Teaching Pack: Othello

Cambridge IGCSE™ / IGCSE (9–1)

Literature in English 0475 / 0992
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023 v2

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment is a department of the University of Cambridge.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment retains the copyright on all its publications. Registered centres
are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own internal use. However, we cannot give
permission to centres to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third party even for internal use
within a centre.

.
Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................................................4
Lesson plan – Set text animations.....................................................................................................6
Teacher notes....................................................................................................................................8
Worksheet 1: Animation viewing sheet..............................................................................................9
Worksheet 2: Animation success criteria.........................................................................................11
Worksheet 3: Reflection...................................................................................................................12
Worksheet 4: Text summary............................................................................................................14
Worksheet 5: Character summaries and quotations........................................................................16
Worksheet 6: Character animations.................................................................................................20
Worksheet 7: Quiz............................................................................................................................24

Icons used in this pack:

Lesson plan

Teacher notes

Lesson resources
Teaching Pack: Othello

Introduction
This Teaching Pack supports teachers and learners when studying Cambridge IGCSE / IGCSE (9–
1) / O Level Literature in English set texts.
Set texts regularly rotate on the syllabus and may change from one year of examination to the
next. Before you begin teaching, check the set text list for the year in which your candidates will
take their examinations.
Teachers may use this teaching pack to engage their learners when introducing a set text, or as a
revision tool.
The content of these set text resources will need to be expanded on to cover what candidates are
expected to know and be able to comment on in an examination.
To increase learners’ understanding and appreciation of the set text we recommend learners to set
up a reading log, which could include:
 brief synopses of chapters (in no more than a couple of sentences in their own words)
 a timeline of events (very useful when a narrative is arranged non-chronologically)
 a list or diagram of characters and their relationships with each other
 first impressions of main characters
 initial thoughts about the main themes or ideas in the text.
Animation videos
This Teaching Pack focuses on supporting learners to produce animations using the software
Video Scribe www.videoscribe.co/en/, but a range of other alternative animation and storyboarding
tools may equally be used:

 www.storyboardthat.com
Online digital storytelling tool – free and pay for subscriptions available
 https://wonderunit.com/storyboarder/
Storyboarding software – free to download, but does have to be installed
 www.powtoon.com/edu-home/
Online video and animation creation – free and pay for subscriptions
 www.animaker.com
Online animated video creator – free and pay for subscriptions
 https://goanimate4schools.com/public_index
Online storyboard, scene and video creation tool – pay for subscription
 http://plasq.com/apps/comiclife/macwin/
Downloadable and app-based tools for creating comic books
 www.openoffice.org/product/impress.html
A tool for creating multimedia presentations
 https://products.office.com/en-gb/powerpoint
Microsoft PowerPoint for simple presentations as well as more complex multimedia
presentations.

4
 Teaching Pack: Othello

The lesson in this pack aims to help learners to understand and think about the key events and
themes of the text, key quotations and their meanings, the significance of character behaviour,
relationships and actions and how characters are depicted in the set text being studied. The focus
of this lesson may be adapted for use with other set texts.

The lesson plan gives you a suggestion for how animation or storyboarding can be used by your
learners in the classroom. You can apply most of the lesson activities to any text that you are
studying with your learners. Once your learners have an understanding of how to use the software
you decide to use, they can create their own animations for whole or parts of the texts they are
studying.

The lesson is designed for learners who have experience of, a little experience of or no experience
of using animation tools and features.
It is expected that learners should already know and have read the narrative events of the novel.

