Starter quiz
- Which of the below could be seen as examples of jealousy?
- feeling resentful that one's partner is attracted to someone else ✓
- feeling resentful of someone's achievements that you lack ✓
- feeling sad about your personal circumstances
- having control over someone
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- How is Iago jealous in 'Othello'?
- he resents Cassio's promotion ✓
- he resents Brabantio having a daughter
- he resents Othello supposedly sleeping with his wife, Emilia ✓
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- Jacobean women were expected to be ...
- chaste. ✓
- obedient. ✓
- out-spoken.
- bold.
- devious.
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- In Shakespeare's 'Othello', how is Othello a victim of the society he lives in?
- he is rejected by the woman he loves due to being an outsider
- he is subject to prejudice because of his status as outsider ✓
- he cannot work in a high rank because of his status as an outsider
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- In 'Othello', how is Othello's jealousy shown to be all-consuming and how could its effect be linked to pride?
- he kills Cassio as Cassio publicly humiliates him
- he kills Desdemona as her infidelity threatens his male dominance ✓
- he kills Iago as his scheming ruins his reputation
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- How are the patriarchy and jealousy linked in 'Othello'?
- jealousy is most significant and detrimental to male characters ✓
- jealousy is mostly felt by the female characters
- men are jealous of women's position of little responsibility
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Exit quiz
- In the play 'Othello', which character's jealousy precedes Othello's jealousy?
- Iago ✓
- Cassio
- Desdemona
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- What is a societal root of Iago's jealousy about Cassio's promotion in 'Othello'?
- female chastity
- male pride and dominance ✓
- insular society
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- Why is Desdemona and Emilia's supposed infidelity so alarming to Iago and Othello in the play 'Othello'?
- both women swore they would never be unfaithful, they go against their promises
- women were expected to be chaste, being unfaithful breaks this expectation ✓
- women were expected to be obedient, being unfaithful subverts this expectation ✓
- both women operate in secrecy to charm the men that their husbands hate
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- In the play 'Othello', how does Desdemona's supposed infidelity put Othello in a vulnerable situation?
- being cuckolded was associated with emasculation, humiliation and loss of honour ✓
- he loses his fortune that is tied up with her family
- he will be exiled from Venice if they divorce
- he will lose his position as general
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- How could Othello's outsider status be linked to his downfall, over his jealousy in the play 'Othello'?
- his outsider status leads Desdemona to reject him
- his outsider status leads him to insecurity and jealousy ✓
- his outsider status leads him to let Cassio woo his wife
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- What could Shakespeare's message be when it comes to jealousy in 'Othello'?
- jealousy will kill you
- jealousy does not operate in isolation, societal factors catalyse jealousy ✓
- jealousy only occurs in men
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Lesson Details
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.
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.
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.
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