Othello Study Guide Questions Since only a class set is available to you from the English department, you may also access the full text of the play from any of the following websites: www.folgerdigitaltexts.org/html/oth.html OR shakespeare.mit.edu/othello/ Act I, Scene i 1. From Roderigo s first speech it appears that he paid Iago for something. Can you tell what it was? 2. Iago says he hates Othello. For what reason? 3. What does Iago say of Cassio? Does this make sense to you? 4. What two kinds of followers are there, according to Iago? 5. Shortly after this, Iago speaks about appearance and reality. He concludes, I am not what I am. State what preceded that line and explain it. 6. How do Iago and Roderigo stir up trouble? What type of language do they employ? 7. What is Brabantio s reaction? 8. What does Brabantio say that this situation reminds him of? 9. Why does Iago make sure he leaves before Brabantio comes out of the house? 10. Earlier Brabantio has told Roderigo that there is no way that Othello is suitable Desdemona. What does he say to Roderigo after finding out about her and Othello? Act I, Scene ii 1. Why does Iago say he wishes to kill Roderigo? What reason does he give for not killing him? 2. What is Othello s response? 3. Why is Othello not worried about Brabantio s wrath? 4. Iago tells Othello that Brabantio and his friends are coming, and it is best if Othello goes into the house. What is Othello s response? 5. The lights turn out to be carried by Cassio. What message does he bring? 6. As Othello is about to leave for the Senate, Brabantio and his supporters show up and draw their swords. How would you describe Othello when he responds? 7. Of what does Brabantio accuse Othello? 8. Brabantio wishes to arrest Othello and hold him in jail until he can be brought to court. What forces him to change his plans? 9. What is Brabantio s new plan? Act I, Scene iii 1. About what are the Duke and Senators concerned? 2. By what adjective do the Senators and the Duke refer to Othello? What does this indicate? 3. Why is Brabantio convinced Othello used drugs and spells on Desdemona? 4. How does the Senate react to Brabantio s charges against Othello? What does the Duke say? 5. What is the tone of Othello s response? What does this say about his temperament? 6. How did Brabantio misread Desdemona s actions toward Othello? 7. The Duke tells Brabantio that his (Brabantio s) saying that Othello used drugs as charms on his daughter is not proof of it. Then a Senator asks Othello if it is true. What is Othello s response? 8. How did Othello win Desdemona s love? 9. The Duke says his daughter, too, would have fallen in love with Othello after hearing him speak. What is Brabantio s response? 10. Desdemona speaks truthfully before the group, and Brabantio is convinced she married of her own free will. The Duke then gives Brabantio advice. What is Brabantio s mood at this point? 11. What is Desdemona s request of the Duke? 12. Why do you suppose Brabantio says to Othello Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see; She has deceived her father, and may thee. 13. Everyone leaves and Roderigo tells Iago he is going to drown himself. What is Iago s response? What is Iago s view of human nature and of love? 14. After Iago tells Roderigo to make a great deal of money and plan on getting Desdemona back, Roderigo leaves and we see into Iago s thoughts in his soliloquy. In this soliloquy, what seems to be his opinion of Roderigo? What is a reason he hates the Moor? What plan has he formulated? What does it say about Iago s character?
Act II, Scene i 1. What news do we get of the Turkish fleet? 2. At this point what is Cassio s hope? 3. Although they all seem to be enjoying themselves on the dock with Iago s cynical comments on women, we see that Iago s fierce mood has not abated. What does he observe, and what does he conclude? 4. It is clear that Iago views Othello as different and thinks that eventually Desdemona will too. Why does he think Desdemona will lose her love for Othello? 5. Some critics make the point that Othello is an outsider; and certainly, Brabantio, Iago, and others see him as that. To be an outsider, though, one must feel apart from society. In your opinion, does Othello feel like an outsider? 6. Iago tells Roderigo that because of Cassio s youth and good looks, Desdemona will look to Cassio when she gets tired of Othello. Is Iago saying all this just to ensnare Roderigo, or do you think he believes that Desdemona will be unfaithful to Othello? 7. Iago accuses Cassio of putting on a false appearance to gain his own ends. Why is this accusation an example of irony? 8. In Iago s soliloquy at the end of this scene we again see into his mind and, unlike the times he speaks with others, he has no reason to lie. In this soliloquy what does he believe about a) Cassio and Desdemona b) Othello and Desdemona c) his own feelings for Desdemona d) his suspicions of the Moor? How does he plan to discredit Cassio? Act II, Scene ii 1. What announcement is made by the Herald? Act II, Scene iii 1. What is Othello s opinion of Iago? 2. Why is Cassio reluctant to have a drink? Why does he finally agree? 3. How does the clever Iago, in one breath, praise and condemn Cassio to Montano? 4. Iago tells Roderigo to provoke Cassio, and he does. Then, as Montano and Cassio fight, Roderigo rings the alarm bell. Othello, very angrily, orders them to stop. What does Othello say to Iago? 5. After not getting a straight answer from anyone, Othello says, My blood begins my safer guides to rule, /And passion, having my best judgment collied, /Assays to lead the way. What is Othello s point and then what does he threaten? 6. How is this a departure from his earlier temperament, and what makes it ominous? What literary device is used? 7. Reluctantly, Iago tells Othello what happened. How is Othello s reaction all that Iago had hoped for? 8. What advice does Iago give Cassio? 9. Once again, Iago s soliloquy gives us a glimpse into his plans. He concludes, So will I turn her virtue into pitch, /And out of her own goodness make the net /That shall enmesh them all. What is he saying, and how does he plan to accomplish this? 10. In Roderigo s speech, do you find him to be pitiable, comical, or something else? 11. What are the next two moves Iago plans?