In this pack we have included some useful lesson resources for you to use with your learners. You
may ask your learners to create their own worksheets similar to these, around a text, which they
are studying:
 Worksheet 4: Text summary
 Worksheet 5: Character summaries and quotations
 Worksheet 6: Character animations
 Worksheet 7: Quiz

5
Teaching Pack: Othello

Lesson plan – Set text animations

Resources  Animation software
 Cambridge Othello video animation (Video 1, 2
and 3)
 Worksheet 1: Animation viewing sheet
 Worksheet 2: Animation success criteria
 Worksheet 3: Reflection
 Class set of Othello
 Padlet site https://padlet.com/ (or similar
platform)

Key words  Animated frame: Each individual animated

screen that the audience sees

Learning objectives By the end of the lesson:

 all learners should be able to present the key
events of a chapter(s) from the text in a coherent
and appropriate animation.
 most learners should be able to thoughtfully
present the key events of a scene / chapter in a
logical and imaginative way; using sound.
 some learners will be able to effectively present
the key events of a scene /chapter and
incorporate comments the author’s style of
writing.

6
 Teaching Pack: Othello

Timings Activity

Starter/Introduction
Before watching Video 1, hand out the animation viewing sheet
(Worksheet 1) to your learners.
After watching the animation: in groups of three or four, learners complete
and discuss Worksheet 1 to find out what they think about it.
Extension activity: Learners identify the parts of the play which the
animation covers. They then consider what moments and quotations from
the play were left out of the animation that they feel should have been
included? Learners give reasons for their ideas.
Mini plenary: Class discussion to share learners’ thoughts and ideas
about the animation.

Main lesson
Share the success criteria for making an animation (Worksheet 2). Read
through and discuss with the class to make sure they are clear about what
makes a good animation. You may want to add some criteria to the list, if
there are any further suggestions.
Learners work in pairs. Set each pair the task of animating the summary
text of Video 2 (see below). Emphasise that their animation should last
between 2–3 mins only.
Learners should use Worksheet 2 criteria as a guide to create their
animations.
Extension activity: Learners add further background animations to
enhance the setting of their scenes and import an appropriate background
song into their animation by using YouTube. Learners should justify why
they selected the song to accompany their animation.
AND/ OR
Learners write a short analysis of their animation. In this response, the
learners should treat their animation as their ‘text’ and explain the ideas
they attempted to highlight to the audience.

Plenary
Each learner completes the reflection sheet (Worksheet 3) and shares
their thoughts with other learners. This will help them explain how they
presented their part of the play, the characters, the key quotations and the
dramatic devices for the part they animated.
Note: If the class need longer, continue with the activities in the main part
of the lesson, and use the plenary as the starter activity of the next
lesson.
Suggested follow up activity to this lesson:
When learners have finished their animations (and reflected on their
work), they can upload their final animations on a Padlet site
https://padlet.com/ (or similar platform) to share with the class.
Learners discuss their ideas and explore differences and similarities.

7
Teaching Pack: Othello

Teacher notes
When to teach this lesson

This lesson could be used at the end of the first reading of Othello to help learners reflect and
investigate important moments from the text, characterisation and the chronology of events.

Differentiation

Some parts of the text will be more complicated, detailed and significant than others. Therefore,
think about how you will pair your learners up for the main task of creating an animation, and
consider which scene or chapter would be best suited to which pairs. The learners’ ability in their
use of the software is also a factor in this.

Creating the animation digitally could be replaced by creating storyboards where learners draw on
paper or cut out images from magazines to create their own visual representation of the text
content.

Contingencies

Depending on your learners, you may find that this lesson extends into two, if your learners do not
finish their animation in the time allocated. We suggest that no more than one and a half or two 50-
minute lessons should be spent on this lesson plan.

It would be a good idea to show your learners the animation of the part of the text that they were
animating after they have finished (as stated at the end of the lesson plan). This could be a good
way to discuss the effects that the learners were trying to create in their animations, compared to
the events and effects depicted in the original animation. By relating all the ideas to the text, this
should allow for some effective reflection on the content of the set text you are studying.

8
 Teaching Pack: Othello

Worksheet 1: Animation viewing sheet

Make notes as you watch the animation. This will help you when you create your own animation.

