Othello

1. Othello Project Instructions

2. Purpose • In order to demonstrate your understanding of the play, you will complete a series of activities.

3. Process • You (and a partner, if you choose) will choose different activities from the project list provided later in this PowerPoint. You will choose at least one activity from each of the three categories. Please note that if you only choose one activity per category, the highest grade you can earn is an 80. You will need to choose other activities in order for your score to add up to 100. You may choose to complete enough activities to earn up to a 110.

4. Activities • On the following slides, you will find lists of the various activities. If you click on the name of the activity, it will take you to the instructions for that activity.

5. 10 Point Activities • Crossword Puzzle • The ABCs of Othello • Dear Diary • Tattoo Design • Advertisement • Character Poem

6. 20 Point Activities • Sonnets • Survey • Movie Poster • Rap

7. 50 Point Activities • Puppet Show • Design a Room • Children’s Book • Reading Recommendations • WebQuest • Soundtrack • Quote Book

8. Crossword Puzzle • You are to create a crossword puzzle (not a word search) all about Othello and Shakespeare’s time. You are to: • have at least thirty words and clues. • at least twenty about the play • at least ten about the time period • create the puzzle • turn in a blank puzzle as well as a completed one for the answer key. Back

9. The ABCs of Othello • For each letter of the alphabet, write something about the play or Shakespeare that the letter brings to mind. It may be a phrase or even a few sentences, but it may not be just one word or name. Remember, it must start with the letter. Here’s an example to get you started: A - Animal references to Othello reflect the racist attitudes of characters such as Iago. B – (You will complete the rest of the alphabet.) Back

10. Dear Diary • You are to take on the persona of one of the minor characters in the play (Brabantio, Emilia, Bianca, Roderigo …). You are to write one diary entry about a major event in the play. You need to: • make sure your diary entry is at least 150 words long. • make sure that you write from the point-of-view or the character you have chosen. • make sure that you don’t merely summarize the event. You need to give your take on it, make predictions, etc. • make sure to sign the character’s name Back

11. Tattoo Design • Some of the characters in Othello are looking to get a tattoo but are unsure of what to get. You are to help them out. Choose one character from the play to help. You need to do the following for that character: • identify the character • design a tattoo. (You must create an image of it.) • write 6-8 sentences explaining the significance of the tattoo (its meaning, the significance of the colors, etc.) Back

12. Advertisement • Imagine that the producers of Othello have asked you to make a movie trailer to advertise the upcoming production of the play. You need to: • Either perform or video the movie trailer • Give hints about events in the play without totally giving away the ending Back

13. Character Poem • Your favorite character in Othello is probably the character you learned the most about. You know his/her feelings, likes and dislikes, dreams and disappointments … everything about his/her personality. For this activity, you will put yourself in your character’s shoes and write an “I AM” poem as if the character were writing it about himself or herself. You will find the format of the poem on the next slide. Continued on the next slide

14. Character Poem (continued) I AM Poem, by (character’s name)FIRST STANZAI am (two special characteristics character has)I wonder (something character might be curious about)I hear (an imaginary sound)I see (an imaginary sight)I want (an actual desire)I am (the first line of the poem repeated)SECOND STANZAI pretend (something your character actually pretended to do)I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)I touch (an imaginary touch)I worry (something that would bother your character)I cry (something that would make your character very sad)I am (the first line of the poem repeated)THIRD STANZAI understand (something your character knows is true)I say (something your character believes in)I dream (something your character would dream about)I try (something your character would make an effort about)I hope (something your character hopes for)I am (the first line of the poem repeated) Continued on the next slide

15. I AM, by Antigone I am the outspoken girl who will not quit I wonder what my life would have been like without “The Prophecy” I hear the people’s silent support I see what Creon is blind to I want my brother’s burial—dignity and honor I am an outspoken girl who will not quit I pretend to embrace my death as I would Haemon I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders I touch the souls of brave women through the ages I worry about the gods’ displeasure I cry for my brother, for my father, for myself I am an outspoken girl who will not quit I understand the frustration of being the proud rebel I say that divine law rules supreme I dream Creon will become a real uncle I try to be the role model my sister needs I hope for a happily ever after I am an outspoken girl who will not quit Back

