thoughts by finishing the sentence ‘Othello feels most at home
when…’ Do the same for the remaining four characters.
Evaluate your five statements in light of what you know happens in the play.
Answer the question: To what extent does setting the play in a Cypriot outpost contribute to its
tragic events?
EXTENSION
Think about times where you have felt ‘out of your comfort zone.’ Speculate the one place or sit-
uation where you might feel the most out of your comfort zone.
Turn your thoughts to our five characters and write down the place or situation you think they
would feel the most out of their comfort zone.
Think again about our initial question for this activity: ‘Why does Shakespeare set Othello in Ven-
ice and Cyprus?’ To what extent does the setting serve or hinder the characters and does the set-
ting have a significant effect both on the actions of these characters?
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
6 - THE WORLDS OF THE PLAY (PART 2)
How have previous directors staged Othello?
ACTIVITY
Load the ‘Setting’ page on the Shakespeare Learning Zone, here.
Take a look at the gallery and notice the various interpretations of Venice and Cyprus in past
productions of Othello.
Directors and designers work together to come up with a concept of how they want the set to
look and feel. Some Directors base their interpretations of Venice and Cyprus on places we don’t
know in the real world today.
If you have completed ‘The Worlds of The Play Part 1’ find the adjectives you came up with to
describe the two worlds.
You now have the task of designing the sets. Begin to think about how these two contrasting
worlds may look.
Create a ‘mood board’ for Venice and Cyprus, either digitally or as a collage using your own
drawings or old newspapers and magazines. A mood board can help a designer to think about
the overall impression they want the audience to have of a place. This can be a collection of col-
ours, textures, fabrics, styles of clothing, buildings, art work and anything else that you see
which inspires you. In your mood board, try to label the things you add to help you remember
your thought process.
EXTENSION
Load this page on ‘Staging Othello’ in the Shakespeare Learning Zone.
Go through the ‘Key decisions to make’ tab and read all the questions under the subcategories:
‘Military’, ‘Race and Belonging’, and ‘Gender’.
Do further research into past productions of Othello: find images or reviews to discover that
director’s interpretation.
Begin to answer the questions on the page yourself, basing your decisions on the mood board
you have just created.
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to visit the following pages on Setting and Pro-
ductions.
(Optional: access to an online pinboard e.g. Pinterest or an offline app).
(Optional: A large sheet, and materials to create a Mood board).
7 - THE SECRET MARRIAGE
Why did Othello and Desdemona marry in secret?
ACTIVITY
Read Act 1 Scene 1, from Brabantio’s entrance to Iago’s exit (~lines 83-153). Pick out and write
down any phrases or words used by Iago, Roderigo or Brabantio that refer to Othello and Des-
demona.
Notice the style of language that is used: what does this reveal about the characters in the scene,
and the societal norms in this world?
Read Brabantio’s speech aloud from lines ~154-161: “It is too true an evil; gone she is”.
Stand up in your room and read the speech again, but this time turn sharply and face a different
wall every time you reach a punctuation mark. Notice how this accentuates the ‘broken’ feeling
of the text. How does this structure reflect Brabantio’s current state of mind?
Although it is only Roderigo stood in person with Brabantio at this moment, it could be argued
there are other absent ‘audiences’ Brabantio is directing his thoughts to. Actors and directors can
sometimes help make sense of a monologue like this by imagining who (or what) the character is
speaking to. From the suggestions below, separate the speech so that each thought is directed to
the appropriate audience:
RODERIGO - DESDEMONA - FATHERS - GOD - HIMSELF
Stand in the middle of the room again. With your body representing HIMSELF, imagine and
fix in place the other 4 audiences around you. Speak the speech again, turn and point to the au-
diences you have decided for each line. (Perhaps point inwards when Brabantio is talking to
HIMSELF).
Read the speech one final time forgetting all the rules, and see if your opinion or understanding
of it has changed. As an actor reciting the lines, is there now more clarity? How do we feel about
Brabantio at this point?
