Get £10 off your first lesson on PMT Tuition. Use the code PMTAPRIL10 . Book before 30 April, new accounts only.
University of East Anglia - MA Creative Writing (Prose)
Friendly and approachable Cambridge graduate and PhD student, committed to making English accessible to all
Notes || Exam Prep || Character Profiles || Themes || Additional Reading & Videos
This text is included in Paper 1 . You can find notes and guides for it below.
- Literary Form
Additional Reading & Videos:
- Essay: Homosocial Desire and its Conversion to Homosexual Desire
- Essay: The Symbolic Significance of Desdemona’s Handkerchief
- Essay: Men, Women and War: An Examination of Gender Conflicts within Othello
- Thesis: Courtship, Love, and Marriage in Othello: Shakespeare’s Mockery of Courtly Love
- Essay: Too Gentle: Jealousy and Class in Othello
- Video: Racism in Othello
- Video: The Question of Race in Othello
- Film: Othello (modern-day adaptation, dir. Geoffrey Sax 2001)
- Film: Othello (filmed theatrical production, 1965)
Character Profiles
- Proximity and Distance
- Truth and Deception
Connect with PMT Education!
- Revision Courses
- Past Papers
- Solution Banks
- University Admissions
- Numerical Reasoning
- Legal Notices
Tragedy: Othello
One of the underlying strands of the play is tragedy. Othello is a play of personal tragedy, but it is also a tragedy of Venetian society. If the genre of tragedy is characterised by ‘serious’ subject matter, then Othello ticks this box.
- Othello is a great person (he is a general with strategic vision, who has risen from humble origins).
- The assault upon him made by Iago.
- His own blinkered vision of not seeing the truth.
- One reason why Othello might be particularly ripe for Iago’s plucking is that Iago can exploit his 'otherness' to bring out feelings of insecurity in Othello and encourage other characters to speak in racial slurs.
- As a tragic hero Othello does endures hamartia (a character flaw).
- Othello’s hamartia is his ability to be easily swayed by the words of another.
- A key aspect of this tragedy is Iago’s continued assault on Othello. - Iago manipulates him so that he believes Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio.
Consequences of Othello's hamartia
- When we think about this logically, there has barely been any time for Cassio and Desdemona to even see each other, let alone have an affair, and yet Othello’s flaw is to believe what he is told without ever questioning it.
- His hamartia leads to his own mental and physical breakdown, and the flaw contributes to the death of Desdemona and himself.
Anagnorisis
- Othello very much believes that the tragedy is brought about by other external factors, and not his own flaws.
- Towards the end of the play Othello finally goes through a process of recognition of his own mistake.
- In this, Othello experiences anagnorisis and sees the error of his ways.
- However, even then with Othello this moment does not last long.
- Although he sees it, he actually wallows in self-pity at the end. - It is not clear if the learning or knowledge he has gained really helps him. - It does, however, help the audience to understand that catharsis is at work.
The Genre of Tragedy
Aristotle's theory about tragedy does seem to work when applied to Othello .
Aristotle's theory
- The play is complex and shows the complicated process of how a character is manipulated through suspicion and jealousy to kill someone they love.
- This process shows much suffering, and when Othello comes to the point of anagnorisis, he truly suffers.
Aristotle cont.
- Othello is a character of high morals (this is shown in his dealings with the Duke of Venice at the start) but Shakespeare presents him knowing that all of these are now questioned by the way that they have acted.
- The play does offer spectacle because of the terrible and fearful nature of the final scene.
- The play does culminate in multiple deaths: Othello, Desdemona, Emilia and Roderigo.
Genre of tragedy
- Othello does show that the genre of tragedy is so much more than a play with a ‘sad ending’.
- As the audience watches the action unfold human experience is pushed to its limits.
Other characters
- This comes not only from the terrible lack of insight that Othello shows and the way he is manipulated by Iago, but also in the way in which minor characters such as Roderigo are so easily enveloped in the tragedy.
Dramatic irony
- The audience certainly goes through catharsis as the play progresses; and this feeling is dependant on how well Shakespeare works the dramatic irony of the play. Only the audience is privy to Iago’s plan.
