Othello: Critical Approaches

Lesson rationale

This activity allows students to consider how different critical approaches can influence a reading of the play. Students will work in groups to explore different attitudes to Othello by looking at a range of texts from the past, including images from earlier productions. Exploring these texts will stimulate discussion and provide a rich context for tackling some of the key issues which confront contemporary directors and audiences of the play.

Key questions in this lesson:

• How do differing views of critics help us shape an individual response to the play?
• How does Shakespeare use the key characters to address ideas about race and identity?
• How do different portrayals of these characters reflect changes in social context?