Othello historicism lesson for AQA English Literature Love Through The Ages. In this introductory lesson, students develop and understanding of the literary criticism school of thought of Historicism.

They analyse in detail key social and historical contextual factors such as the Venetian Ottoman War, racial prejudices constructed through ideas around a Moor or Moorish identity, Jacobean identity as patriarchal, the conflict between religious identity and how this is reflected in the geopolitical world of the Jacobean era, specifically the conflict between a Christian power such as Venice and an Islamic power such as the Ottoman Empire and more.

Students use this new understanding of historical context to reflect on their interpretations of the opening of the play (Act 1 Scene 1) and how Iago and Othello are represented, before going on to look at an example exam question task and how they might embed Historicist analysis into it.

A very useful lessons for A level (A-level) students studying English Literature and looking to develop a deeper understanding of Historicism in relation to William Shakespeare’s Othello.

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