1. Did you find it easy to understand and follow the story in the animation? Why? Why not?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What did you think about the choice of character animations? Was it clear who they were?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Was there anything in the animation that surprised you?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9
Teaching Pack: Othello

4. What did you enjoy or find useful about the animation?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What would you change or add to the content of the animation to make it clearer or more useful?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What text would you like to make an animation of?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10
 Teaching Pack: Othello

Worksheet 2: Animation success criteria

Your animation should include: Notes

1. a clear title at the beginning of your

animation that states which part of the
text you are presenting.

2. suitable character animations, to portray

the different characters from the text.

3. appropriate props and background

animations to depict the different settings
of the play.

4. at least two key quotations from the text

in speech bubbles, or as text in the
background, in your animated frames.

5. pauses in time between the events that

you animate so that the audience can
see, follow and understand what is
happening.

6. text that helps highlight the use of any

dramatic irony, symbolism, imagery or any
other significant technique the writer has
used.

Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English 0475 11

Teaching Pack: Othello

Worksheet 3: Reflection
Now you have completed your animation, use this sheet to reflect on the activity:

1. What do you think worked well in your animation? (Refer to Worksheet 2 success criteria.)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What did you find difficult or challenging when you created your animation?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What new things did you learn or notice about the content of the text as you created your animation?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12
 Teaching Pack: Othello

4. What will you do differently when you create your next animation?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. List three ways that your animation could help other learners understand and revise the text or part of the text you have animated.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What advice would you give about creating animations?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13
Teaching Pack: Othello

Worksheet 4: Text summary

In Venice, the well-respected Moor Othello and Desdemona, a Senate’s daughter, fall in love
and they elope to get married. That same night, lago, an officer to the Moor, and Roderigo, a
young nobleman, try to disrupt the marriage by telling Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, of his
daughter’s elopement and he angrily goes to find the couple, but is then summoned to an
urgent Senate meeting. He complains to the Senate of his daughter’s apparent abduction.
Othello describes how he won Desdemona’s love with tales of his escapades as a soldier, and
she confirms her love for her new husband, so the Duke agrees to the marriage. The meeting
of the Senate had been called to discuss the threat of the Turkish fleet heading for Cyprus. As
a great war general, Othello is ordered to head immediately for Cyprus to fight the Turks.
Video 1 Othello asks Iago, to look after Desdemona and bring her to Cyprus to join him there.
Although Othello trusts Iago completely, Iago wants revenge on the Moor, because he did not
promote him to the post of lieutenant. Iago has already tried to get Othello’s marriage stopped.
Iago, who is in love with Desdemona, has been taking money and jewels from Roderigo on the
understanding that he will pass them to Desdemona so that she would favour Roderigo’s suit.
Roderigo is angry now that Desdemona is married, but Iago persuades him to help him get
revenge on Othello, and on Cassio too, who is the officer promoted over Iago to lieutenant.
Cassio is a young and handsome officer. Iago already dislikes him because he is lieutenant;
later, Iago suggests he begrudges Cassio his status, gallantry and attractiveness to women.
Iago devises a plan to convince Othello his wife and Cassio are having an affair.

When they all get to Cyprus, they discover the threat of war is over, because the Turkish fleet
has been destroyed in a storm. To further his scheme, Iago convinces Roderigo that
Desdemona is in love with Cassio, and that if Cassio is disgraced, he will be dismissed, so
clearing Roderigo’s route to Desdemona.
To mark the end to the threat of war in Cyprus, Othello decrees that celebrations for peace are
to be held. He orders Cassio to take charge of the watch that night. Iago overcomes Cassio’s
objections to drinking and insists he has several glasses of wine. He persuades Roderigo to
provoke Cassio in a rowdy fight. When Othello investigates, Iago pretends to defend Cassio to
Othello, while making sure Othello knows that Cassio was drunk on duty and was to blame for
the fighting. Othello dismisses Cassio from his post as lieutenant.
The next day, Desdemona pleads with Othello to reinstate Cassio to his post as lieutenant.
However, Iago has already suggested to Othello that Desdemona is pleading Cassio’s case
because she loves Cassio. He reasons that it is well-known that Venetian women deceive their
Video 2 husbands, that Desdemona has already deceived her father, and that it is more natural for her
to be attracted to someone of her own country and status, like Cassio. Othello trusts Iago and
is now suspicious of Desdemona, but he demands proof of her affair. He acts harshly towards
Desdemona, who wonders whether some business of state has affected him. Emilia suggests
he seems jealous, but Desdemona swears she has never given him any reason to be jealous.
To provide the ‘proof’ he demands, Iago has asked Emilia to steal a precious handkerchief
given to her by Othello and has planted this in Cassio’s lodgings. He tells Othello to hide so
that he can watch and overhear Cassio boast to Iago of his affair with Desdemona. In fact, Iago
talks to Cassio about his real lover, Bianca, whereas Othello believes Cassio is talking about
Desdemona. By chance, Bianca arrives with the handkerchief from Cassio’s lodgings and
accuses him of having another lover. Othello is now convinced of the affair and is so enraged
that he discusses with Iago how to murder Cassio. He is torn between love and hate of
Desdemona. Iago advises how to kill her, by strangling her in the marital bed, and Othello
agrees. Iago agrees to kill Cassio that night.

