Theme – Betrayal, Murder, Jealousy
8 weeks
Marking Period 1
ENGAGENY
Module 1
Units 1 & 2
Essential Questions:
 How do external forces shape an individual?
 How does an individual shape society?
CCSS:
RL.12.1, 3-5, 10
RI.1-12.1-2, 5-6, 10 RI.12.1-3, 10
RL.12.1-5, 9-10
RL.12.1-7, 10
W.12.2, 4-6, 9-10
SL.12.1, 3-4, 6
Content-Specific (Tier III) Terms: Text feature, text structure, characterization, literary devices, point of view
Literary (Tier II) Vocabulary: Vocabulary from text
The Tragedy of Othello
By William Shakespeare
“My Last Duchess”
by Robert Browning
Texts and Respective Tasks
“Hills Like White
“Utah Doctor Charged
“Divorce by Murder”
Elephants”
With Drowning, Drugging by David Krajicek
by Ernest Hemingway
Wife Will Face Trial” by
Lindsey Davis
play/fiction
Literature-poem
Literature-short story
8 weeks
READING TASKS:
Over the course of the
term, students will be
assigned specific
chapters/acts in which
they will demonstrate
comprehension by
answering questions that
will require in-depth
analyses, critical thinking,
and / or synthesizing the
text. RL.12.10
RI.12.10
1 week
READING TASKS:
Read the poem and
discuss how the Duke in
the poem relates to
Othello in the play.
RL.12.2
1 week
READING TASKS:
Read the poem and
discuss how the Duke in
the poem relates to
Othello in the play.
RL.12.2
WRITING TASKS:
Analyze one or more of
the play’s comic scenes:
the banter between Iago
and Desdemona in Act II,
scene i; the drinking song
in Act II, scene iii; the
clown scenes (Act III,
scenes i and iv). How do
these scenes echo, reflect,
distort, or comment on the
more serious matter of the
play?
WRITING TASKS:
How does the speaker
reveal his true character
through his monologue on
the last duchess? Use at
least 2 quotes from the
text to back up your
views. Make sure you
fully explain the
significance of the quotes.
WRITING TASKS:
Write in your own words
if this story is still
relevant today? We know
that the story is set in
Spain, but if you didn’t
know it was written in
1927, could you place it in
a period of history? If so,
when? Cite specific
examples from the texts to
support your response.
W.12.3
Write an exposition on
your conceptualization of
the significance of the
word “last” from the
News
article/informational
1 week
READING TASKS:
Read the article and be
prepared to discuss how
the events relate/connect
to the novel. RL.12.7
RI.12.7
Informational-excerpt
from online book
1 week
READING TASKS:
Read the excerpt from the
online book and be
prepared to discuss how
the content connects to the
novel. RL.12.9
WRITING TASKS:
Although “Othello” and
the
“Utah Doctor…” occurred
during different time
periods, there are many
similarities between the
doctor and Othello. Write
a summary expounding
upon these similarities;
cite specific examples
from the texts to support
your response.
W.12.7
WRITING TASKS:
In your own words, what
does the phrase “until
death do you part” mean
regarding the union of
husband and wife in holy
matrimony?
W.12.10
Do a close reading of one
of Iago’s soliloquies.
Point to moments in the
language where Iago most
gains an audience’s
sympathy and moments
where he most repels its.
Pay close attention to the
way in which Iago
develops arguments about
what he must and/or will
do. To what extent are
these arguments
convincing? If are they
convincing and an
audience’s perception of
Iago is sympathetic, what
happens to its perception
of Othello? Cite specific
examples from the text to
support your claim(s).
W.12.1
LANGUAGE
INSTRUCTION:
Sentence structure
Word choice
Punctuation
Voice (active/passive)
Transitions
Verb tense
agreement
poem title “My Last
Duchess”.
