- This topic has 228 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated November 30, 2023 by
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Summary for Lesson 1
In today’s lesson we began our work on Othello, thinking about the historical context of the text. We spoke about what the class thought of the play, learned about England in the early 1600s and touched on issues such as the presentation of gender and religion. We thought specifically about Othello’s outsider status and Jacobean attitudes towards race before finally discussing questions of whether Shakespeare’s presentation of race conformed to or confounded racist stereotypes of the time. Wonderful, passionate and thoughtful work today everyone- it was great to see you all and I look forward to next week! 🙂
Video we watched on the context of Othello’s background: https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/shak15.ela.lit.whoisothello/who-is-othello-shakespeare-uncovered/
Here is a PDF of No Fear Shakespeare (Othello with modern translation): https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/shak15.ela.lit.whoisothello/who-is-othello-shakespeare-uncovered/
Homework
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Hi Beth, sorry to bother you but i can’t seem to find the homework for this week. Also do we submit our homework here as well?
Thank you!
Alex
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Summary for Lesson 2
In today’s class we looked at the themes and wider philosophies of Othello, thinking about the notions of knowledge, good vs. evil, and notions of internalised racism used in the play. We spoke about the worldview Shakespeare encourages with the play and thought about how tragedy is utilised, discussing the notion of domestic tragedy vs. political. We read an academic article about epistemology in the play and thought about the implications of this on understanding Othello’s reasons for murder. Really fantastic and deep-diving work on this everyone- I was so impressed by your understanding of some of the wider philosophical concepts and your ability to draw analogies and allusions from them. Exceptional ideas today – see you next week 🙂
Themes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGXabUTUHW4
Tragedy video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maqnczUeoa8
Here is the full article on Othello and epistemology: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20024619
Homework
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Dear Beth,
Thank you so much for the mind-blowing lesson! I enjoyed discussing epistemology in particular 🙂 I have uploaded the homework.
Cheers! 😉
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Dear Beth,
Thank you so much for your great lesson!
Please find attached below my homework for the week!
Sincerely,
Yuexi
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Hi Beth,
Thx for the lesson, see you next class!
Yao
HW: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TZFyp1pIfVPGiRLggU3Xr_r7TwjXmktAhSpM3at08Bg/edit
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Summary for Lesson 3
In today’s lesson we focused on character in Othello discussing the relationship between Iago and Othello in particular. We began by discussing the most interesting relationships in the play before watching a video of two famous Shakespearean actors discussing the relationship between Iago and Othello. We discussed the notion of Iago’s “motiveless malignity”, a famous Coleridge quote, and dissected one of his soliloquies. Finally we thought about the different phases Othello’s character passes through, which the class did brilliantly. Really excellent and in-depth work today class- you all came up with some wonderful analyses of these characters and what understandings we can bring to them. Keep up the amazing job! 🙂
Character video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHqzWyCk6OE
National Theatre video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyoCIwJn9Ic
Homework
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Dear Beth,
Thank you for the 🤩STELLAR🤩 lesson! Delighted in crunching down on scrumptious discussions. of Iago and motive-hopping. I have uploaded my homework, thank you again!
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Dear Beth,
Thank you for the magnificent lesson (by the way, when I say “magnificent” I always think of those huge flowing wedding dresses that seem to fill up the room that the woman is in with white waves.)
Also, is there any reason everyone is saying “stellar”, although it was a stellar lesson. 😊👏Yichen
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Dear Beth,
Thank you so much for the stellar lesson!
(since everyone is saying that, and I agree 🙂 )
Please find attached below my homework for the week!
See you soon and have a nice day!!
Yuexi (>^0 ⁻̫0^<)
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Hi Beth,
Thx so much for the amazing lesson!
Here’s my HW:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14n20DoOZeOiJc_ADJw8P8DvLpvbnHxhJGlw8_UsC8QY/edit
Yao
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Hi Beth,
Thank you for the stellar lesson (i’m continuing the streak because why not), see you next time!
