Susan

Kent
LAE5064

Othello Reading Ladder
12th Grade

Shakespeare, W. (1997). Othello. E. A. J. Honigmann (Ed.). Bedford Row, London:
Cengage Learning.

This play is an intricate web of manipulation and deceit based on envy and
insecurity. Iago plots to destroy Othello when Othello gave Cassio a promotion that
Iago felt should have been his. Iago then ensnares the unsuspecting cast members in
his machinations as they do his bidding, and then they proceed to destroy each
other. As we explore the text, we must also ponder the questions: What is Iagos
ultimate manipulation? Or rather who?

Johannesburg Market Theatre Production (Producer), & Suzman, J. (Director).
(1987). William Shakespeares Othello (Motion Picture). South Africa: Market
Theatre Company.

This is a movie adaptation of a theater production of Othello that was performed in
Apartheid Johannesburg. The theater set-up and stage are similar to The Globe in
London, wooden planks and all, which allows students to see the play come to life
through snippets of action. There are no scenes cut and no special effects in this
play, allowing students to appreciate the differences between an historical theatrical
production of the Renaissance period and a play or movie that might be produced
today.

Shmoop University, Inc. (Producer). (2013, September 11). Othello summary by
Shmoop. Video retrieved from
http://youtu.be/upmMKz1PuMU

This fast-paced, animated 3-minute summary is told from Iagos point of view. It is
quite accurate, albeit surface driven, but will serve as an excellent overview for
students to put all of the characters in some semblance of order.

Fitzgerald, F. S. (2004). The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner.

As Othello is taught as a 12th grade text, and the students will have read The Great
Gatsby in their previous year as 11th graders, Gatsby is an excellent companion on
the topic of envy. Gatsby worshipped the idea of Daisy and envied the life Tom had
with her. Everything Gatsby did and worked for was with the ultimate goal of
attaining his idealDaisy. However, all of his work was for naught, because in the
end his insecurities and envy left him alone and dead.

Crescent Entertainment (Producer). (2012, September 24). Shakespeares Sonnet

116: Kinetic typography animation. Video retrieved from
http://youtu.be/mToZnIVCwAs

This interesting, animated version of Shakespeares Sonnet 116 will expose students
to iambic pentameter rhyme scheme, which will help prepare them for the rhyme
and meter of the play. This will also facilitate discussion regarding the difficulty of
composing a play in this rhyme scheme, and help students look for situations when
blank verse is used throughout the play.

Paramount Pictures (Producer), & Waters, M. (Director). (2004). Mean Girls (Motion
Picture). United States: Warner Bros.

The classroom discussion will be centered on comparing and contrasting Regina
George and her machinations to Iago and his manipulations. Questions to ponder:
Was Regina George successful in the end? Was Iago successful in the end? How did
they both play on other peoples insecurities? What positive qualities did they each
share? Negative qualities? Why are they both such good manipulators?

Shakespeare, W. (2009). Manga
Shakespeare, W. (2008).
Shakespeare: Othello. R. Appignanesi
Othello (Graphic Shakespeare).
(Adapter), R. Osada (Illustrator),
V. Godwin (Adapter), C. Allen
New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams
(Illustrator). Edina, MN: ABDO
Publishing.
Publishing Co.


The manga and graphic novels will be used to compare and contrast the depictions
of the characters in each of the novels. Why is Othello portrayed in a white light with
angel wings in the manga novel, while he is dark and sinister in the graphic novel?
These and other questions of illustration choice for Othello and other characters will
be explored. Also, the text in the manga novel has been adapted while the text in the
graphic novel stays true to one of Shakespeares original renditions. We will also
compare and contrast the texts of each of the novels.


Roccanti, R. (2011). Green-eyed monster [Photograph].

This photograph illustrates the green-eyed monster of jealousy of which Iago
accused Othello of being consumed. It also alludes to the candle that is Desdemonas
life, which will be snuffed out by Othello. During class discussion, we will look at the
different interpretations students draw from this photograph.


Folger Library, (Producer). (2011, October 24). Green-eyed monster | A scene from
Othello, III.3. Video retrieved from
http://youtu.be/JOjSebTLBNU

Shakespeare has been attributed with the creation of many words and phrases, but
this is perhaps one of his most famous. Iago accuses Othello of being the green-eyed
monster of jealousy in Act III, Scene 3 of the play.

Aesop. (620560 BCE). Avaricious and envious. B. Hamilton (ed.) Retrieved from
http://www.aesopsfables.net/?FableID=54&searchterms

Aesops Fable: Avaricious and Envious
Two neighbours came before Jupiter and prayed him to grant their hearts' desire.
Now the one was full of avarice, and the other eaten up with envy. So to punish them
both, Jupiter granted that each might have whatever he wished for himself, but only
on condition that his neighbour had twice as much. The Avaricious man prayed to
have a room full of gold. No sooner said than done; but all his joy was turned to grief
when he found that his neighbour had two rooms full of the precious metal. Then
came the turn of the Envious man, who could not bear to think that his neighbour
had any joy at all. So he prayed that he might have one of his own eyes put out, by
which means his companion would become totally blind.
Exploration of this fable helps students understand the moral that envy leads to
unhappiness.



Bosch, H. (1485). The seven deadly sins and the last four things [Painting].
Retrieved from
http://www.wikiart.org/en/hieronymus-bosch/the-seven-deadly-sins-and-
the-four-last-things-1485

This depiction by Hieronymus Bosch is an excellent starting point to discuss the
seven deadly sins: gluttony, lust, pride, sloth, wrath, greed, and envy. In Othello,
Shakespeare clearly determined that envy is the greatest of these sins, which is the
basis for Iagos manipulation and the destruction of the characters in the play.