1.1 Introduction
1.1.1 Specifications
1.2 Background
1.2.1 Shakespeare
1.2.3 Tragedy
1.2.4 Historical Context
1.3 Othello
1.3.1 Setting
1.3.2 Social Issues
2 Act One: Summaries & Themes
2.1 Act and Scene Summaries
2.1.1 Structure
2.1.2 The Exam
2.2 Scene One
2.2.1 Key Events
2.2.2 Key Themes
2.2.3 Key Ideas
2.3 Scene Two
2.3.1 Key Events
2.3.2 Key Themes
2.3.3 Key Ideas
2.4 Scene Three
2.4.1 Key Events
2.4.2 Key Events 2
2.4.3 Key Themes
2.4.4 Key Ideas
3 Act Two: Summaries & Themes
3.1 Scene One & Two
3.1.1 Scene One: Events
3.1.2 Key Events 2
3.1.3 Key Ideas: Love & Tragedy
3.1.4 Scene Two: Events
3.2 Scene Three
3.2.1 Key Events
3.2.2 Key Ideas
4 Act Three: Summaries & Themes
4.1 Key Events
4.1.1 Scene One & Two
4.1.2 Scene Three
4.1.3 Scene Three: Key Ideas
4.1.4 Scene Four
5.1 Scene One
5.1.1 Key Events
5.1.2 Key Ideas
5.2 Scene Two
5.2.1 Key Events
5.2.2 Key Ideas
5.3 Scene Three
5.3.1 Key Events
5.3.2 Key Ideas
6.1 Scene One
6.1.1 Key Events
6.1.2 Key Ideas
6.2 Scene Two
6.2.1 Key Events
6.2.2 Key Ideas
7 Character Profiles
7.1 Major Characters
7.1.1 Othello
7.1.3 Desdemona
7.1.4 Emilia
7.1.5 Cassio
7.2 Minor Characters
7.2.1 Roderigo & Brabantio
7.2.2 Other Characters
8 Key Themes
8.1 Love & Tragedy
8.1.2 Love 2
8.1.3 Tragedy
8.1.4 Tragedy 2
8.2 Other Key Themes
8.2.1 Public versus Private
8.2.2 Appearance & Reality
9 Writing Techniques
9.1 Writing Techniques
9.1.1 Structure
9.1.2 Genre
9.1.3 Form & Language
9.1.4 Language & Imagery
10 Critical Debates
10.1 Criticism & Performance
10.1.1 Shakespeare's Legacy
10.1.2 Traditional
10.1.3 Modern & Contemporary
10.2 Approaches
10.2.1 Feminist Approach
10.2.2 Psychoanalytic Approach
10.2.3 Marxist Approach
11 Approaching AQA English Literature
11.1 Specification A
11.1.1 Specification A
11.1.2 Love Through the Ages
11.2 Specification B
11.2.1 Specification B
11.2.2 Aspects of Tragedy
12 Issues of Assessment
12.1 The Exams
12.1.2 Mark Scheme
Jump to other topics
Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring
Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home
Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs
30+ school subjects covered
- Centre Services
- Associate Extranet
- All About Maths
Request blocked
This request has been blocked as part of the aqa security policy.
Your support ID is: 14772493162590395814
If you're seeing this message in error, call us on 0800 197 7162 (or +44 161 696 5995 outside the UK) quoting the support ID above.
Return to previous page
- International
- Schools directory
- Resources Jobs Schools directory News Search
Collection of Othello Essays for A level English Literature
Subject: English
Age range: 16+
Resource type: Worksheet/Activity
Last updated
21 June 2019
- Share through email
- Share through twitter
- Share through linkedin
- Share through facebook
- Share through pinterest
Essays written as exemplars for A level students studying Othello as part of the AQA Eng Lit B spec. Essay titles are as follows:
Section A of the exam – Othello Extract Question / Extract Act One, Scene Two Explore the significance of this extract in relation to the tragedy of the play as a whole
Section A of the exam, extract from Othello – Act 3, Scene 3 Explore the significance of the extract in relation to the tragedy of the play as a whole
Section B of the exam - Essay Question ‘Even if he had stayed within the controlling order of Venice, Othello’s tragic downfall was inevitable’. To what extent do you agree with this view?
Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?
Your rating is required to reflect your happiness.
It's good to leave some feedback.
Something went wrong, please try again later.
cricket8for48
Please can you supply the exact line references for the quotations used? Asap please.
Empty reply does not make any sense for the end user
Is it possible for you to supply me the exact line numbers or the starting line and finishing line for the two extract questions, please.
Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions. Our customer service team will review your report and will be in touch.
Not quite what you were looking for? Search by keyword to find the right resource:
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Band 5 response. It is true that in Act 1 of the play, Othello's actions and behaviour, his virtue and valour can be seen as admirable. He is after all a tragic hero, and his position in the tragedy demands that he begins in a position of greatness before he suffers his tragic fall. Shakespeare establishes Othello's greatness through focusing ...
Bradley's opinion of Othello is Othello's opinion of Othello - an opinion shown in the nineteen lines of ego inflating, trumpet blowing eulogy that Othello would like on his grave stone. Others are less forgiving, like Leavis, for example, who completely understands Othello's lies and apparent 'understatements'.
