Othello AQA Tragedy: How to do the Extract Question
For ‘Aspects of Tragedy’ A Level (AQA, 7717 English Literature B), you have to write two separate questions on Othello: An extract or passage-based question that focuses on close reading and linguistic analysis, and a wider reading general essay question that focuses more on themes and context. This post takes you through how to do the extract question.
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Approaching the Passage-Based Question
Example Question
Read the extract from Act 1, Scene 1, and then answer the question. Explore the significance of this extract in relation to the tragedy of the play as a whole. Remember to include in your answer relevant analysis of Shakespeare’s dramatic methods. [25 marks]
How to Approach It
Contextualise the Extract: Begin by situating the passage within the play’s overall narrative. Explain what has occurred before this scene and how it influences the events in the extract. In Act 1, Scene 1, Iago and Roderigo discuss Othello in racist and derogatory terms, setting the stage for Iago’s manipulation.
Close Language Analysis: Examine Shakespeare’s use of language, imagery, and literary devices. Identify metaphors, allusions, or symbols. For instance, Iago’s description of Othello as “an old black ram” emphasises the racial prejudice at the heart of the play’s tragedy.
Character Dynamics: Analyse the relationship between Iago and Roderigo, and how Iago’s deceitful nature is established from the outset. How does this manipulation contribute to the tragedy?
Thematic Connections: Link the passage to the broader themes of the play. Discuss how the themes of racism, deception, and jealousy introduced in this scene foreshadow the tragic downfall of Othello.
Sample Analysis
In Act 1, Scene 1, Shakespeare immediately establishes Iago’s duplicitous nature and Othello’s outsider status. Iago’s racialised language (“an old black ram is tupping your white ewe”) reflects societal prejudices, which will later influence Othello’s insecurities. Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony allows the audience to see Iago’s manipulation before Othello does, heightening the tragic inevitability of his downfall. The secrecy and betrayal in this opening scene foreshadow the wider tragedy of the play.
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