The short scene at the start of Act I scene iii, when the Duke and his advisors work out what to do about the Turkish fleet, prefigure significant issues in Othello: how to judge, how to weigh evidence, how to get to the truth.
Read MoreAn analysis of the opening scene of Othello, looking at how Shakespeare presents us with ideas of how we can or can not ‘know’ truths, and how we can or can not be ‘satisfied.’
Read MoreGraham Bradshaw’s short commentary on Othello is provocative and thought-provoking.
Read MoreThe second in a revision series using quotations from Othello, by Act.
Read MoreOthello: Language and Writing by Laurie Maguire, Professor of English at Oxford University, is in the Student Skills series from Arden Shakespeare, but is also an excellent refresher for teachers.
Read MoreThe first in a revision series using quotations from Othello, by Act.
Read MoreThis collection of re-tellings of 37 plays is highly recommended for children, and will also be useful for adults.
Read MoreJamal Ajala performs ‘To be or not to be’ in BSL: an opportunity for an interesting exercise in class.
Read MoreThe final post in a series of 6 for pupils revising Macbeth. Here are 10 key quotations: think about their significance and write notes before reading the analyses.
Read MoreEssay 5 in a series on Macbeth looks at the end, particularly the key speech ‘Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow.’
Read MoreThe fourth in a series of essays on Macbeth looks at the impact of the supernatural.
Read MoreThe third in a series of essays on Macbeth looks at a possible ‘hero’ of the play, Duncan’s son Malcolm.
Read MoreLady Macbeth is not a one-dimensional ‘fiend’ but rather a complex, living human being. This essay examines her nine appearances in the play.
Read MoreThe first in a series of posts on Macbeth starts with the most important moment in the play, the soliloquy ‘If it were done…’
Read MoreHere are some exercises on quotations in King Lear. They are designed for pair-work 10-minute sessions in class, but work perfectly well for individuals.
Read MoreAn annual personal choice of books of the year.
Read MoreHere are the slides from my two presentations at the (virtual) conference of the Irish National Teachers of English on November 28th.
Read MoreThe tagline for this site is Thinking, Writing, Reading, Teaching, and you may have spotted that Shakespeare features regularly. So it’s exciting to come across a book which combines all five elements.
Read MoreEmma Smith’s This is Shakespeare is one of the best books of recent times to examine the plays (20 of them). This post looks at her chapter on Othello.
Read MoreAct 5: Quizlet flashcards for recalling and thinking about quotations.
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