EXTENSION
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A copy of Act 1 Scene 1 to read either on the page or onscreen.
As Brabantio, write a letter to Desdemona outlining what you have heard and how you feel about
this. Allow the emotion to be reflected in the writing style too, thinking about what we noticed
from the exercise above.
Write another letter, this time to Othello. How is the tone and language different?
Evaluate the reasons why Othello and Desdemona felt they needed to keep the marriage secret.
8 - OTHELLO’S STORY
How does Othello use words to convince the court?
ACTIVITY
Read aloud Othello’s speech beginning ‘Most grave potent signiors’ (Act 1 Scene 3, ~Line 76).
Write down on a separate piece of paper any words or phrases that stand out to you. These
could be those you don’t understand.
Write your answer to the question: ‘What is Othello’s main aim?’
Go back to the speech and underline or highlight any part of the text where you think Othello is
succeeding at ‘winning round’ his audience. This could be the use of a particular word, or a tac-
tic he employs (e.g. flattery). Do you think his language is successful?
Research the term ‘Rhetoric’ - or watch this short video of RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran
explaining what rhetoric is.
Using highlighters, go back to the speech and pick out any examples of rhetoric in action. Notice
if certain moments match with your underlined text from the exercise above.
Othello is the tragic hero in our play. Having read the whole of this scene, now analyse what
your opinion of the character is now. Has your opinion changed?
Find 2-3 quotes that are perfect examples of Othello in this scene.
EXTENSION
Read Othello’s speech ‘Her father lov’d me, oft invited me’. (~Line 128)
Track Othello’s story beat-by-beat, up to this point, and then re-write the story from Desde-
mona’s point of view. How do their journeys and reactions to events differ?
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection with the following clips loaded: to be added
A copy of Act 1 Scene 3, to read either on the page or onscreen.
9 - DESDEMONA AND ‘DUTY’
What is the role of Desdemona in this world?
ACTIVITY
From the work we have done so far, we realise we have been told a lot about Desdemona by
report.
Consider if we know any FACTS about Desdemona. If we are seeing the play for the first time,
think of OPINIONS you have of her from what we have learnt up to this point. What type of per-
son do we anticipate?
Familiarise yourself again with Act 1 Scene 3, and the moment of Desdemona’s first entrance.
(See Activity 8).
Here Desdemona speaks of ‘divided duty’. Duty is a broad term that can be applied to many
areas of life. e.g. military duty, filial duty etc. Think about the role of women in this society and
how this definition of ‘duty’ may contrast depending on gender.
Answer the question: Does Desdemona believe what she says to her father in front of the court?
Go to the Character Analysis page for Desdemona on the Shakespeare Learning Zone here.
Work through the activity ‘Why does Desdemona love Othello?’
EXTENSION
Watch the Trailer for the 2015 production here.
What is Desdemona’s role here? Think about the creative decisions for this piece. Does it high-
light the drama and issues of the play in a minute? Watching this trailer, what do you think the
issues and key events are?
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to visit this page and watch this clip.
A copy of Act 1 Scene 3 to read either on the page or onscreen.
10 – IAGO’S FIRST SOLILOQUY
What effect does direct address to the audience have?
ACTIVITY
Research the definition of ‘Soliloquy.’
Watch the video Exploring a Soliloquy. (This is of the actor Pappa Essiedu talking about Hamlet,
but his points can be applied to other soliloquies.)
Read through Iago’s speech at the end of Act 1 Scene 3, beginning ‘Thus do I ever make my fool
my purse.’ This is the first time in the play Iago, or indeed any character, directly addresses
the audience.
Think about the three topics that were explored in the video: Punctuation, Sounds and Line End-
ings. Circle or make a note of examples in Iago’s speech where these elements seem interesting
to you. What effects do these interesting moments have on the listener?
Watch the soliloquy in performance here, performed by Lucian Msamati.
Notice moments where the actor has decided to engage directly with the audience. What
effect does this have?