Lynn
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Summary for Lesson 4
In today’s class we focused on plot and structure, thinking about genre and how it dictates the tragic arc of Othello. We began by analysing step by step the tragic arc, touching on key differences between this and normal story arcs and discussing the parts of Othello each section pertains to. We then spoke about tragedy and how our expectations of the genre shape the play before moving on to thinking about symbolism and how it adds to the tragic force. We discussed the ending and whether it was inevitable, thinking about the line between Shakespeare’s genres and talking through the ways in which characters shape, or do not shape, their own fate. Fantastic work everyone- you were all super engaged throughout coming up with brilliant debate points. Well done and see you next week 🙂
Symbols video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqDUTY2II2E
Tragic structure link (you can read the full page if you’d like!): https://www.sutori.com/en/story/structure-of-shakespeare-s-tragedies-5-tragic-force–UmjWnS3ckfLrS5SCsFPjrn5o
Good video on tragedy in Othello to help with homework: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYlAxdiVPEY
Homework
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Interesting piece on the five act structure in Shakespeare: https://nosweatshakespeare.com/plays/five-act-structure/
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Hi Beth,
Thanks for the amazing lesson!
HW: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LnLjdsu9uWujQ8uTi5iINGJaU7Hgk1DyL0Ph_NQzhYs/edit
Yao
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Dear Beth,
Thank you so much for the amazing lesson!
Please find attached below my homework for the week!
See you soon and have a nice day!!
Yuexi >(0 ⁻̫ 0)<
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Summary for Lesson 5
In today’s class we dug into the text of Othello, thinking about the women in the play and the way in which misogyny can be understood to form the basis of some of the relationships in the play. We opened by thinking about the character of Emilia, analysing her soliloquy about the hypocrisies of the moral codes of the time, and discussing her character development from silence to speaking out. We then discussed the notion of Iago as a misogynist, thinking about the way he views women in the play and how this feeds into Othello’s worldview. Finally we discussed the deaths of Desdemona and Emilia, linking these to the ideas of restriction for women at the time and the different social norms around marriage that would often trap women in oppressive situations. Really strong work today everyone, you dealt with some difficult subjects with grace and maturity. Well done, see you next week 🙂
P.S. Have a look at Act 5, Scene 2 for help with the homework
Homework
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Hi Beth,
Thanks so much for the amazing lesson! Here’s my hw: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v4_-WfGZ3iQZhfWmnsikkg434jWsWEhB0G1vxdIWZ3o/edit
Yao 😀
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Dear Beth,
Thank you so much for the amazing lesson!
Please find attached below my homework for the week!
See you soon and have a nice day!
Yuexi
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Hi Beth,
Attached is my homework, thank you for the splendid lesson!
Have a great rest of the week,
Lynn
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Summary for Lesson 6
In today’s class we finished our study of Othello, thinking about the art of writing about literature and how to go from description to literary criticism. We began with an overview of literary critique skills before looking at a video that deals with how to write Shakespeare essays to a GCSE Grade 9 standard. The class then completed some excellent group work discussing some of the weirder scenes in the play, thinking about how the stranger scenes can provide interesting debate. Finally the class briefly discussed quotations in prep for the homework. Amazing work today everyone- well done for all your fantastic ideas and good luck with reading Gone With the Wind. It was great to see you all today, see you soon 🙂
P.S. Remember to think about the context of the quotation you chose and link this to wider themes, characters, historical ideas within the play
Grade 9 essay video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xmnunOeLdU
Important quotations video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjxT2Kr2vik
Homework
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Dear Beth,
I am extremely sorry for submitting this late, I forgot to submit it. This is for the last lesson’s homework (lesson 5)
Thanks for both lessons, they were both very enjoyable. I will submit my homework for this lesson later in the week.
