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Year 9

Exploring Act 1, Scene 1 of ‘Othello’

I can explore how an audience might respond to the character of Iago in the opening scene.

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Year 9

Exploring Act 1, Scene 1 of ‘Othello’

I can explore how an audience might respond to the character of Iago in the opening scene.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Iago is an agent of disorder - his motive is less important than the impact of his actions on the tragic hero.
  2. Iago might be described as a malcontent.
  3. Iago's diabolical nature is established in the line \"I am not what I am\", reflecting reversal and disorder.
  4. Iago causes disorder in the mind of Brabantio, by revealing his daughter's deceit.

Keywords

  • Elope - Run away secretly to get married.

  • Malcontent - A person who is dissatisfied and complaining.

  • Visage - A visage is a person’s face or an image of something.

  • Bigot - A bigot is someone prejudiced and/or antagonistic against a particular group.

  • Diabolical - Suggestive of the devil.

Common misconception

Shakespearean tragic heroes are often nobility who command respect from all before their fall.

Othello, the tragic hero, is not respected by Iago and Roderigo because of his race.


To help you plan your year 9 english lesson on: Exploring Act 1, Scene 1 of ‘Othello’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Ask students how a modern audience may react to the opening of the play compared to an Elizabethan one.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In the play 'Othello', what do we know about Othello and Desdemona?
Correct answer: they have secretly married
they have publicly married
they are courting
Q2.
Why does Iago dislike Othello at the beginning of the play 'Othello'?
Iago was courting Desdemona before Othello married her
Correct answer: Othello passed Iago over for a promotion
Othello killed Iago's brother
Q3.
What is a key theme in Shakespeare's tragedies?
love
ambition
Correct answer: disorder
Q4.
What is a convention of the tragic hero?
Correct answer: they start off with high status and then experience a downfall
they start with low status but grow in esteem
their fate stays stable throughout the play
Q5.
In Shakespeare's 'Othello', which character plays the biggest role in Othello's downfall and why?
Cassio for having an affair with Desdemona
Desdemona for being unfaithful to Othello
Correct answer: Iago for manipulating Othello into believing his wife was unfaithful
Q6.
In the play 'Othello', what is arguably Othello's hamartia from the list below?
ambition
prejudice
superiority
lust
Correct answer: jealousy

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Where does Act 1 Scene 1 of 'Othello' fall in the five-act structure?
rising action
Correct answer: exposition
falling action
Q2.
In Act 1 Scene 1 of 'Othello', what does Iago say he will do?
Correct answer: pretend to be loyal to Othello but deep down have his own best interest at heart
kill Othello
steal Desdemona from Othello
Q3.
How does Iago stir up disorder in Act 1 Scene 1 of 'Othello'?
he encourages Roderigo to flirt with Desdemona
Correct answer: he tells Brabantio that Desdemona has eloped with Othello
he hatches a plan with Roderigo to break into Othello's house
Q4.
What does Iago say in Act 1 Scene 1 of 'Othello' that could make the audience consider him as 'diabolical'?
''Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago''
''Call up her father, Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight''
Correct answer: ''I am not what I am''
Q5.
''Tis the curse of service. Preferment goes by letter and affection''. What does this quote show about Iago in Shakespeare's 'Othello'?
Correct answer: He is bitter about being passed over for a promotion
He loves Desdemona
He is a bigot
Q6.
In the play 'Othello', Iago's comments to Brabantio about Desdemona and Othello, reveal Iago's ...
jealousy about Desdemona being with another man.
Correct answer: prejudice against Othello because of his race.
hatred for Brabantio having let Desdemona do whatever she wants.