Shakespeare’s Othello Unit – AP/H. English IV
Othello and Shakespearean sonnets – 2 weeks
How does Shakespeare use figurative language to explore the tragic hero?
Students will demonstrate an understanding of exposition, Machiavellian characters, Tragic Hero, Tragedy, Foil, Soliloquy, Monologue, anagnorisis, Archetype, Poetic Device, Irony, Imagery, Theme, Foreshadowing, Iambic Pentameter, and Formalist and Structuralism literary theory.
Students will research historical background on Othello including definitions of a tragedy and tragic hero as well as historical background, discuss Shakespearean drama and its classical models, take notes on Formalist and Structuralism literary theory, study a Shakespearean play focusing on the tragic figure, complete short in-class writing assignments to show their understanding of the text, annotate the text, read Shakespearean sonnets, create their own sonnet using standard conventions of a Shakespearean sonnet, write a timed essay on the text analyzing Othello as a tragic hero, and take a test on Othello.
*Prior to Day One students will have been given the King Lear Research handout and done the preliminary research
Introduction of Othello Historical Research handout
– Tragedy and Tragic Hero
– Renaissance Values
– Background on Othello
– Vocab-
- Machiavelli
- Tragic Hero
- Tragedy
- Foil
- Soliloquy
- Monologue
- Anagnorisis
- Archetype
- Poetic Device
- Hubris
- Irony
- Imagery
- Theme
- Foreshadowing
- Motif
PACING:
Day One – Anticipation Guide, Powerpoint Intro to Othello, and begin research project
HW: Work on research handout
Day Two – Finish reasearch handout
HW: Read Act I
Day Three – Notes on Formalist and Structuralism literary theory and Shakespeare’s Othello Act I Scene analysis
HW: Read Act II
Day Four – Discuss Act II; Shakespearean sonnets. Students create their own sonnet.
HW: Read Act III
Day Five – Discuss Act III; Share and grade Shakespearean sonnets
HW: Read Act IV
Day Six – Othello Scene cuts
HW: Read Act V
Day Seven – Finish scene cuts
Day Eight – Literary theories in Othello handout
Day Nine – Othello essay
Day Ten – Othello test
Handouts:
Othello-Introduction-and-Research 1
archaic_word_translation_sheet
Writing Your Own Shakespearean Sonnet
Shakespeare’s King Lear Unit – AP/H. English IV
*Prior to Day One students will have been given the King Lear Research handout and done the preliminary research
Introduction of King Lear Historical Research handout King Lear Introduction and Research
– Tragedy and Tragic Hero
– Renaissance Values
– Background on King Lear
– Vocab-
- Machiavelli
- Tragic Hero
- Tragedy
- Foil
- Soliloquy
- Monologue
- Anagnorisis
- Archetype
- Poetic Device
- Hubris
- Irony
- Imagery
- Theme
- Foreshadowing
- Motif
King Lear Introduction and Research
Handouts and Assignments:
Thank you for posting. I am stepping in for our lead teacher who is taking a sabbatical in the spring semester, and I will be teaching AP English. I’ve taught for 15 years but this will be my first stab at AP and I’m a bit nervous. I’m beginning the semester with Othello. While I love the play, this is the first time I am developing a unit on it, and your materials are giving me some great ideas. Thanks so much.