14
 Teaching Pack: Othello

Despite questioning Emilia and Desdemona herself, who protests her innocence, Othello
doesn’t believe her. Later, as Desdemona prepares for bed, she is disturbed by Othello’s
attitude to her and she talks of death. Ominously, she can’t get out of her mind a song sung by
her mother’s maid, Barbary, whose lover went mad and left her, and she then died singing that
song. Desdemona poignantly sings the same song, which echoes her own sadness and her
own approaching death.
Iago prompts Roderigo to attack Cassio in the street. He hopes both die in the fight, but Cassio
wounds Roderigo, and Iago (unseen) wounds Cassio in the leg. Othello hears the fight,
assumes Cassio is dead by Iago’s hand, as per their plan, and goes to kill Desdemona.
Meanwhile, Iago finds Roderigo and kills him.
Othello sets out his reasons for killing Desdemona; he judges that she deserves it to prevent
her betraying others. He tells her to pray for forgiveness before she dies. Desdemona is scared
but affirms her love for him. Othello accuses her of giving the handkerchief to Cassio, which
Video 3 she denies, but Othello is convinced he has proof of it. He tells her Cassio is now dead. He
begins to smother Desdemona, but Emilia interrupts and tells him Roderigo is dead, and
Cassio lives. In her death throes, Desdemona cries out, then takes the blame for her own
death, and dies. Emilia is shocked. Othello denies killing her, then admits it, and tells of her
affair with Cassio with proof supplied by Iago, at which Emilia is horrified and shouts for help.
After Iago arrives, she denounces him by confessing that she took the handkerchief at his
request and gave it to him. Iago kills her with his sword.
When Othello realises Desdemona was innocent, he is overcome with regret and despair. In
anger, he attacks and wounds Iago, who refuses to confess. Cassio confirms they never had
an affair, that he found the handkerchief in his rooms, and that letters found in Roderigo’s
pockets confirm Iago’s instructions to him to attack Cassio. Othello makes his last speech,
reminding everyone of his service to the state, and of Iago’s trickery, then kills himself in regret
and grief. Iago’s punishment is left to Cassio, who has now been appointed governor of
Cyprus.

15
Teaching Pack: Othello

Worksheet 5: Character summaries and quotations

Othello
Othello is a general who is well-regarded as an experienced military commander, a dependable, level-
headed nobleman. His personal title of Moor suggests he is of royal descent and black. He speaks well.
Despite differences in age and race, he wins the love of a young Venetian Senator’s daughter, Desdemona,
with tales of his dramatic military escapades.
However, Othello seems inexperienced at moving in Venetian society, and also as a lover and husband.
When Iago takes revenge against him, by suggesting to Othello that his wife is having a love affair with
Cassio, Othello becomes jealous. He mistakenly trusts Iago as a loyal officer, and doesn’t immediately go to
Desdemona for an explanation, but demands proof of the affair from Iago, which Iago stage-manages and
convinces him of the lie.
Othello feels betrayed by Desdemona and his jealousy is deliberately inflamed by Iago in crude descriptions
of the two supposed lovers together, so much that he becomes overwrought and suffers a fit. His hatred of
Cassio becomes so extreme that he arranges for Iago to kill him. He is torn between the extremes of love
and hate for Desdemona, and finds it hard to think clearly, but with prompting from Iago, he decides she
deserves to die. He finally confronts her with her supposed love for Cassio, but is so enraged with jealousy
that he is unable to believe her protestations of innocence – and he smothers her.
When he discovers her innocence and Iago’s evil plot, he is distraught at the enormity of what he’s done,
deeply regrets it, and honourably kills himself.