What position does it put the audience in, hearing first-hand from the villain of the play and their
intentions?
EXTENSION
Samuel Taylor Coleridge claims that Iago’s soliloquies reveal ‘the motive-hunting of motiveless
malignity.’ Summarise if you agree with this statement or not.
To what extent do you agree that Iago makes up the plan to ‘abuse Othello’s ear’ on the spot?
What effect does the audience seeing this have?
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to watch these clips: Exploring a Soliloquy and
Iago’s Soliloquy in Performance.
A copy of Act 1 Scene 3 to read, either on the page or onscreen.
11 – IAGO’S MOTIVES
What are Iago’s motives?
ACTIVITY
Familiarise yourself with Act 1 Scene 1, and write down any motives you find for Iago’s intended
behaviour to Othello. Why does he profess to ‘hate’ him?
Watch Iago’s soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 3 in performance here.
Read the speech and pick out any new motives we learn here. Do you believe Iago?
Re-write the speech in the form of a text message to a close friend. Use your own words and think
about how much detail you feel you need to go into.
Your message has been found by the authorities. Now justify your actions in a written state-
ment.
Analyse how easy this was to do. Reflect back on Iago’s motives, and what you know about his
actions in the play. Is Iago ‘motiveless’? To what extent do you agree that his actions spiral out of
control?
EXTENSION
You receive the message from Iago. What would your reply be? Write it back. Are you for or
against Iago’s plot? Excited to see what happens? Or horrified already at this cold-hearted sol-
dier?
Repeat the same exercises on this page with Iago’s soliloquy at the end of Act 2 Scene 1.
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to watch this clip.
A copy of Act 1 Scene 1, and Act 1 Scene 3, to read either on the page or onscreen.
12 - THE ARMY AND CASSIO
Does Cassio fit in?
ACTIVITY
Imagine you are a lieutenant in the army - recently promoted to serve an important general. Get
ready to take a photo of yourself in a mirror, or on a smartphone. We are going to pretend this is
your headshot that will go in your army file. (Use props or costume if you think appropriate!)
If possible, print the image. Study the photo and analyse the character that you see. Annotate
and circle traits and expressions you notice in the image. Write words that describe the character,
how they might behave. What is a ‘model soldier’ in your eyes?
Read Act 2 Scene 1 up to Cassio’s entrance. Find and write down any mentions of Cassio.
Go to this page on Relationships in Othello on the RSC Learning Zone here and select Cas-
sio’s icon. Look through Cassio’s profile, including various past-production shots and the quotes
he and others speak about him.
Retake the photo, this time pretending to be Cassio. Notice the differences in your expressions
and demeanour. What opinions have you made of the man? Do you have any expectations?
Does Cassio meet these expectations?
Ask yourself: Is Cassio your typical soldier? To what extent does he fit in to this world?
EXTENSION
By the time we arrive in Cyprus, we learn that the Turkish have already been defeated. There
is no longer a threat and the army does not need to engage in a battle. Ask yourself: Why does
Shakespeare decide not to stage the war?
Write diary excerpts for Cassio, Iago and Othello for their journey from Venice to Cyprus. Include
in the entry the answer to the question: ‘What does the army and military service mean to me?’
If you have time, do the same for Desdemona and Emilia. What kind of world are they entering?
How do they feel about it?
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection with the following clips loaded: to be added
A copy of Act 1 Scene 2 to read either on the page or onscreen.
A camera (optional: a mirror and a printer).
13 - THE PARTY
What happens at the party?
ACTIVITY
Go to the ‘Scene by Scene’ page on the RSC Learning Zone here.
Read the summary of Act 2 Scene 3, to familiarise yourself with the scene, and then read it in full.
Divide a large piece of paper, or notepad into squares, or take a stack of PostIT notes.
Summarise the plot of the scene in brief statements; focusing on key ‘beats’ (e.g. Othello leaves
the party). Create a storyboard in the order of what happens in the scene.
How few beats do we need to understand what is happening? Experiment with removing or
merging beats to see if the story can still make sense.
