Magic the Gathering can be used as a teaching tool to help reinforce key concepts with students. By using these cards, students will review key quotations, while coming to understand thematic connections to the text. To learn more about how Magic the Gathering can be used as a teaching tool, you can read the article Magic the Gathering in Education.
Magic the Gathering: Othello
The idea behind these cards was to give my students something they could use to study Shakespeare, without having to specifically study Shakespeare. The cards try to highlight important quotations, characters, and moments from the play. The images have been taken from the 1995 version of the film.
These cards were originally created 2011.
Card Explanations
Card 17: The Beast With Two Backs
Iago uses this crass metaphor to spur Brabantio into action. He seeks to make Brabantio try to reclaim his daughter from Othello.
In the Game
This card allows two character to combine and attack as one.
The two Characters combine their powers, and subtract their defence, without dropping below 1.
If a 3/2 Character combines with a 2/1 Character they would attack as one single 5/1 Character.
If the combined Characters are killed, it counts as two characters being killed.
Card 18: Venice
Venice is the setting for the play Othello.
In the Game
Settings allow the player to gain resources with which to play additional cards.
This setting is a Book, which produced book-mana. It is also from the Shakespeare set, and may provide either one Shakespeare-mana instead of a book-mana.
Each time it is tapped, the Controller may choose what they wish to produce.
Card 19: False Friends
Iago has managed to convince Othello that they are best of friends. Because of this, Othello acts on Iago’s words without ever considering their validity.
In the Game
This allows a player to immediately cancel a declared battle after an attacking Character has tapped, but before the battle is resolved.
Aside from the Attacker tapping, it is as if the battle had never been declared at all.
Card 20: Brabantio
Brabantio is the Father of Desdemona.
In the Game
In the game Brabantio is a 1/2 Character.
Card 21: Manipulation
Iago is a master manipulator who sets all the events of the play in motion.
In the Game
This allows players to take control of their destiny by looking at the top three cards in their library.
Once they have seen them, they can place them back in whatever order they wish.
Card 22: Handkerchief
Othello gives Desdemona a Handkerchief, which was something they both treasured. Iago has Emilia steal the handkerchief, which is the catalyst for the great tragedy of the play.
In the Game
Playing this card allows a player to force a battle, choosing who will fight whom. Much like Iago, the person who controls the Handkerchief has the ability to set a deadly battle in motion.
Card 23: Roderigo
Roderigo is in love with Desdemona. He hires Iago to help him win her heart. Iago, however, has nothing but the destruction of Othello on his mind, choosing to use Roderigo’s money to serve those ends instead.
In the Game
Roderigo is a 2/* character.
His defence value is based on whether or not Iago is also controlled by the player.
Roderigo has an additional ability.
He may tap, allowing the player to search their library for Iago.
Iago can be taken into hand, or brought into play immediately provided the summoning cost is met.
Card 24: Willow, Willow
Willow, Willow, is a song that Desdemona signs. It serves as a moment to foreshadow the coming tragedy.
In the Game
Willow, Willow, allows a player to cancel one Rising Action currently in play.
Playing this card completely removes the card from the field. It will then be placed in the owners discard pile.
What Binder Education 