Oliver Parker's 'Othello' (1995) - senior analysis exercise

An exercise for senior high school students based on Oliver Parker’s film adaptation of Othello (1995). The film is widely available in DVD format from school and public libraries. Alternatively, it may be purchased and downloaded from a number of streaming service providers.

In order for students to complete this exercise it is necessary that teachers first provide a viewing of two scenes from the film which should be identified as ‘Scene A’ and ‘Scene B’. The scenes are:

• Scene A: ‘Look to your wife’ - Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him (film time 49:26 – 53:04, corresponding play text Act 3 Scene 3 lines 199–272)
• Scene B: ‘These men’ - a heartbroken Desdemona discusses marital infidelity with Emilia (film time 1:27:16 – 1:29:39, corresponding text: Act 4 Scene 3 lines 55–100).
   

The exercise tests students’ capacity to analyse the techniques used by the director and explain how these techniques enhance the viewer’s understanding of the play script. The exercise could be set as a test. Answer suggestions have been provided.

Suggested curriculum relevance Australian Curriculum - English (Senior secondary curriculum) Unit 1

• ACELR002 - Investigate and reflect on different ways of reading literary texts including how mode, medium and form shape responses to texts
   

Unit 2

• ACELR028 - Compare and evaluate the form, language and content of literary texts including the use of a combination of sound and visual devices in literary texts, for example, soundtracks, cinematography, iconography
   

National Curriculum in England - English programmes of study: key stage 4 Reading

Pupils should be taught to understand and critically evaluate texts through

• exploring aspects of plot, characterisation, events and settings, the relationships between them and their effects
   

Please provide a rating. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Cover image: detail from ‘16th-century costume guide’ by Cesare Vecellio (1598). British Library, identifier 003765638. Public Domain.