Quotation This suggests…

Duke: ‘Your son-in-law is far more fair than The Duke speaks to Brabantio, revealing how
black.’ highly he regards Othello.
(Act 1, Scene 3, Line 290)

Othello: ‘She lov’d me for the dangers I had Othello explains to the Senate how two such
pass’d; / And I lov’d her that she did pity them.’ different people as himself and Desdemona came
to fall in love.
(Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 167–168)

Iago: ‘The Moor is of a free and open nature /
That thinks men honest that but seem to be so; /
And will as tenderly be led by th’ nose / As asses
are.’
(Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 393–396)
Iago speaks to the audience, revealing how he
despises Othello for being easy to trick; he
intends to abuse Othello’s trusting nature.

Othello: ‘I think my wife be honest, and think she Othello speaks to Iago. He shows how he is
is not; / I think that thou art just, and think thou art tormented by doubting Desdemona’s fidelity, and
not. / I’ll have some proof. Her name, that was as longs to know for certain.
fresh / As Dian’s visage, is now begrim’d and
black / As mine own face. If there be cords or
knives, / Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams, /
I’ll not endure it.’
(Act 3, Scene 3, Lines 388–394)

Othello: ‘…one that lov’d not wisely, but too well; / At the end of the play, Othello gives us his own
Of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought, / opinion of himself – which is open to question.
Perplexed in the extreme…’
(Act 5, Scene 2, Lines 347–349)

16
 Teaching Pack: Othello

Desdemona

Desdemona is a Senator’s daughter, and could have chosen a man from Venetian society to marry, but she
falls in love with Othello, and chooses to evade her father’s disapproval by eloping to get married. She shows
strength of character by firmly defending this decision in front of all the noblemen in the Senate, and
choosing to join Othello in Cyprus; later, she maintains her support for her friend Cassio in the face of
Othello’s wrath. She stands up to Othello when he hits her by claiming she has not deserved it. Despite his
harsh treatment of her, she avows her love for him, which is so strong that even as she dies, she tries to
protect him by claiming she has killed herself.
The difficulty she faces is that at first she doesn’t realise why Othello has changed towards her, or what
Othello suspects her of doing. She is so innocent herself that when Emilia suggests he is jealous, she does
not give the idea any credit because she can hardly believe that some women are capable of being unfaithful
to their husbands. Like all other characters, she trusts Iago completely and even asks his advice on how to
reconcile with Othello, never suspecting that it is Iago who has caused Othello to doubt her.
Desdemona becomes downhearted and melancholic as she is unable to dispel Othello’s distrust of her,
despite having done nothing to deserve it. She has tried to please him by doing as he asks, but she is
horrified by his accusations of an affair with Cassio and is frightened by the intensity of his anger. She
fervently maintains her innocence, even as Othello is smothering her. He believes he has seen proof of her
affair and her denials inflame his jealousy further. Perhaps she believes she is remaining true to her love for
him by blaming herself for her death, rather than him, but some of the audience may disagree with her.

Quotation This suggests…

Desdemona: ‘I do perceive here a divided duty’ Desdemona is confident enough not only to
acknowledge what she owes her father, but also
(Act 1, Scene 3, Line 181)
to insist she now has a duty to her new husband.