Yichen
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Hi Beth,
Here’s my HW for Week 6, thx for the amazing lesson!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hyU1TDMF3vGCb3uPbSljTxjy8JPZp_9Zx5VGo8QeizY/edit
Yao
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Summary for Lesson 7
In today’s class we began our work on Gone with the Wind, thinking about the history behind the novel. We spoke about how the class found the novel, before moving on to thinking about the life of Margaret Mitchell. We thought about the setting of the book, and about the context of when the book was published, thinking about what this tells us about Mitchell’s intentions. We spoke about the racism in the novel, learned about how the novel tries to justify slavery and why, and spoke about Scarlett as an unconventional protagonist. Finally, the class researched the burning of Atlanta and discussed how this fits into the novel overall. Excellent work today everyone- I really enjoyed discussing this book with you! Well done for your fantastic energy and ideas today. See you next week 🙂
Podcast link (or you can search for it on Spotify too): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bNCVF4LLe4
Video we watched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuJ-3BpRGRU
Homework
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Summary for Lesson 8
In today’s class we continued our work on Gone with the Wind, thinking about the philosophy it pushes. We spoke about the glorification of slavery in the novel and how it distorts the race relations of 1800s America, thinking about how this relates to racism in the 1930s when the book was published. We discussed the homework and looked at four important themes explored in the novel, digging into the way Mitchell builds her philosophy and the way in which this reflects core tenets of American ideology at the time- from the racism embedded within it to the obsession with land ownership and self-reliance. Really good work today everyone, particularly in dealing with some big ideas that are complex and require sensitivity, fantastic work on this. Keep up the fantastic ideas, see you soon 🙂
Video we watched on slavery in the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRq7nsI33bc&t=8s
Homework
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Dear Beth,
Thanks for the splendid lesson! Uploaded. (Note: mules and horses aren’t just Mrs Tarelton’s fascination….
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Dear Beth,
Thanks for the lesson. I really like Gone with the Wind and these lessons are helpful for me. Here is my homework.
Yichen
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Summary for Lesson 9
In today’s lesson we continued work on Gone with the Wind, thinking today about character. We began by reading a Guardian article analysing Scarlett’s role in the novel, before moving on to thinking in groups about what they found interesting in particular characters. We spoke about how Scarlett comes to represent both the New and the Old South and learned about how her journey of self-justification mirrors that of the Confederacy after the Civil War. We finished by thinking about her misdeeds and what they show about the ideology of the book overall, digging into what it reveals about her motivations and growth. Amazing and analytical work today class, your discussions were brilliantly evidenced and thought through and it was great to see you all working fantastically together. Keep up the amazing work, well done and see you soon 🙂
Lost Cause myth video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP0_wnaW-a0#:~:text=Examine%20the%20myth%20of%20the,States%20and%20formed%20the%20Confederacy.
Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/aug/31/books-to-give-you-hope-gone-with-the-wind-by-margaret-mitchell
Homework
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Hi Jayden,
You’re welcome!
Some good work this week, I’ve attache your feedback below. See you soon 🙂 -
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Dear Beth,
Thanks for the glorious lesson. Here is my homework. It’s very interesting to talk about characters, especially such well-crafted ones.
Yichen
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Hello Beth,
Thx for the lesson! 😀
HW:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Yt4S1xg4HnpKTME5WyTm-iKVVgnHVS4cBwE9L-ZuV1g/edit
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Dear Beth,
Thank you for the amazing lesson.
My homework is attached below.
Have a nice weekend.
Brian
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Summary for Lesson 10
In today’s class we worked on plot and structure in Gone with the Wind. We began by thinking about the ways in which the book is split into two, connecting this with Mitchell’s political aims in the novel, before thinking about genre and how it dictates structure. We spoke about romance, historical fiction and bildungsroman, thinking about how Mitchell goes against genre conventions. The class then looked at a piece of structural analysis and discussed it before we finally spoke about Scarlett’s romances and how they can be understood to bookend the story, providing a symbolic structure to the historical narrative. Fab work today guys, really well done for all your amazing contributions and analytical points. I was super impressed! Keep up the great work 🙂
Homework
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Hi Beth,
Sorry for the lateness. I actually uploaded the homework a few days ago but for some reasons it did not show, I just saw it. So sorry for the delay. Thank you for the lessons!