16. Sonnets • Imagine you are Othello. You are trying to express your feelings about Desdemona, so you decide to compose two sonnets. You will compose one sonnet expressing your feelings before you lose your mind, and one sonnet expressing your feelings after you lose your mind. • You must follow the Shakespearean sonnet format, found at: http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/xSonnets.html Back

17. Survey • Imagine you work for Opinions Rule Us, and they have asked you to create a survey relating to Othello. You are to: • create a survey based on of the themes or motifs of the play. (It must relate to the play in some way.) • survey at least thirty people. You must survey a variety of ages as well as a good mix of gender. • You need to note each person’s: • Age group (break it into categories) • Gender • Name (They should sign their name.) • Response • turn in the paper survey • create some kind of chart (pie chart, bar graph . . . ) that displays of your findings Back

18. Movie Poster • You are to create a Movie poster for Othello. Make sure your poster includes: • the play title • at least two theme statements • pictures of the main characters with their names • representation of the setting • four important quotations • a catch phrase Back

19. Rap • You are a musician, and you’ve got a great idea for a song. Your idea is to make the plot of Othello into a rap or song. You are to: • Write out the lyrics. • Make sure to cover the entire plot of the play, not just one part. • Use at least fifteen vocabulary words used correctly (highlight each word) • Either perform the song/rap live or turn in a recording of it. Back

20. Puppet Show • You are to create a puppet show about Othello. You are to: • make the puppets (paper bags, socks, popsicle sticks . . . ) • write a rough script • perform or film the puppet show • tell the whole story of the play through the puppet show Back

21. Design a Room • You are an exclusive designer. Othello, Iago, Desdemona, and Michael Cassio have come to you for your services. You are to: • choose one character. • design one room for them (you choose which room). • make it either on a poster or 3-D. • If you choose to make it 3-D mock-up of the room, it must have at least two walls. • If you choose to create it on a poster, you must have actual pictures of all the item, fabrics, light fixtures . . . used in the rooms. Make sure to indicate wall color. Continued on the next slide

22. Interior Design (continued) • give a budget estimate. • furniture $ • lighting $ • flooring $ • fabric and accessory $ • paint $ • write 150+ words justifying your design. • How does it relate to the character? • How will it meet their needs? • Why did you choose this room? • Why did you choose the furniture . . . etc.? Back

23. Children’s Book • You are to create a children’s book covering the plot of Othello. You are to: • have a minimum of twenty pages (not including the cover). • have thirty words on each page. • have an illustration on each page. • have an illustrated cover. • use at least thirty vocabulary words correctly, six words from each act (highlight them). • cover the entire plot of the play. Back

24. Reading Recommendations • Othello, Iago, Desdemona, and Michael Cassio are having some trouble finding good, useful books. That’s where you come in. You need to recommend three books for each character. For each book, you need to do the following: • list the title and author of the book. • write 2-3 sentences explaining why that specific character should read that specific book. Merely stating “It’s good” or “It’s entertaining” or something similar is not acceptable. Why would this character like this particular book? How does it fit the character’s personality? What can the character get out of the book or take away from it that will be useful to that character? Remember, you will have a total of 12 entries (4 characters x 3 books each). Back

25. WebQuest • You are to complete the WebQuest. The process can be found on the handout titled “Othello WebQuest”. Back

26. Soundtrack • You are to create a soundtrack that could go along with the play. • You are to: • have at least ten school appropriate songs by ten different artists. • assign each song to a different, specific act and scene in the play. • span the whole play with your soundtrack. • have 75 – 100 words justifying each song. (The example has 140 words.) • create the CD cover. • have the lyrics for each song. • write discussion question to go along with each song. • have the songs go in the order of the play. • burn the actual CD for extra points. Back

27. Quote Book • You are to create a book explaining various significant quotations found in the play. Each page of the book should analyze a different quotation. You are to: • write the quotation at the top of each page. • explain the significance and meaning of each quotation. • identify the literary element illustrated by the quotation (irony, metaphor, foreshadowing . . .) when applicable. • write a 150 word analysis per quotation. • analyze the quotations below (the line numbers refer to the No Fear version): • I.i.32-34 7. II.iii.187-188 • I.i.186-192 8. III.i.84-87 • II.i.77 9. IV.i.56-57 • II.i.233-236 10. IV.i.98-101 • II.i.267-269 11. IV.i.252 • II.iii.23-31 12. V.iv.60-66 Back