Brabantio: ‘She has deceiv’d her father, and Brabantio’s warning to Othello of Desdemona’s
may thee.’ trickery ominously suggests problems to come.
(Act 1, Scene 3, Line 293)

Desdemona: ‘…my love doth so approve him /
That even his stubbornness, his checks, his
frowns – / – have grace and favour in them.’
(Act 4, Scene 3, Lines 18–20)
Despite Othello’s harsh treatment of her,
Desdemona suggests the extent of her love of
him to Emilia by saying she even loves him when
he treats her badly.

Desdemona: ‘Beshrew me, if I would do such a Discussing women’s infidelity, Desdemona

wrong / for the whole world.’ asserts her innocence to Emilia.
(Act 4, Scene 3, Line 76)

Desdemona: ‘A guiltless death I die.’
Emilia: ‘O, who hath done this deed?’
Desdemona: ‘Nobody. I myself. Farewell. /
Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell!
[She dies.]
(Act 5, Scene 2, Lines 125–8)
Desdemona’s final words here assert both her
innocence of Othello’s accusations of infidelity,
and her desire not to blame him, but to take
responsibility for her death onto herself out of
love for him.

17
Teaching Pack: Othello

Iago

Iago is the villain of the play. He holds the military post of Othello’s ancient, but resents the fact that Othello
overlooked him for promotion to lieutenant, a post given to Cassio, and plots revenge against him. We first
see the extent of Iago’s villainy with Roderigo. Iago easily tricks him into giving him money and jewels, which
are ostensibly for Desdemona so that she will agree to meet with him. He uses Roderigo to further his
revenge, firstly to disgrace Cassio into losing his post as lieutenant, then to try to kill Cassio. Roderigo
becomes a danger to Iago, who then callously kills him.
Iago shares with the audience how he will pretend to be loyal as he cynically exploits his victims’
characteristics or weaknesses. He uses Othello’s relative inexperience in society to suggest it would be
natural for Desdemona to be unfaithful to him. He uses Cassio’s courtesy and charm to portray him as her
illicit lover. He exploits Desdemona’s innocence to accuse her of betraying her husband, an act which she
can hardly believe a wife would do.
The audience watches Iago manipulate his victims. He enjoys pretending to be honest, and revels in his own
cleverness in exploiting any opportunity that arises to further his plans. For example, he uses Cassio’s
reluctance to face Othello, due to shame of his drunken behaviour, to hint of a suspicious liaison between
him and Desdemona because he sneaks away guiltily. By pretending to be loyal to Othello, Iago can pretend
to have his interests at heart. Thus he pretends to warn him about the dangers of jealousy, while introducing
the idea to Othello. Iago inflames Othello’s jealousy with graphic descriptions of the lovers together. When
Othello demands proof of their affair, Iago cleverly stage-manages a conversation with Cassio about his
lover Bianca, so that Othello believes he overhears Cassio talking about Desdemona. Othello is so enraged
with jealousy that his immediate desire is for Cassio’s death, which Iago undertakes. Iago then typically
introduces the idea of Desdemona’s death by pretending to plead for Othello to let her live.
Iago is finally denounced by his wife. He refuses to account for his actions and announces that he will not
speak again. His punishment is left to Cassio, as the new governor of Cyprus.

Quotation This suggests…

Iago: ‘I know my price, I am worth no worse a Here Iago suggests to Roderigo that he deserved
place.’ the post of lieutenant instead of Cassio.
(Act 1, Scene 1, Line 11)

Iago: ‘So will I turn her virtue in to pitch.’
(Act 2, Scene 3, Line 327)
Iago uses the antithesis of ‘virtue’ and ‘pitch’ to
emphasise the extent of his own cleverness. He
tells the audience how he will use Desdemona’s
kindness to suggest she is guilty of an affair.

Iago: ‘O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; / It is the
green-ey’d monster which doth mock / The meat
it feeds on.’
(Act 3, Scene 3, Lines 169-171)
Iago pretends to warn Othello against the
‘monster’ of jealousy. When Othello claims he is
not jealous, Iago says he is glad, because he can
safely give him details of his wife’s affair.

