Haslingden High School English Faculty HOMEWORK BOOKLET Year 8 - Block A - Shakespeare

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1 Haslingden High School English Faculty HOMEWORK BOOKLET Year 8 - Block A - Shakespeare Name: Form: Subject Teacher: Date Given: Date to Hand in: Effort: House Points: WWW: IOTI: Parent / Guardian Comment:

2 Reading Task 1 William Shakespeare is England s greatest writer, famous for his plays and poetry. His plays can be divided into comedies, histories and tragedies. Othello is one of Shakespeare s tragedies. Read the following summary of Othello and answer the questions that follow. 1. The play begins on a street in Venice. Desdemona, the daughter of a rich, white Venetian, has married Othello, a general of African descent. He has an ensign (assistant) called Iago, who has served him for many years. Iago is angry because another man called Cassio has been promoted above him by Othello. He hates both Othello and Cassio and vows to plot against them both to get his revenge. 2. At Othello s lodgings, Cassio arrives with an urgent message: Othello s help is needed to defend Cyprus from the Turks who are about to invade the island. Desdemona insists that she accompany her husband on his trip and they depart that night. 3. Othello arrives in Cyprus, greets his wife, and announces that there will be a party that night. He does not realise that his ensign Iago is plotting to break up his marriage to Desdemona. Iago plans to pretend to Othello that his wife is in love with Cassio. 4. That night, Iago gets Cassio drunk and he gets involved in a fight. When Othello demands to know who began the fight, Iago tells him it was Cassio s fault. Othello then takes away Cassio s rank of lieutenant. Cassio is extremely upset as his good reputation has been ruined forever.

3 5. Iago is very cunning and drops hints to Othello that his new wife is not to be trusted and he should be suspicious of Cassio. Desdemona accidentally drops her handkerchief and Iago uses it to convince Othello that his wife has been unfaithful. Othello vows to take vengeance on his wife and on Cassio. 6. Due to Iago s constant persuasion, Othello becomes so consumed by jealousy that he falls into a trance and has a fit of epilepsy. He comes round and Iago tricks him again into believing Cassio and his wife are guilty. Othello gets a letter from Venice calling him home and instating Cassio as his replacement. Othello is furious, strikes Desdemona and then storms out. 6. Later that night Othello accuses Desdemona of being unfaithful. She pleads with her husband telling him she is innocent. In the bedroom, his extreme jealousy drives him to suffocate her with a pillow. Too late, Iago s wife confesses the truth about her husband s plots to Othello and he realises his terrible mistake. He tries to kill Iago but is disarmed. The once noble Othello makes a speech about how he would like to be remembered, then kills himself with a sword he had hidden on his person. The play closes.

4 Answer the following questions; 1. Write down two facts about the character Othello from the first two sentences of the story Read paragraph 1. Explain why Iago is angry with Othello Read paragraph 2. Explain why Othello is ordered to go to Cyprus How does Iago plan to make Othello lose trust in his wife Desdemona? What object, belonging to Desdemona, does Iago use to convince Othello she is not faithful to him? How does Desdemona die? How does Othello die?......

5 7. In what way is Iago to blame for Desdemona s death? You could begin your answer like this: Iago hated his master Othello and wanted to ruin his life. He did this by In what way is Othello to blame for Desdemona s death? Who do you think is most responsible? Explain why. Othello was so jealous of his wife Desdemona he Considering both Iago and Othello s actions, I think that...

6 ... Literacy Task 2: Shakespeare s Insults All students complete this task Shakespeare is admired for his imaginative use of language. He is particularly good at insults. Choose words from each of the columns to create 10 insults. Make it an alliterative insult by choosing words that start with the same letter. Preface the insult with Thou and use them on your enemies! Students working at Level 5 and above: invent some of your own imaginative insults using two adjectives and a noun. Adjective Adjective Noun Bawdy Milk-livered clotpole Churlish Idle-headed Codpiece Fawning Hedge-born Jolthead Goatish Clay-brained Lout Loggerheaded Beef-witted Maggot-pie Mewling Clapper-clawed Measle Puking Fly-bitten Miscreant reeky Fat-kidneyed Fustilarian Puny Guts-griping Clack-dish

7 gorbellied Flap-mouthed Boar-pig E.G:- Answer page for Shakespearian insults 1. Thou mewling fly-bitten boar-pig

Research Task 4: Shakespeare and The Globe 1 hour) All students complete questions 1 to 4. Students working at Level 5 or above also complete questions 5 and 6.

9 Research Task 4: Shakespeare and The Globe 1 hour) All students complete questions 1 to 4. Students working at Level 5 or above also complete questions 5 and 6. A = The Heavens; the roof above the stage, supported by pillars. Characters could be lowered to the stage during a play. B = Gallery; used for action on an upper level or musicians. C = Inner Space; curtained area that could be opened up to show a new scene. The Globe: The Interior D A B C E D = Doors; used by the actors, leading from the stage to the tiring house (dressing rooms) F G E = Stage; the acting area was very big and had trapdoors so that actors could enter from beneath the stage. F = The three tiered gallery; the richer members of the audience would sit here. G = The Pit; standing space for the groundlings.

10 Study the picture of the inside of the Globe Theatre, London, where many of Shakespeare s plays were performed. Using the internet or the library, complete the following tasks: Find out the meanings of the following terms: 1. groundlings tiring rooms soliloquy What special effects were possible on the Elizabethan stage? Why were female roles performed by male actors in Shakespeare s time? Shakespeare s plays are divided into 3 main categories: tragedies, comedies and histories. What sort of play is a tragedy?... What sort of play is a comedy?

11 ... Find 4 titles of plays written by Shakespeare for each category. Tragedy Comedy History

12 Self-Assessment Spend some time thinking about the tasks you have completed reflecting on your strengths and weaknesses. Tick the box that most applies to you and total up your score. 1 = Much more improvement needed 5 = Excellent I spent appropriate time on the work I have attempted all the tasks to the best of my ability I planned my work carefully and spread the tasks out over the week I asked for help I checked my work carefully before handing it in What part did you ENJOY completing the most and why? Describe ONE thing you could do in future that would improve the quality of your work... Describe ONE thing that you have done that you are pleased with in this booklet.

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Othello Study Guide Questions

Othello Study Guide Questions Act I 1. Why is Iago angry at Othello? 2. What is revealed about Iago s character when he says, I am not what I am (line 71)? 3. What kind of imagery does Iago use in telling