IB English A Lit The Plan Notes

Exemplar IO Plan

Global Issue: The damaging impact of power imbalances in marriage on women

Texts: Othello by William Shakespeare (literary, originally written in English) and A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen (literary, work in translation)

Introduction (1–1.5 mins)

1. Introduce the global issue: Power imbalances in marriage can harm women emotionally, mentally, and physically.
2. Present the two texts:
   1. Othello by William Shakespeare (literary text, originally in English)
   2. A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen (literary text, work in translation, originally in Norwegian)
3. State the thesis:
   1. Both texts depict patriarchal marriage as a space where women’s voices are silenced and their identities suppressed.
   2. While Shakespeare explores the violent consequences of male dominance, Ibsen critiques the emotional damage caused by control and infantilization.

Literary Text 1: Othello

1. Close Analysis 1
   1. Quote: “My lord” / “Devil”
   2. Technique: Juxtaposition of terms of address
   3. Insight: Desdemona shows submission, Othello asserts dominance through insults
   4. Link to GI: Reveals the emotional toll of imbalanced power, women remain respectful even when abused
2. Close Analysis 2
   1. Quote: “Out of my sight!”
   2. Technique: Imperative command with punctuation
   3. Insight: Shows Othello’s aggressive dominance and refusal to allow Desdemona a voice
   4. Link to GI: Language becomes a weapon that enforces submission and strips agency
3. Wide Analysis 1
   1. Quote: “Kill me tomorrow, let me live tonight.” (Act 5, Scene 2)
   2. Technique: Declarative language + juxtaposition
   3. Insight: Desdemona accepts death, has no real power to resist
   4. Link to GI: Demonstrates the ultimate cost of domestic power abuse, women's lives
4. Wide Analysis 2
   1. Quote: “My bloody thoughts, my violent pace”
   2. Technique: Repetition and visceral imagery
   3. Insight: Reveals Othello’s descent into unchecked rage
   4. Link to GI: Male jealousy legitimized by patriarchy can lead to catastrophic violence against women

Literary Text 2: A Doll’s House

1. Close Analysis 1
   1. Quote: Stage directions: “holding her back”, “trying to get free” (Act 3)
   2. Technique: Physical movement as metaphor
   3. Insight: Nora is physically and symbolically restrained
   4. Link to GI: Highlights the danger and control husbands exercise, limiting women's freedom
2. Close Analysis 2
   1. Quote: “Mine, all mine, mine alone”
   2. Technique: Repetition and possessive pronouns
   3. Insight: Torvald views Nora as property
   4. Link to GI: Women’s identities are reduced to their marital status and possession by husbands
3. Wide Analysis 1
   1. Quote: “Expensive pet”, “squanderbird” (Act 1, Scene 1)
   2. Technique: Diminutive nicknames
   3. Insight: Nora is infantilised and belittled, not treated as an equal adult
   4. Link to GI: Emotional degradation enforces women’s subservience in marriage
4. Wide Analysis 2
   1. Quote: “That’s how I’ve survived” (Act 3)
   2. Technique: Declarative language and verb choice
   3. Insight: Surviving implies hardship, not partnership, reveals emotional cost of marriage
   4. Link to GI: Ibsen champions women’s right to reclaim identity after being suppressed by male authority

Conclusion (1 min)

1. Recap:
   1. Othello exposes the violent, life-threatening danger of power imbalances in marriage.
   2. A Doll’s House shows the emotional and psychological erosion of identity due to male control.
2. Connection to the real world:
   1. From domestic abuse cases to emotional manipulation in marriages, the systemic silencing of women remains a global issue.
3. Final message:
   1. Both texts urge audiences to confront the consequences of patriarchal marriage structures and recognise the need for female autonomy and equality.