Othello Soliloquy

Writing Workshop

Workshop Title: Jealousy

Step 1

Ask your students, “How do you act or feel when you’re jealous? Or how have you seen others react or behave when they’re jealous?” Briefly discuss.

Step 2

Watch the scene from William Shakespeare’s Othello. In this scene, Othello, a Venetian military General who has been falsely misled that his wife has been cheating on him, sits on the bed next to his sleeping wife, Desdemona, and contemplates his decision to murder her. When you’re done, simply discuss his emotions throughout the scene.

Step 3

Say, “Take a few minutes to think about your own experiences (or observations) that touch upon the nature of jealousy. What did you see or feel? How did you (or others) react?” Then give them a few minutes to brainstorm.

Step 4

Ask your students to compose a poem that addresses the nature of jealousy. The poem does not necessarily need to be a first-person account, like the soliloquy, but it should touch on the types of feelings and emotions manifest themselves when one is consumed with jealousy.

Step 5

When the students are done, have them share their responses with one another.

The full presentation may be found HERE.

Analytical Lesson

Area of Focus: Various

Step 1

This lesson allows students to analyze various concepts and skills, so it is recommended that you have covered several of the “standalone” lessons before assigning this one.

Step 2

Watch the following clip from the episode “Burning Low” from Adventure Time. When the clip is over, ask your students about the nature of jealousy, as depicted in the cartoon. Briefly discuss.

Step 3

Ask your students to open the following document and go over the instructions with them. In this assignment, your students will analyze a soliloquy from William Shakespeare’s Othello and examine how jealousy manifests itself in that specific scene. Then give your students time to work.

Step 4

When the students are done, have them share their responses with the rest of the class. If you’d like, you may share the following exemplar response.