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Year 9

Exploring Act 5, Scene 2 of ‘Othello’

I can explore how the character of Othello changes by Act 5, Scene 2 of ‘Othello’.

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Year 9

Exploring Act 5, Scene 2 of ‘Othello’

I can explore how the character of Othello changes by Act 5, Scene 2 of ‘Othello’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Othello begins the scene in delusion and ends with clarity, demonstrating the impact of Iago's deceit.
  2. Othello says he "loved" Desdemona "too well", which suggests that he doesn't understand the implications of his actions.
  3. The negative beliefs about Othello perhaps become a self-fulfilling prophecy by the end of the play

Keywords

  • Impetuous - acting quickly without thought or care

  • Incredulous - unwilling to believe something

  • Clarity - being able to think clearly and not be confused

  • Delusion - being in a state where one has false beliefs about reality

Common misconception

Othello is the only character that suffers a tragic fate

Desdemona, Emilia and Othello all suffer a tragic fate


To help you plan your year 9 english lesson on: Exploring Act 5, Scene 2 of ‘Othello’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Ask students to discuss who or what is most responsible for the tragic ending of the play.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

You will need a copy of Shakespeare's 'Othello' for this lesson.

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'Othello', who dies in Act 5 Scene 1?
Cassio
Correct answer: Roderigo
Emilia
Desdemona
Iago
Q2.
In 'Othello', what does Othello believe has happened to Cassio in Act 5 Scene 1?
Correct answer: Othello believes Iago has killed Cassio
Othello believes Cassio has killed himself
Othello believes Cassio is unharmed
Q3.
In 'Othello', why did Othello want Iago to kill Cassio?
Othello believes Cassio has tried to usurp his position as General
Correct answer: Othello believes Cassio has been having an affair with Desdemona
Othello believes Cassio is an unruly soldier with a bad reputation
Q4.
In 'Othello', what is Othello's belief about Iago up to and including Act 5 Scene 1?
Othello believes Iago is diabolical
Othello believes Iago is treacherous
Correct answer: Othello believes Iago is honest
Q5.
In 'Othello', how does Iago deceive Emilia in Act 5 Scene 1?
Iago convinces Emilia that Desdemona has been having an affair with Cassio
Correct answer: Iago convinces Emilia that Bianca is to blame for Cassio's injuries
Iago convinces Emilia that Othello is a murderer
Q6.
In 'Othello', how does Iago foreshadow his own fallibility in Act 5 Scene 1?
Correct answer: He says ''This is the night That either makes me or fordoes me quite"
He says ''Cassio, may you suspect Who they should be that have thus mangled you"
He says "I have rubb'd this... quat almost to the sense, And he grows angry"

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'Othello', how does Othello appear before killing Desdemona?
Angry
Correct answer: Conflicted
Despaired
Q2.
In 'Othello', which quote suggests Othello's opposing emotions before killing Desdemona?
"That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee Thou gavest to Cassio."
"Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin"
Correct answer: "Yet I'll not shed her blood; Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow"
Q3.
In 'Othello', what does Emilia say about Othello and what does it suggest?
He is "rash as the wind", it suggests he is volatile
Correct answer: He is "rash as fire", it suggests he is impetuous
He is "false as water", it suggests he is unreliable
Q4.
In 'Othello', how does Othello begin and end Act 5 Scene 2?
He begins with clarity and ends in delusion
Correct answer: He begins with delusion and ends in clarity
He begins in anger and ends in calm
Q5.
"Demand that demi-devil why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?" What does this quote from 'Othello' show?
Othello has learned of Cassio's sins
Correct answer: Othello has learned how Iago manipulated him
Othello has learned that he will go to hell when he dies
Q6.
In Shakespeare's 'Othello', Othello is described as animalistic at the beginning of the play and then acts in accordance with this in the last scene. What could be implied?
Correct answer: Othello was unable to escape the fulfilment of racist ideologies
Other people knew Othello better than he knew himself
Othello was always savage and brutal