EXTENSION
Now think of the scene visually: create your own storyboard of the scene’s plot for a comic book
or graphic novel.
Divide your paper into squares or panels so that you have one for each thing on your list. Draw a
picture within each square until you have your story complete. Be as bold as you like!
Add quotes from the play in speech bubbles or characters thoughts and reactions.
WHAT YOU NEED
A large piece of paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to visit this page.
A copy of Act 2 Scene 3 to read either on the page or onscreen.
14 - IAGO REELS IN OTHELLO
How does Iago finally convince Othello?
ACTIVITY
Look at the duologue between Iago and Othello in Act 3 Scene 3, from Lines 90 - 117. (“Excel-
lent wretch!” to “My lord you know I love you.”)
Read the scene aloud and click your fingers each time a word is quickly repeated by either char-
acter? Which words are ‘passed’ between them to and fro? e.g.
IAGO: But for a satisfaction of my thought, No further harm.
OTHELLO: Why of thy *thought* Iago.
Read the scene again, and this time throw or roll a ball from one hand to the other when it feels
like either character is ‘passing back the energy’. Notice as you read whether you pass the ball
whilst speaking a word, or after the sentence is over. Also notice when there are frenetic moments
of back and forth, or moments of stillness.
Ask yourself: How is Iago forcing Othello to ask questions? What is the main tactic Iago is using
to get what he wants?
Watch a later excerpt in the same scene here.
How ‘at ease’ is Iago with Othello? Does this deception seem to come naturally to him, or do we
notice moments when he is ‘thinking on his feet?’
EXTENSION
How sorry do you feel for Othello in this scene? We - the audience - are privy to Iago’s true in-
tent. But, to what extent is Othello somewhat to blame? Identify some quotes which example
Othello’s naivety.
“Perdition catch my soul But I do love thee! And when I love thee not, Chaos is come again.” No-
tice how Chaos is capitalised. Who is Chaos? Research Greek mythology.
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to watch this clip.
A copy of Act 3 Scene 3 to read either on the page or onscreen.
A small ball.
15 - POWER AND STATUS
Who has the power?
ACTIVITY
Stand in front of the mirror pretending to be a character with extremely high power, or high social
status. Take a photo. Then do the same exercise for a person with very low status.
Look at the photos side-by-side: what do you notice? What have you instinctively chosen to do
with your body? Look out for things like the body language, facial expression, arm and hand
positions. Write some notes explaining what you notice.
It may seem obvious from looking at these two photos, but sometimes when reading or study-
ing a play we can forget that interactions between the characters (and therefore some of the
story) can also be communicated by just looks or movement in live performance. Communication
is not solely restricted to the choice of words spoken. It is an actor’s job to interpret the language
written in the text, and characterise the complex goings-on of human behaviour.
Take Act 3 Scene 3 as an example: a scene where Iago is employing every trick he can muster to
falsely convince Othello of his wife’s dishonesty. Load this video, which shows this scene in per-
formance.
Don’t allow the video to play. Instead, click along the timeline every 30 seconds. At each freeze-
frame write down observations about the positions of the two actors on stage in relation to each
other, and their body language. What story does this tell?
Go back to the text and pick out some key quotes where you feel there is a POWER SHIFT (i.e. a
moment when Othello pulls rank against Iago, or Iago successfully gets Othello’s attention.)
EXTENSION
Compare the conversations between Othello and Desdemona in Act 3 Scene 3, before and after
this conversation with Iago.
Think about it in terms of body language and status. How might you notice the difference before
and after? Draw a sketch of the two characters at the beginning of Act 3 Scene 3, and again at
the end.
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to watch this clip.
A mirror and a camera.
A copy of Act 3 Scene 3 to read either on the page or onscreen.
16 - VERSE AND PROSE
What are the dramatic effects of verse and prose?
ACTIVITY
Watch this video, explaining the rhythm (Iambic Pentameter) behind
Shakespeare’s verse.
