A-Level English Literature Summer Homework – Webquest

You’ll be studying Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ for examination and it will be the first English Literature text you will study when you join the college in year 12. In order to familiarise yourself with the play, please complete the following web based research tasks in order to be prepared to discuss the play in some detail when you attend your first lesson :

1. Look at this website below and get familiar with the play.

Then write a 300 – 500 word overview of the plot and themes of the play . http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/

2. Now have a look at the website below and read some of what it has to say about the theme of race in ‘Othello’. Then add to your notes from task one.

http://www.shmoop.com/othello/race-theme.html

3. Have a look at these 5 minute YouTube videos in which opinions on race and its importance in this play are discussed in relation to some very different and increasingly modern productions of ‘Othello’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KkdBNETIOM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrLvq1EcRH0

Note particularly Adrian Lester’s comments about the National Theatre 2013 production which he says “draws a line under” the idea that this play is about race.

4. Finally, go to the Royal Shakespeare website and read all about their 2015 production of Othello in which they make black and challenge every racial view of Othello which has gone before!

Do you think ‘Othello’ is primarily a play about racism? We suggest you watch a production of the play or a film of it, if you can. http://www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/othello/

5. There is a modern version of ‘Othello’ called ‘O’. It is American and set in a high school and was released 2001. This would be an easy and accessible introduction to what the film director believes Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ is about. What do you think? Here’s the YouTube link to the trailer to get you going:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz1NIOjkJi0

Don’t forget to bring all of your notes to your first lesson.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the play.