A historical tragedy set in the sixteenth century, Othello is derived from an Italian novella. The play explores the human heart’s struggle with jealousy, pride, and deceit. Each character, manipulated by Iago, is caught by his or her own weakness.

Students compare the dramatic clock with real time, write character word portraits, chart Iago’s tactics of destruction, and explore puns and symbols. They also discuss the lack of communication between characters, examine illustrations of the Globe theater, and create a Jeopardy!-like game.
Supplementary materials include essay topics and a test with answer key.