Read the beginning of Act 4 Scene 1 and determine if the characters are speaking in verse or
prose. Tap out the rhythm whilst reading the words.
NB Notice that sometimes characters may share a line of regular iambic
pentameter; as is the case with the first three lines of this scene.
In Othello, Shakespeare intermingles the two styles verse and prose frequently, often using
this shift to represent a shift in emotions.
Keep reading the scene. Where does the verse form begin to break down into prose? Why?
Notice what happens to Othello’s language specifically during the course of the scene. How
does his pattern of speech reflect his emotional state? Early on, Othello uses verse to create a
metaphor “As doth the raven o’er the infectious house” - compare this to his speech moments
later before he falls down, overcome with rage. What effect does ‘devolving’ from verse to prose
have?
Find and write down some quotes that best example this for Othello in this scene.
EXTENSION
Find examples of Iago switching back and forth between verse and prose. Why may this be?
Iago seems to move between each form intentionally and with ease. What does this indicate?
Think back to activities 8 and 14 when we looked at rhetoric and manipulation.
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to watch this clip.
A copy of Act 4 Scene 1, to read either on the page or onscreen.
17 - THE WILLOW SCENE
What kind of relationship do Emilia and Desdemona have?
ACTIVITY
Watch the video of two actors rehearsing Act 4 Scene 3, here.
Notice the variety of choices available to the actors, and how they collaborate with the director
Iqbal Khan in moments of discussion.
In Act 4 Scene 3 after Othello furiously exits after demanding Desdemona produce the handker-
chief, Emilia and Desdemona have the following dialogue:
Emilia: Is not this man jealous?
Desdemona: I nev’r saw this before. / Sure there’s some wonder in this handkerchief;
/ I am most unhappy in the loss of it.
Emilia: ’Tis not a year or two shows us a man: / They are all but stomachs, and we
are all food’ / They eat us hungerly, and when they are full / They belch us.
Notice how the two women come to different conclusions about Othello’s
behaviour. There is an awareness about the treatment of women by men,
especially by Emilia.*
Read Act 4 Scene 3, how are these opinions continued here? What are both
character’s outlooks? Where do they disagree? Who has the status? Does it change? (A key mo-
ment in the rehearsal video for example is when Desdemona chooses to throw water over Emi-
lia.)
Read the scene from Line 24 “My mother had a maid call’d Barbary” until the end of the song:
“Let nobody blame him, his scorn I approve”. What significance does this song have? How much
does the song predict what is to come?
EXTENSION
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to watch this clip.
A copy of Act 4 Scene 3 to read either on the page or onscreen.
Think further about the relationship between Desdemona and Emilia. Decide on the top three
qualities of each character from what you know about them.
Create your own directorial notes. If you were directing two actors, what would you ask them?
What would you be interested to see played in this scene?
Watch the 2015 production version in performance, remembering the choices that were being
discussed in the rehearsal video. Is the final performance version
different? What choices were clear, and which were new to you?
*(Remember too, we have heard that Iago suspects Emilia and Othello to have had an affair).
18 - CASSIO STABBED / RODERIGO’S
DEATH
How does Iago control the action?
ACTIVITY
Read Iago’s aside at the start of Act 5 Scene 1. Make a bullet point summary of his thought pro-
cess. What do he need to happen, and what is his ideal outcome?
Create a model stage for you to plot the action of the scene. You decide!
Suggestions could be to draw a rectangle on a piece of paper, to construct a 3D model box of
the stage, or to use the whole of your room.
Using any labelled objects, plot where the characters are on the stage during the scene and
where their movements take them.
Ask yourself: how well does Iago think on his feet, and how successfully he is able to steer the ac-
tion?
EXTENSION
What more should Iago have done to succeed? Make a new plan that might have worked, think-
ing about all the ways in which his plan failed and why. Using your new plan, think about how
Iago might deliver this as an aside or soliloquy.
If you have time, film the scene playing out. This might be as a stop motion or as a dramatic
reading of your imagined plan.