Accomplished Head of English: 10+ Years' Tutoring, Published Poet, and Astute Examiner with a 100% pass rate! £70 / hour. Qualified Teacher. Examiner. SEND. Graduate. Book Tutor. This text is included in Paper 1. You can find notes and guides for it below.
Time allowed: 2 hours 30 minutes. Materials. For this paper you must have: • an AQA 12-page answer book. Instructions. • Use black ink or black ball-point pen. • Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Paper Reference is 7717/1A. • Answer one question from Section A, one question from Section B and one ...
In this video, I walk you through each step of navigating an Othello extract question by using the AQA A-Level 2017 English Literature Paper 1 Section A on S...
Othello Exemplar Essays and Essay Plans (A-level) From AQA A-level English Literature A 'Love through the ages' (7711, 7712) -*I sat my exams in June 2018 and achieved an A grade. 'As lovers, Othello and Desdemona either worship or despise one another. There is no middle ground.'. 'Paradoxically, texts present jealousy as a destructive ...
Sample response. The extract has been taken from Act One Scene Two of William Shakespeare's tragic play Othello. In the scene previously the audience has witnessed Othello, a black military general, marry the upper class daughter of Brabantio, Desdemona. Othello and the antagonist of the play, Iago, are outside the saggitary in this extract ...
INSTRUCTIONS. Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The PAPER REFERENCE is 7712/1. In Section A you will answer ONE question about a Shakespeare play. In Section B you will answer the ONE question about unseen poetry. In Section C you will answer ONE question about TWO texts: ONE ...
Tragic hero. When Shakespeare constructed Othello he created a new kind of tragic hero. However, Othello is now one of the models for how a tragic hero operates. In believing Iago's lies, and in choosing to extinguish Desdemona's life, he opens himself up to tragic forces and chaos. At the beginning of the play Othello appears unshakeable.
This video runs down the assessment objectives for 'Othello' and how to apply them in your essay.Watch the rest of the Othello playlist: https://www.youtube....
Othello. as part of the AQA A Level in English Literature (B). At the end of the course, you will complete two essay questions on this play: - Extract analysis: identify and explore aspects of tragedy in the play (25 marks, 45 mins) - An essay responding to a strong opinion about the play (25 marks, 45 mins)
Instructions. Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Examining Body for this paper is AQA. The Paper Reference is 7712/1. In Section A you will answer one question about a Shakespeare play. In Section B you will answer one question about unseen poetry.
3 exemplar essays for Othello by Shakespeare. Detailed analysis of author's methods, explores historical context, critical interpretations and comparison to other texts. 'For all his manners of gallantry, Cassio has little respect for women.'. 'Brabantio's role as Desdemona's father and Roderigo's role as her suitor suggest that ...
Hamartia. As a tragic hero Othello does endures hamartia (a character flaw). Othello's hamartia is his ability to be easily swayed by the words of another. A key aspect of this tragedy is Iago's continued assault on Othello. . - Iago manipulates him so that he believes Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio.
I achieved an A* in AQA English Literature A Level - here are all my exemplar essays for different texts. There are 12 exemplar essays in total - 8 achieved 25/25, 3 achieved 24/25 and 1 achieved 23/25. These are all in Band 5 and high A* standard. An AQA Examiner marked these. Studying exemplar essays was the best and easiest way that got me ...
Sample response. The extract is taken from Act 1, Scene 3 of the play. It is an important extract in the play as it is the pivotal moment when Desdemona makes the decision to travel to Cyprus, a country struck by war with Othello, ultimately deciding the young couple's tragic fate. At the start of the extract we see Othello seeking to ensure ...
Each line consists of 10 syllables. Othello's use of this measured and poetical form creates an impression of a character who is stately and dignified. His speech is elevated and authoritative, as each line is evenly measured and the pattern of 'dee-DUM' stresses across the line steadies. the pace.
Question paper (Modified A4 18pt) (A-level): Paper 1 Love through the ages - June 2022. Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 181 KB. Question paper (Modified A3 36pt) (A-level): Paper 1 Love through the ages - June 2022. Published 14 Jul 2023 | PDF | 200 KB. Question paper (AS): Paper 1 Love through the ages: Shakespeare and poetry - June 2022.
Resource type: Assessment and revision. File previews. pdf, 11.6 MB. I achieved an A* in AQA English Literature A-Level. This is a revision bundle for the 25 marker on Shakespeare's Othello (Paper 1 Love Through the Ages) which I got full marks for in the final exam. It includes timed essay answers, with written teacher feedback, essay plans ...
docx, 14.44 KB. Essays written as exemplars for A level students studying Othello as part of the AQA Eng Lit B spec. Essay titles are as follows: Section A of the exam - Othello Extract Question / Extract Act One, Scene Two. Explore the significance of this extract in relation to the tragedy of the play as a whole.