Iago: ‘…strangle her in her bed, / even the bed Iago shows the extent of his control over Othello
she hath contaminated.’ by telling him how and where to kill Desdemona.
(Act 4, Scene 1, Lines 203-4)

Iago: ‘From this time forth I never will speak Even after being denounced, Iago maintains
word.’ control by refusing to account for his actions.
(Act 5, Scene 2, Line 307)

18
 Teaching Pack: Othello

Create your own character summaries:

Chapter Quotation This suggests…

Chapter Quotation This suggests…

Chapter Quotation This suggests…

19
Teaching Pack: Othello

Worksheet 6: Character animations

Othello (The Moor)

Desdemona

The Duke / Brabantio

Iago

Rodrigo

20
 Teaching Pack: Othello

Cassio

Amelia

21
Teaching Pack: Othello

Worksheet 6: Character animations (blank)

22
Teaching Pack: Othello

23
Teaching Pack: Othello

Worksheet 7: Quiz
1. Who is Roderigo in love with?
A) Emilia
B) Desdemona
C) Bianca
D) All three

2. Why is an urgent Senate meeting called by the Duke in Venice?

A) …to charge Othello with abducting Desdemona.
B) …to decide who should be appointed Governor of Cyprus.
C) …to plan fighting the Turkish fleet which is threatening Cyprus.
D) …to find ways of raising money to build war ships.

3. What object does Iago use as apparent ‘proof’ of Desdemona and Cassio’s affair?
A) a necklace
B) a shawl
C) a ring
D) a handkerchief

4. What is Cassio’s weakness?

A) lemonade
B) handkerchiefs
C) alcoholic drink
D) chocolate cake

5. What happened to the Turkish fleet?

A) It was destroyed in a storm.
B) It was defeated in battle.
C) It turned round and fled.
D) It was captured by pirates.

24
 Teaching Pack: Othello

6. Who is Bianca in love with?

A) Lodovico
B) Cassio
C) Montano
D) Gratiano

7. What advice does Iago give Cassio in order to get his post back as Othello’s lieutenant?
A) …to ask Othello to reinstate him.
B) …to give Iago money to ask Othello to reinstate him.
C) …to ask Desdemona to plead with Othello to reinstate him.
D) …to write to the Duke to ask him to tell Othello to reinstate him.

8. Why does Emilia steal Desdemona’s handkerchief?

A) She thinks it’s pretty.
B) She thinks it’s valuable.
C) She wants to copy its embroidery.
D) Iago asked her to steal it for him.

9. Why does Iago want to take revenge on Cassio?

A) …because of his promotion to lieutenant.
B) …because he speaks many languages.
C) …because of his bravery in battle.
D) …because he is rich.

10. What are Iago’s last words in the play?

A) ‘Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation!’
B) ‘…one that loved not wisely, but too well’
C) ‘I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.’
D) ‘From this time forth I never will speak word.’

25
Teaching Pack: Othello

Worksheet 7: Quiz answers

1. Who is Roderigo in love with?
Answer: B

2. Why is an urgent Senate meeting called by the Duke in Venice?

Answer: C

3. What object does Iago use as apparent ‘proof’ of Desdemona and Cassio’s affair?
Answer: D

4. What is Cassio’s weakness?

Answer: C

5. What happened to the Turkish fleet?

Answer: A

6. Who is Bianca in love with?

Answer: B

7. What advice does Iago give Cassio in order to get his post back as Othello’s lieutenant?
Answer: C

8. Why does Emilia steal Desdemona’s handkerchief?

Answer: D

9. Why does Iago want to take revenge on Cassio?

Answer: A

10. What are Iago’s last words in the play?

Answer: D Act 5, Scene 2, line 307

26
Cambridge Assessment International Education
The Triangle Building, Shaftsbury Road, Cambridge, CB2 8EA, United Kingdom
t: +44 1223 553554
e: info@cambridgeinternational.org www.cambridgeinternational.org

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023 v2