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
Labels and a variety of objects to represent characters in the scene
(e.g. counters, playing pieces etc)
A copy of Act 5 Scene 1 to read either on the page or onscreen.
19 - OTHELLO’S LANGUAGE
How much is Othello in control by the end of the play?
ACTIVITY
Load the Language Analysis Page of the Shakespeare Learning Zone here.
Click on ‘Analysing Othello’s Language,’ and begin by watching ‘The Role of Othello.’ Think
about what the actor Hugh Quarshie says about Othello’s identity and belonging. Ask yourself:
to what extent do you believe intimate relationships ‘complete’ or ‘define’ a person?
Stand up and read Othello’s speech in Act 5 Scene 2, beginning “It is the cause, it is the cause,
my soul.” Change direction every time you reach a punctuation mark. Notice if these changes in
direction match up with a change of thought, or
intention.
Othello seems to be arguing with himself. Highlight the text in two different colours. One when
you believe he is INTENT on killing Desdemona, and the other when he is NOT INTENT. Notice
if your speech is more heavily coloured with one colour. What is Othello’s through process?
Does he have a coherent train of thought? Has he
already made his decision?
Optional: If you have been working through all the activites, you will have collected quotes along
the way that summarise Othello during the story. Have these quotes to hand.
From everything we have looked at regarding the ‘deterioration’ of Othello’s
language – both rhythmically and poetically (See activity 16) – ask yourself the question: to what
extent is Othello in control of himself at the moment of
Desdemona’s death? Is he a blameless victim, or an overly-proud, egotistical murderer?
EXTENSION
Complete the table ‘Questions to Consider’ on the Language Analysis page. Fill in the missing
Point, Evidence, Explanation boxes.
Watch the video ‘Exploring a Monologue’ on the same page. (This is of the actor Mark Quartley
exploring a speech from The Tempest).
Read Othello’s speeches:
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to visit this page.
A copy of Act 5 Scene 2 to read either on the page or onscreen.
Act 1 Scene 3 ~Line 76 ‘Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors’
Act 4 Scene 1 ~Line 35 ‘Lie with her? Lie on her?’
Act 5 Scene 2 Line 1 ‘It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul.’
Compare and contrast these three speeches. What differences and similarities do you notice be-
tween each speech’s imagery, metre and word choice? Explain what significance these differ-
ences and similarities have.
20 - THE DEATH SCENE
Are the deaths of Desdemona and Othello inevitable?
ACTIVITY
Watch the clip of the final scene in rehearsal in the link above. Think about the director Iqbal
Khan’s point at 0:40 ‘People aren’t in control of how their ends happen.’
Read Act 5 Scene 2 up to the point of Desdemona’s death.
Draw a simple outline of Othello and Desdemona on two pieces of paper. There needs to be
space to write both inside the body and around the outside.
For both characters, write their own faults inside the body, and the faults of others around the
outside.
If you completed activity 4, compare this work with the personality traits you wrote down while
exploring Othello’s tragic flaw.
Evaluate Othello as a tragedy – Othello, in terms of scale, begins quite wide and far-reaching.
(Othello and Desdemona’s marriage concerns the whole of the Venetian court, and there is
the threat of a foreign enemy: The Turkish fleet.) The play ends in an incredibly intimate and do-
mestic setting (the bedroom). Othello as our protagonist also begins the play as an ‘outsider.’
Most tragedies seem to be the opposite of this: they begin on a small domestic scale with the
protagonist in
harmony with their community and, as the plot unravels, the scale expands (into whole countries
divided, or outright war).
How does Othello subvert the genre of tragedy and what effect does this have on the audience?
EXTENSION
Is Othello a racist play? Watch the debate hosted at the RSC in 2015 here.
Ask yourself: to what extent do I believe Othello’s fate is linked to his race?
WHAT YOU NEED
A piece of note paper, or a notebook and something to write with.
A computer with internet connection, ready to visit this page.
A copy of Act 5 Scene 2 to read either on the page or onscreen.