Have a great week,
Lynn
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Dear Beth,
Sorry for the late submission- I actually wrote homework a lot earlier but forgot to submit and upload~ Thanks for the splendicious lesson & wishing you a wonderful Winter.
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Hi Beth,
Here’s my homework this week. Thank you for the splendid lesson and see you next class!
Have a wonderful week,
Lynn
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Dear Beth,
Thank you for the wonderful lesson,
My homework s attached below,
Have a great day!
Brian
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Summary for Lesson 11
In today’s class we completed the penultimate lesson of our course, thinking about close analysis and how it functions. We began with some close analysis theory, thinking about the concept of defamiliarising language and detaching ourselves from the power of storytelling. We then applied this to the novel at large, discussing important and symbolic scenes, before zooming into a passage from Chapter 9 which the class analysed line by line, pulling out significant moments and quotations beautifully and coming up with some really original analysis for it. We finished with a final discussion on themes and motifs. Fantastic close analysis today everyone, well done for your concentration and fascinating thoughts on interpreting the way that Mitchell layers the novel with meaning. It was great to see you all today as ever and I’ll see you next week- well done 🙂
Chapter 9 extract: http://www.monadnockfolk.org/?p=3075
Homework
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Hi Beth,
So sry for the late submission, I was sick for a few days.
HW for Week 5: https://docs.google.com/document/d/168LAmnuxmOvhpCJYH0uCE6iPBML_4bizeHMUimCHBF4/edit
Thanks for the lesson! 🙂
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Dear Beth,
Thanks for the wonderful lesson about symbols. Here is my homework. Sorry if it is a bit long, there is just so much to write about! Thanks again.
Yichen
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Hi Beth,
Thank you for the fantabulous lesson! Sorry again for the lateness, it’s another exam week… See you tomorrow!
Have a wonderful week,
Lynn
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Dear Beth,
Thanks for the absolutely spectacular lesson, can’t wait for L6! Sorry for the late submission- I wrote it just after class, then forgot to submit…😵📝 It’s uploaded.
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Summary for Lesson 12
In today’s class we finished our work on Gone with the Wind, concluding our course. We looked at parodies, and re-interpretations of the novel that wrestled with the book’s legacy regarding slavery, and finally did some work on feminism in the novel. We thought about an essay question tying the book to dialectical materialism, spoke about perspective and shared some ideas on the satire entrenched in Gone with the Wind itself. Really excellent work as per usual everyone- you are all such innovative thinkers with really wonderful perspectives to bring to bear on things and it has been a joy getting to debate and discuss with you. Thank you for being so fantastic to work with, I look forward to seeing you all next time around and until then take a well-earned break. See you soon everyone 🙂
Parody video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=izMt9fcAzno
Homework
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Dear Beth,
Thank you so much for the absolutely stellar course- really loved discussing Shakespeare and GWTW 🎉🧁 Happy winter holidays! *HW uploaded
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Dear Beth,
Thank you for the amazing course
My homework is attached below
Have a nice Christmas (in advance)
Brian
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Dear Beth,
Thanks for the wonderful course, I really really enjoyed Gone with the Wind and I realised that Shakespeare isn’t so confusing to read after all! Thanks again, and sorry that I wasn’t there for the last lesson but I watched the recording. 😊 Merry Christmas! (in advance) ❄️🎄Here is my homework.
Yichen
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Hi Beth,
So sorry for being late. Thank you for all the amazing lessons! See you next time!
Have a great day,
Lynn
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Hi Beth,
Thanks so much for the amazing lessons! Have a great holiday season!
Yao
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I0Leut13A2XjAJOHyg20Nn8ITH4OYX-QJd8JztItjts/edit
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