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Reading schedule · Grades 8–12

Othello in 5 Weeks: A Reading Schedule

A five-week plan for reading Shakespeare's Othello, one act a week. Each week gives the reading, a short summary of what happens, three discussion questions and the escape room that goes with it. For grades 8–12, in class or at home.

Pacing

One act a week suits most high school classes. Read the act across the first part of the week, in class or at home and ideally with some of it read aloud, then use the questions for discussion or a short written response and finish the week with the escape room. Acts vary in length, so give a long act an extra lesson if it needs one: nothing is lost by stretching a week.

Each week ends with an escape room on that week's reading: seven self-checking locks that run in any browser, with no logins, and progress is saved, so a room can be finished another day. Every room has free taster locks to try, and members can open them all.

Print this schedule Escape rooms on Othello

Week 1: Act 1

Read: Act 1

Iago, passed over for promotion in favour of Cassio, wakes Brabantio with the news that his daughter Desdemona has secretly married Othello. Called before the senators as the Turks threaten Cyprus, Othello defends his marriage and Desdemona confirms her love; Othello is sent to Cyprus, and Iago begins to plot with Roderigo.

Discussion questions

1. What reasons does Iago give for hating Othello, and do we believe them?
2. How does Othello defend himself before the senators?
3. What does Brabantio's reaction show about how Venice sees Othello?

Escape room: A Secret Marriage (lockedlessons.com/rooms/othello-act-1/)

Week 2: Act 2

Read: Act 2

A storm wrecks the Turkish fleet, and the Venetians arrive safely in Cyprus. During the night's celebrations Iago gets Cassio drunk and provokes a brawl, Othello dismisses Cassio, and Iago advises him to ask Desdemona to plead for him.

Discussion questions

1. How does Iago use each character's weaknesses?
2. Why is Cassio so ashamed of losing his reputation?
3. Why does Iago's advice to Cassio serve his own plot?

Escape room: Storm over Cyprus (lockedlessons.com/rooms/othello-act-2/)

Week 3: Act 3

Read: Act 3

Desdemona agrees to plead for Cassio, and Iago uses this to plant suspicion in Othello's mind while warning him against jealousy. Emilia picks up Desdemona's dropped handkerchief and gives it to Iago, Othello vows revenge, and Cassio, finding the handkerchief in his room, gives it to Bianca.

Discussion questions

1. How does Iago make Othello suspicious without ever making a direct accusation?
2. Why is the handkerchief so important to Othello?
3. Should Emilia have handed the handkerchief to Iago?

Escape room: The Green-Eyed Monster (lockedlessons.com/rooms/othello-act-3/)

Week 4: Act 4

Read: Act 4

Othello falls into a fit, then watches Iago talk with Cassio about Bianca and believes they are speaking of Desdemona. When a letter arrives from Venice, Othello strikes Desdemona in front of the visitors and questions Emilia; Iago sets Roderigo on Cassio, and Desdemona sings the willow song as she prepares for bed.

Discussion questions

1. How has Othello's language changed since Act 1?
2. What does the visitors' shock show about how far Othello has fallen?
3. What do Desdemona and Emilia's views of marriage reveal in their last conversation?

Escape room: The Willow Song (lockedlessons.com/rooms/othello-act-4/)

Week 5: Act 5

Read: Act 5

Roderigo's ambush wounds Cassio, and Iago kills Roderigo to silence him. Othello kills Desdemona, Emilia exposes Iago's lies and is killed by him, and Othello, understanding at last, speaks of himself and takes his own life, leaving Iago to the judgement of Venice.

Discussion questions

1. Why does Iago refuse to explain himself at the end?
2. How should we judge Othello in his last speech?
3. What makes Emilia's courage in this act so striking?

Escape room: Put Out the Light (lockedlessons.com/rooms/othello-act-5/)