Lesson Note on Role-Play of “OTHERO” by William Shakespare for SS 2

Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS 2)
Term: 1st Term
Week: 7
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Literature in English
Curriculum Theme: Drama
Previous Lesson: Reading Act Five and Epilogue of “OTHERO” by William Shakespare.
Topic: Role-play (Drama) on “OTHELLO”
Subject Matter: Role-play of major characters in “OTHELLO”, role-play of minor characters, relationships between characters

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

• Identify and state the roles of major and minor characters in “OTHELLO”.
• Explain the relationships between different characters in the play.

Affective Domain:

• Appreciate the dramatic elements and character development in “OTHELLO”.
• Develop empathy for the various characters and their situations.

Psychomotor Domain:

• Act out the roles of major characters with appropriate expression.
• Act out the roles of minor characters effectively.

Social Domain:

• Collaborate effectively in group role-play activities.
• Develop communication skills through dramatic interpretation.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
• State Unified Scheme of Work
• M. J. C. Echeruo (2010). Effective Literature in English for Senior Secondary Schools 2. Africana First Publishers Plc.
• William Shakespeare (1603). Othello, The Moor of Venice.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Copies of the drama text, “OTHELLO”
• Video clips illustrating scenes or interpretations of “OTHELLO”
• Character cards or descriptions

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils to understand the characters and plot of “OTHELLO” more deeply through active participation. It enables them to connect with the play’s themes and develop their interpretive and expressive skills, which are important for literary analysis and communication.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are expected to have read or been introduced to the play “OTHELLO” and have a basic understanding of its plot and main characters.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Role-play of Othello

What is Role-play?

Role-play is a dramatic technique where participants assume the roles of characters in a given situation and act out their responses and interactions. It helps in understanding characters, plot, and themes more deeply.

Major Characters in Othello

The major characters are central to the plot and drive the main conflicts:

• Othello: A brave and respected Moorish general in the Venetian army, easily manipulated, becomes consumed by jealousy.
• Desdemona: Othello’s wife, virtuous, loyal, and innocent, but tragically misunderstood.
• Iago: Othello’s ensign, a cunning and manipulative villain driven by resentment and a desire for revenge.
• Cassio: Othello’s loyal lieutenant, noble and handsome, but falls victim to Iago’s schemes.

Minor Characters in Othello

Minor characters support the plot and reveal aspects of the major characters:

• Emilia: Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s attendant, initially loyal to Iago but later exposes his treachery.
• Roderigo: A wealthy but foolish Venetian nobleman, in love with Desdemona, manipulated by Iago.
• Bianca: A courtesan in love with Cassio.
• Duke of Venice: The official authority figure in Venice.
• Brabantio: Desdemona’s father, a Venetian senator.
• Lodovico: Desdemona’s kinsman, a Venetian nobleman.
• Montano: Othello’s predecessor in the government of Cyprus.

Relationships Between Characters

The relationships between characters are complex and drive the tragic events of the play:

• Othello and Desdemona: Husband and wife, deeply in love, but their relationship is destroyed by Iago’s deceit and Othello’s jealousy.
• Iago and Othello: Iago is Othello’s ensign, but secretly hates him and plots his downfall through manipulation and lies.
• Iago and Cassio: Iago resents Cassio and schemes to remove him from his position as Othello’s lieutenant.
• Iago and Emilia: Husband and wife; Emilia is unaware of Iago’s full villainy until the end.
• Desdemona and Emilia: Mistress and attendant, they share a close bond of friendship and loyalty.
• Roderigo and Iago: Roderigo is Iago’s dupe, constantly giving Iago money in the false hope of winning Desdemona.
• Brabantio and Desdemona: Father and daughter; Brabantio feels betrayed by Desdemona’s secret marriage to Othello.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils, checks their previous knowledge of “OTHELLO” by asking a few questions about the plot and main characters.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions, recalling key plot points and characters.
Learning Point: Pupils are reminded of the play and prepared for the lesson.

Step 2: Explanation of Role-play

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines role-play and explains its importance in understanding drama, emphasizing how it helps in embodying characters and their emotions.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively and ask questions for clarity about the concept of role-play.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the purpose and benefits of role-play in studying literature.

Step 3: Major Characters and their Roles

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Description/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the major characters (Othello, Desdemona, Iago, Cassio), highlighting their key traits and roles in the play, possibly showing relevant video clips.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify and discuss the major characters, contributing their understanding of each character’s personality and function.
Learning Point: Pupils deepen their understanding of the main protagonists and antagonists.

Step 4: Minor Characters and their Roles

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Description/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the minor characters (Emilia, Roderigo, Bianca, etc.), explaining their significance and how they contribute to the plot and character development of the major figures.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify and discuss the roles of minor characters and their impact on the story.
Learning Point: Pupils recognize the importance of supporting characters in the play’s narrative.

Step 5: Character Relationships

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Analysis/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to identify and explain the various relationships between characters, such as Othello-Desdemona, Iago-Othello, Emilia-Desdemona, and how these relationships evolve.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils state and explain the relationships between different characters, discussing their complexities and implications.
Learning Point: Pupils understand how inter-character dynamics drive the plot and themes.

Step 6: Role-play Activity

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Facilitation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher organizes pupils into groups, assigns scenes or specific character roles (both major and minor), and guides them to act out short excerpts from the play, providing feedback.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils actively participate in role-playing, taking on assigned characters and acting out scenes, focusing on expression and character interpretation.
Learning Point: Pupils practically apply their understanding of characters and their roles through performance.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. Who are the four major characters in “OTHELLO”?
2. Mention two minor characters and their roles.
3. Describe the relationship between Othello and Desdemona at the beginning of the play.
4. How does Iago manipulate Othello?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of understanding character roles and relationships for a deeper appreciation of drama. The teacher assigns homework for pupils to write a short reflection on their role-play experience.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the assigned homework.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and reflect on the lesson.

Lesson Keywords

• Othello – The tragic hero of the play, a Moorish general.
• Desdemona – Othello’s loyal and innocent wife.
• Iago – The cunning villain of the play, Othello’s ensign.
• Role-play – A dramatic activity where participants act out characters.
• Drama – A literary genre intended for performance on stage.
• Characters – The individuals who appear in a play or story.

Differentiation

For pupils who are struggling, the teacher will provide simpler roles or allow them to read directly from the script. Advanced pupils will be encouraged to interpret their characters with more nuance, improvise dialogue, and direct their group members. Group work will ensure peer support and collaborative learning for all pupils.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure that pupils have access to the text or a summary of “OTHELLO” before the lesson. Encourage active participation from all pupils during role-play, providing constructive feedback. Be prepared to guide discussions on complex character motivations and relationships. Video clips should be carefully selected to be age-appropriate and relevant to the learning objectives.