Othello Critics and Critical Approaches A-Level English Literature

Othello Critics and Critical Approaches A-Level English Literature

This is a massive bundle of resources to aid your study of Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ for A-Level English Literature with a specific focus on critics and critical approaches.

In order to achieve a top grade in English Literature, it is absolutely essential to include critics and/or critical approaches in your answer to act as supporting evidence. You may either corroborate or challenge this critic - it is often quite fun to counter the critic and open up a literary debate.

Included in this resource:

1. 16-Page Highly Detailed Critical Analysis document (PDF/Word included) exploring every single character, theme and ‘critical interpretations over the years’ in the play. A long list of critics for each character / theme, so that you can easily decide which critic and critical approach suits you best for your revision without having to do the EXTENSIVE research involved in categorising the critics. Please see the preview for an example of this document.
   Variety of Critics for Characters: Othello, Iago, Desdemona, Cassio, Emilia, Roderigo and Bianca.
   Variety of Critics for Themes: Identity/Othersider/Other, Jealousy, Race, Justice, Gender, Othello as a tragedy, Deception, Appearance versus Reality, Manipulation, Love, Identity, Language, Honour and Reputation, Power, Setting.
   Key Critical Interpretations over the Years: 19th and 20th Century Views, Feminist Contemporary readings of Desdemona, Marxist Readings, Historicist Readings, Christian Elements of the Play, Post-Colonial Readings, Context on the Source for Othello - Hecatommithi and Literary Context / Intertextuality (tragedy, patriarchy, abuse of women, independent women, the destructive nature of love, race and machiavellian villains in Renaissance drama).

2. Othello ‘Critical Approaches’ summary sheet. In a similar way to the latter section of the 16-page document, this sheet looks at the variety of approaches, the critics quotes to back up the approach, the key concepts of this approach and then finally how we can apply this approach to ‘Othello’. This is highly easy to understand due to the easy table layout. Approaches include: feminist, marxist, new-historicist, post-colonial, psychoanalytical and formalist.

3. Othello Critics ‘Cheat Sheet’. A reduced summary of the 16-page document of the REALLY important critics / critical approaches.

4. Othello’s Final Speech in the play with a highly detailed critical analysis with links to critics / their research included.

5. A breakdown analysis of F.R. Leavis and this view on Othello / Honour. This is a good example of what the examiner will be looking for in the exam - do not just say the critic, but rather examine what it is that they are saying (challenge/corroborate).

Thank you very much for your interest in this resource. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact alevelrevisionmadeeasy@gmail.com for more information.