Exploration of the theme of jealousy in 'Othello'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify a variety of evidence to explore the theme of jealousy in ‘Othello’ and how it contributes to Othello's downfall.
Key learning points
- Shakespeare argues that jealousy doesn't occur in isolation but is a product of the flaws of society.
- Male dominance and pride permeates most of the jealousy in the play.
- You could argue that Othello’s downfall is not caused by jealousy alone.
Keywords
Cuckolded - When a man’s wife has been unfaithful, he has been ‘cuckolded’.
Chaste - To be chaste can mean not having any sexual desire or intentions.
Catalyses - To catalyse means to cause something to happen.
Contest - To contest means to debate or oppose.
Emasculation - The process of making a man feel less male by taking away his power and confidence.
Common misconception
Only Othello feels jealousy in the play.
Many other characters feel jealousy and it is a driving force for lots of the action in the play.
Teacher tip
Explore modern day attitudes towards jealousy to help contextualise this emotion for pupils.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the below could be seen as examples of jealousy?
Q2.How is Iago jealous in 'Othello'?
Q3.Jacobean women were expected to be ...
Q4.In Shakespeare's 'Othello', how is Othello a victim of the society he lives in?
Q5.In 'Othello', how is Othello's jealousy shown to be all-consuming and how could its effect be linked to pride?
Q6.How are the patriarchy and jealousy linked in 'Othello'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In the play 'Othello', which character's jealousy precedes Othello's jealousy?
Q2.What is a societal root of Iago's jealousy about Cassio's promotion in 'Othello'?
Q3.Why is Desdemona and Emilia's supposed infidelity so alarming to Iago and Othello in the play 'Othello'?
Q4.In the play 'Othello', how does Desdemona's supposed infidelity put Othello in a vulnerable situation?
Q5.How could Othello's outsider status be linked to his downfall, over his jealousy in the play 'Othello'?
Q6.What could Shakespeare's message be when it comes to jealousy in 'Othello'?
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Exploration of the theme of jealousy in 'Othello', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: Exploration of the theme of jealousy in 'Othello', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the 'Othello' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.