W.12.1
LANGUAGE
INSTRUCTION:
Sentence structure
Word choice
Punctuation
Voice (active/passive)
Transitions
Verb tense
agreement
LANGUAGE
INSTRUCTION:
Sentence structure
Word choice
Punctuation
Voice (active/passive)
Transitions
Verb tense
agreement
LANGUAGE
INSTRUCTION:
Sentence structure
Word choice
Punctuation
Voice (active/passive)
Transitions
Verb tense
agreement
LANGUAGE
INSTRUCTION:
Sentence structure
Word choice
Punctuation
Voice (active/passive)
Transitions
Verb tense
agreement
SPEAKING AND
LISTENING TASKS:
SL.12.1 Before beginning
the unit, with partners,
students will discuss their
views on the concept of
marriage and divorce
using the excerpt from the
online book.
In your group, discuss
how the following
emotions can affect a
marriage/relationship:
love, curiosity, selfpreservation, selfsatisfaction, greed, selfdiscovery, duty, honor,
and revenge. How are
these evidenced in the
play? Cite specific
examples from the text to
support your answers.
SPEAKING AND
LISTENING TASKS:
SL.12.4 With your
partner, discuss the
following questions
regarding the Duke and
the Last Duchess. How
did the Duke get rid of his
wife? Was it by poisoning
or an execution? Did he
simply place her in a
convent?
SPEAKING AND
LISTENING TASKS:
SL.12.3 With your
partner, discuss the
following question:
Would you feel
differently about the story
if the roles of Jig and the
man were reversed (that
is, if Jig wanted the
abortion and the man
wanted her to marry him
and keep the baby)?
SPEAKING AND
LISTENING TASKS:
SL.12.2 Read the article
and discuss with a partner
the similarities and
differences between the
doctor and his wife to
Othello and Desdemona.
How does the time period
impact the circumstances
surrounding each case?
SPEAKING AND
LISTENING TASKS:
SL.12.6 With your
partner, discuss your
thoughts on whether
marriages should last
“until death do you part”.
How does the information
in the text compare or
contrast with your views
on marriage and divorce.
The Duke felt that the
Duchess undervalued him
and bestowed what was
rightfully his to other
men. What specific
“favors” in particular
seem to have produced
this response in the Duke?
Play – Research the characters of Iago, Othello, Cassio, and Desdemona to see if any sculptures, paintings, essays, etc. have been created/written
based on them. Present at least 3
items in the form of a museum exhibit for the class to view. (Use pictures of artwork, excerpts from essays, etc.) Include a brief
description of each one, including the
artist/author, time period, and location for each one. W.
12.2, 4-10
Poem- Research and classify the Duke’s psychological state of mind, explaining why he finds the portrait of his late wife preferable to the living
original. W.12.2, 4-10
Short Story- Research the author’s use of symbolism found in the short story “Hills Like White Elephants”; explain how symbolism impacts the
characters’ actions in the story.
W.12.2, 4-10
Informational Text – Research the statistics in America on the number of marriages that end in violent death? What percentage was the husband
the perpetrator? What percentage was the wife the perpetrator? What percentage was someone else the perpetrator (i.e. a jealous girlfriend,
boyfriend, etc.). W.12.4-10
Research other incidents of murder or betrayal due to jealousy and create a timeline of at least 5 incidents. W.12.2, 4-10
Appendices
http://www.mychandlerschools.org/cms/lib6/AZ01001175/Centricity/Domain/1070/othelloreadinglog.pdf
http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/brownings-my-last-duchess-and-dramatic-monologue
http://glacierpeak.sno.wednet.edu/teachers/bjuhl/docs/American%20Lit/Voice%20of%20One/Hemingway%20Lessons/Hills%20Like%20White
%20Elephants.doc
Additional Support
Additional Resources
http://www.studygs.net/texred2.htm
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/lit_term.html
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/lang_write.htm
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/icebreakers-for-high-school-students.html
https://getkahoot.com/
http://www.teach-nology.com/
http://www.teachersnotebook.com/
http://www.readworks.org/
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/
http://www.readwritethink.org/
http://images.pcmac.org/Uploads/HamblenCounty/HamblenCounty/Divisions/DocumentsCategories/Documents/Task%2
0Cards%20List%20Updated.pdf
www.teachers-toolbox.com
http://engageny.org