Othello - Complete Reading, Discussion and Analysis

Name: Othello - Complete Reading, Discussion and Analysis
Rating: 3.6 (6 reviews)

Prepare for tests or exams, understand the play, and gain insight.

Created bySusan Traut Allin

Last updated 2/2025

English

What you'll learn

Learn about the Shakespearian period
Read and understand the play Othello
Identify themes and symbols in the play
Write coherent literature essays
Answer exam questions based on the text

Course content

8 sections • 54 lectures • 9h 21m total length

Introduction5:27

History of William Shakespeare5:20
Explore the life and legacy of William Shakespeare, a renowned English poet, playwright, and actor from Stratford-upon-Avon, whose 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and enduring stage influence define the English Renaissance.
The Globe Theatre3:39
Background to the Play3:20
Besides providing some information about the origin of the play, please check the Resources for the list of characters, or Dramatis Personae.

Act 1 Scene 110:45
Act 1 Scene 1 Translation11:39
Act 1 Scene 25:46
Othello faces Brabantio's accusation of enchantment and witchcraft while defending his honor and past deeds, as the duke summons him for urgent state business and a Cyprus mission.
Act 1 Scene 2 Translation6:35
Act 1 Scene 321:36
Act 1 Scene 3 Translation22:16
Othello defends his marriage to Desdemona before the Duke and senators amid a looming Turkish fleet, while Iago and Rodrigo scheme revenge and Cyprus deployment.
Act 2 Scene 117:53
Othello arrives in Cyprus amid news of a Turkish fleet and a tempest. Desdemona openly loves him as Iago begins weaving schemes that target Cassio and provoke jealousy.
Act 2 Scene 1 Translation18:18
Act 2, scene 1 translation presents Othello's arrival in Cyprus after the storm, Desdemona's reunion, and Iago's plan to manipulate Cassio and incite jealousy.
Act 2 Scenes 2 & 323:15
Attached under Resources you will find the sheet music for the songs in Scene 3. If you are able to play an instrument, why not print it out and play them?
Act 2 Scenes 2 & 3 Translation25:35
I am attaching the sheet music to the two songs in Act 2, Scene 3. If you are interested, you could print them out and play them (if you can play a musical instrument).
Act 3 Scene 13:05
Iago schemes to secure private access to Desdemona by fabricating a pretext and enlisting others, while the others discuss music and money as cover in act 3 scene 1.
Act 3 Scene 1 Translation3:45
Iago arranges Cassio's private chat with Desdemona in Cyprus, with Emilia guiding the plan to gain the general's favor through his wife.
Act 3 Scenes 2 & 327:06
Act 3 Scenes 2 & 3 Translation33:55
Act 3 Scene 410:39
Act 3 Scene 4 Translation13:59
Act 4 Scene 115:24
Act 4 Scene 1 Translation19:43
Iago incites Othello's jealousy by using Desdemona's supposed faithlessness, the handkerchief, Cassio's rumors, and Bianca's motives, steering toward murder as Lodovico arrives.
Act 4 Scene 213:45
Act 4 Scene 2 Translation13:38
Act 4 Scene 36:49
Act 4 Scene 3 Translation7:35
Act 5 Scene 19:30
Act 5 Scene 1 Translation12:29
Rodrigo confronts Cassio; Cassio wounds Rodrigo as Iago hides and gains control. Bianca and Emilia arrive; Iago manipulates the scene.
Act 5 Scene 221:09
Othello murders Desdemona in a jealous rage, relying on the handkerchief's trace and Iago's manipulation, as the scene shifts toward confession, tragedy, and a fatal end.
Act 5 Scene 2 Translation32:10

Act 114:09
Act 1 shows Iago’s duplicitous manipulation of Roderigo, highlighting appearance versus reality, race, and the fragile line between honesty and deceit.
Act 210:16
Examine how the storm marks unrest and foreshadows Iago's mischief in act 2. Compare Cassio's polished speech with Iago's manipulative deceit and the theme of reputation.
Act 314:26
Act 410:41
Iago escalates insinuations in act 4, pushing Othello toward jealousy and chaos as the handkerchief embodies Desdemona's supposed infidelity, revealing order's collapse into savagery.
Act 57:46

Requirements

Fluency in English

Description

Because Shakespeare's plays were written in 16th and 17th-century English, the language is difficult to decipher. This course was created to untangle the language mysteries, as modern translations and summaries are provided. Therefore you can confidently wade through the original script, with a full understanding of the events playing out.

To add to this, there are in-depth discussions of the most important themes, how to write a literature essay and exam questions.

Historical background to the play and Shakespeare's world is provided. This gives the student a view of the period and a better understanding of the way the play would have been performed in the Elizabethan times, what the audience would have added to the performance, and how that would have impacted the actors.

Susan Allin graduated from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, in 1981, her major subjects being English, Psychology, and History. She has taught English, History, and various other subjects across South Africa since then.

As Shakespearian plays and poetry have been an important part of the English curriculum, she has had the opportunity to teach students on second-language, and even third-language levels. This provides her with the ability to explain Shakespearian plays to students who were not brought up speaking and writing in English.

Students in her final year matric classes have excelled, as she has managed to teach the concepts in a manner that they could understand.

If you (or your child) are currently studying this play, it is highly recommended that you sign up for this very comprehensive course.

Who this course is for:

Students on secondary and tertiary levels

Othello - Complete Reading, Discussion and Analysis

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 5min

Historical Background3 lectures • 12min

Summaries5 lectures • 21min

Reading and Translation26 lectures • 6hr 48min

Analyses5 lectures • 57min

Character sketches7 lectures • 25min

Themes6 lectures • 32min

Exam and test papers1 lecture • 1min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: