Othello Act 1 Quiz and Close Reading Worksheets Bundle

Measure high school reading comprehension and support analysis of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello (Act 1) with this bundle that features a quiz and close reading activities. Answer keys are included. Materials are delivered in Word Document and PDF formats.

This resource may serve as the basis for small-group discussions. Through these discussions, students decode language and pose/respond to questions relating to plot, broad topics, and character development, demonstrating an ability to analyze how complex characters transform and advance the plot and themes by applying logic and citing compelling, meaningful textual evidence. They will also evaluate their peers’ reasoning and use of rhetoric to advance claims, clarifying or challenging unclear ideas. Using this resource for structured guidance, students, ultimately, will present information, conclusions, and supporting textual evidence clearly, concisely, and appropriately, thereby helping their peers comprehend their thinking.

By engaging in these exercises, students will:

• Discern the intended meaning of various complex words and phrases
• Analyze the phrase “Come, sir, I am for you” for meaning and synthesize the meaning with knowledge of Iago’s characterization
• Analyze actions and statements to discern character motivations, such as why Brabantio thinks Othello is a thief
• Isolate true statements about plot from false statements
• Locate textual evidence in support of claims about supernatural activity and Brabantio’s prejudiced mentality
• Annotate text to make student engagement visible
• Paraphrase and modernize dialogue
• Discern the tone of a given passage
• Write with clarity and precision