OTHELLO READING LOG
As we are reading and listening to Othello, you will be responsible for keeping a reading log. You will need a completed log for each act in
the play (that means FIVE total). Each act will be worth 20 points.
MOTIF
Select a motif from the play to track as you read.
a. Jealousy
b. Love
c. Race
d. Animals
e. Light/Dark or White/Black
f. Heaven/Hell (also refs. to angels & devil)
g. Gender bias
h. Reputation & Honor
i. Self-Esteem
j. Proof & Judgment
k. OTHER?
LITERARY TERM
Choose one literary term for your bible that appears in this act. Think rhetorical devices!
CHARACTER
Select one character from each column below. One of these characters will typically be in a scene you are analyzing.
For each selection, analyze one of the characters you selected and respond to his/her actions.
Primary
Secondary
Tertirary
Iago
Roderigo
Brabantio
Othello
Cassio
Emilia
Desdemona
Bianca
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
3. Select one of the following essential questions to journal about as we read:
a. How do external forces shape an individual?
b. How does an individual shape society?
REACTIONS
As you read, fill in the grids with appropriate information and comments. Beneath your grid, jot down your reactions to
the selection as a whole.
NOTE: For citations write as Act.Scene.Line Example for a quote from Act 1, Scene 1, Line 65 “I am not what I am”(1.1.65)
Selection: Act I, Scenes 2 & 3
How would I summarize this selection?
Describe the setting(s) of the selection. How
does it affect the plot?
Literary Term:
Motif:
Character:
What lines or phrases seem integral to my
understanding of the plot or characters in this
selection?
What images seem to reoccur in this selection?
How does this selection help me answer the
essential question?
How and why does it appear in this selection?
What words or phrases from this selection amuse
or interest me? What words/phrases should
become part of my vocabulary?
Additional Comments/reflections:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Act II
How would I summarize this selection?
Describe the setting(s) of the selection. How
does it affect the plot?
Literary Term:
Motif:
Character:
What lines or phrases seem integral to my
understanding of the plot or characters in this
selection?
What images seem to reoccur in this selection?
How does this selection help me answer the
essential question?
How and why does it appear in this selection?
What words or phrases from this selection amuse
or interest me? What words/phrases should
become part of my vocabulary?
Additional Comments/reflections:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Act III
How would I summarize this selection?
Describe the setting(s) of the selection. How
does it affect the plot?
Literary Term:
Motif:
Character:
What lines or phrases seem integral to my
understanding of the plot or characters in this
selection?
What images seem to reoccur in this selection?
How does this selection help me answer the
essential question?
How and why does it appear in this selection?
What words or phrases from this selection amuse
or interest me? What words/phrases should
become part of my vocabulary?
Additional Comments/reflections:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Act IV
How would I summarize this selection?
Describe the setting(s) of the selection. How
does it affect the plot?
Literary Term:
Motif:
Character:
What lines or phrases seem integral to my
understanding of the plot or characters in this
selection?
What images seem to reoccur in this selection?
How does this selection help me answer the
essential question?
How and why does it appear in this selection?
What words or phrases from this selection amuse
or interest me? What words/phrases should
become part of my vocabulary?
Additional Comments/reflections:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Act V
How would I summarize this selection?
Describe the setting(s) of the selection. How
does it affect the plot?
Literary Term:
Motif:
Character:
What lines or phrases seem integral to my
understanding of the plot or characters in this
selection?
What images seem to reoccur in this selection?
How does this selection help me answer the
essential question?
How and why does it appear in this selection?
What words or phrases from this selection amuse
or interest me? What words/phrases should
become part of my vocabulary?
Additional Comments/reflections:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________