Othello

Othello by William Shakespeare media type="youtube" key="RAYuASqrs94" width="560" height="315"

Essential Questions Life


 * What are the roles of love and jealousy in our lives?
 * What of our own story is there to be found in the stories of others?

Literature
 * How do readers recognize and writers use elements of good literature?
 * Can fiction reveal truth? How do stories reveal truths about human nature?
 * How does manipulation of language create meaning?

Anticipatory Set Directions: Read the following statements. Then, write whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, are neutral, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree. Explain your response. (The following are compiled from various sources.)

1. The consequences of jealousy are often destructive in a relationship.

2. It can sometimes be difficult to determine the honesty of a friend.

3. A person’s honesty cannot be determined by his or her physical appearance.

4. When a person’s reputation has been stained, it is difficult to regain respect.

5. I could never forgive a boyfriend / girlfriend for cheating on me.

6. A person’s love can be gained through material wealth.

7. It is worth compromising your morals in order to gain what you think you truly deserve.

8. Rumors usually stem from some truth.

9. Being a soldier can have negative consequences on your life.

10. Revenge is sometimes justified.

11. Women have less freedom than men.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">12. Society has different rules for men and women.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">13. It is okay to get married without your family’s approval.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">14. First impressions are a good indication of the real person.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">15.Jealousy in a relationship is proof of love.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">16. It is easy to sway someone’s opinion about people they don’t know.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">17. A person must choose to devote himself/herself to either a career or a family.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">18. It is impossible for someone to manipulate you into doing something you don’t want to do.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline;">19. Absolute trust is not essential to a strong relationship.

<span style="background-color: #5febe2; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Setting/Historical Context

<span style="background-color: #5febe2; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Author Study

<span style="background-color: #5febe2; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Vocabulary/ Reading Questions from Teacher's Pet Publications

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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">Act One
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. What was Iago's complaint in Scene I?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Who was Brabantio, and why did Iago and Roderigo awaken him in the middle of the night?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 3. Why did Iago leave Roderigo at Brabantio's house?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. What was Brabantio's reaction to Othello's marriage to Desdemona?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Why did the Duke send for Othello?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Brabantio complains to the Duke about Othello's marriage to Desdemona. After listening to both sides of the story, what was the Duke's reply?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. What was Roderigo's complaint, and what was Iago's reply to it?

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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">Act II
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Why did Iago want Roderigo to anger Cassio?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. What was the purpose of Iago's plan?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Why did Iago want Cassio to drink more wine?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. What lie did Iago tell Montano about Cassio?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Why did Othello strip Cassio of his rank?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Why did Iago want Cassio to ask Desdemona for help in restoring Othello's faith in Cassio?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">Act III
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Why didn't Iago simply tell Othello right away that Desdemona and Cassio were having an affair?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. What thing did Emilia find and give to Iago? What did Iago intend to do with it?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. What was Iago's reply when Othello demanded proof of his wife's disloyalty?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. What did Othello decide and command at the end of Scene III?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. What was Emilia's relationship with Iago? Desdemona?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Who had the handkerchief at the end of Act III? Why?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">Act IV
media type="custom" key="28763014" <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. After Iago lied and told Othello that Cassio confessed going to bed with Desdemona, what advice did he give the overwhelmed Othello?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. How did Iago trick Othello into thinking Cassio was gloating and bragging about his affair with Desdemona?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Why was Bianca angry with Cassio?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. How did Bianca's return with the handkerchief help Iago?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Why did Othello hit Desdemona?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. What was Lodovico's reaction to Othello's behavior towards Desdemona? How did Iago later explain Othello's behavior to Lodovico?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Why did Othello ask Emilia about Cassio's affair with Desdemona, and what was her reply?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">8. To whom does Desdemona turn for help after Othello calls her a strumpet?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">9. Why did Iago tell Rodriego to kill Cassio? Why did Roderigo consent to think about it?

**Act V** media type="custom" key="28763020"

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. How would Iago gain from Roderigo's death? Cassio's?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. What happened when Cassio and Roderigo fought?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. What did Iago do after he wounded Cassio?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. How was Desdemona faithful to Othello to the end?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. What was Emilia's reaction when Othello told her that Iago had revealed Desdemona's affair with Cassio to him?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Who told the truth about Iago?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. What happened to Othello, Iago and Cassio in the end?

<span style="background-color: #5febe2; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Vocabulary

<span style="background-color: #5febe2; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">End of Text Activities <span style="background-color: #5febe2; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Discussion Questions

<span style="background-color: #5febe2; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Writing Assignments

<span style="background-color: #5febe2; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">So What?/Community Connections