'Othello' and Aristotle's conventions of tragedy
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore how the structure of the play ‘Othello’ meets or subverts Aristotle's model for tragedy.
Key learning points
- Aristotle prescribed criteria for tragedy and comedy.
- Aristotle prescribed unity of time, place and action.
- The plot in a tragedy should evoke pity and fear in an audience and end with catharsis.
- A tragic hero - a man of noble standing with a fatal flaw and an error of judgement - must meet a demise.
Keywords
Tragic hero - A central character that experiences a tragic downfall.
Hamartia - A tragic hero’s fatal fault or mistake that leads to their catastrophic end.
Peripeteia - A pivotal action that changes the protagonist’s fate from secure to vulnerable.
Catharsis - The process of releasing emotions.
Anagnorisis - A moment of insight where the tragic hero understands their fate.
Common misconception
A tragedy is simply a sad play.
Tragedies have specific conventions, such as a tragic hero and their hamartia, a tragic fall and elements of fate or the supernatural.
Teacher tip
Ask pupils to discuss other Shakespearean tragedies and comedies that they have learnt prior to this unit.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who is the protagonist in Shakespeare's 'Othello'?
Q2.Starting with the first, put the five key parts of Freytag's pyramid in chronological order.
Q3.What is meant by the word 'patriarchy'?
Q4.In Shakespeare's 'Othello', why did Iago manipulate Othello?
Q5.In 'Othello', why could Othello be seen as an outsider?
Q6.In 'Othello', how does Desdemona go against her filial duty?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is meant by 'hamartia'?
Q2.Which is not a convention of a tragedy according to Aristotle?
Q3.What does unity of place mean in the classical unities?
Q4.What is not a characteristic of a tragic hero?
Q5.In Shakespeare's 'Othello', when does Othello experience anagnorisis?
Q6.What event in the play 'Othello' are the audience likely to experience catharsis?
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: 'Othello' and Aristotle's conventions of tragedy, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 English lesson on: 'Othello' and Aristotle's conventions of tragedy, 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.