Act III, Scene i 1. Why does Cassio pay money to the clown to find Emilia? 2. What does Emilia tell Cassio? 3. At this point, how could Cassio upset Iago s devious plan? Act III, Scene ii & Scene iii 1. Is Emilia part of Iago s plot, or does she truly believe that Iago is saddened by what happened to Cassio? 2. Cassio knows he is going to get his job back, so what worries him now? 3. For what two reasons does Desdemona agree to plead Cassio s case? 4. What is Iago referring to when he says, Ha! I like not that.? 5. Desdemona pleads Cassio s case, and Othello agrees to reinstate him. What happens next? 6. After Othello repeatedly urges lago to tell him what s on his mind, Iago says O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; / It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock / The meat it feeds on. What is Othello s response? What two literary terms are used in this quote? 7. What does Iago say about the women of Venice? 8. Why might Othello be inclined to believe this or, at least, not dismiss it immediately? 9. What echo of Brabantio s earlier warning does Iago give Othello? 10. In his duplicitous fashion, what statements does Iago make about Desdemona and Othello? 11. Desdemona s handkerchief becomes an important part of the plot. Why did Desdemona produce it? What happens to it? What does Emilia plan to do with it? Finally, who gets it, and what is to be done with it? 12. A. Othello returns and is quite upset. Why? B. What general comment about mankind does Othello make? C. How is one thing he says able to be taken two ways? D. What warning does he give Iago? 13. What proof of Desdemona s disloyalty does Iago give Othello? 14. What is Iago s final proof? 15. At this point what is Othello s mood? 16. Othello makes Iago his lieutenant. What task is Iago to perform? Act III, Scene iv 1. Why does Desdemona not wish to admit to Othello that she lost the handkerchief he had given her? 2. Why does he demand to see the handkerchief when he already knows that Desdemona does not have it? 3. When Cassio asks Desdemona about his request, what does she tell him? 4. What does Desdemona think is the cause of Othello s anger? What point does Emilia raise? 5. State the two reasons Bianca is upset with Cassio.
Act IV, Scene i 1. Iago tells Othello that Cassio has told him of his affair with Desdemona. He agitates Othello with lewd images. What is the result? 2. Cassio shows up at this point, and Iago tells him to come back later. How does Iago say he will show Othello further proof? 3. Iago plans to get Cassio talking about Bianca, so Othello will think Cassio is talking about Desdemona. What further information does Iago reveal about Bianca? 4. How does Iago manage to get Cassio to talk about Bianca while Othello thinks he is talking about Desdemona? 5. What is the purpose of having Bianca show up at this point. 6. Why does Othello say one moment that she is a sweet creature and, in another breath, talk of letting her rot? 7. What news does Lodovico bring from Venice? 8. How does Desdemona react to the news? 9. After Othello slaps Desdemona in front of the guests, how does she react? 10. In his somewhat deranged state, Othello refers to goats and monkeys. It appears to make no sense, but it is a reference to what earlier comments in the play by Iago? 11. What does Lodovico ask Iago and what is Iago s response? Act IV, Scene ii 1. Throughout the discussion with Othello, Desdemona still does not understand the problem; finally, Othello calls her a whore. What is Desdemona s reaction? 2. After she recovers, what seems to be her plan? 3. Iago, Emilia, and Desdemona discuss how it could have happened that Othello has called her that cunning whore, a phrase that she will not even repeat. What is Emilia s thought about Othello s accusations? 4. What is Iago s reaction to this? 5. Roderigo shows up. What is his complaint to Iago? 6. Once again, however, Iago wins Roderigo back to his side. How? 7. Iago makes up a story to trick Roderigo. What is it he wants Roderigo to do? Act IV, Scene iii 1. Othello seems much calmer since he has made up his mind. What is revealed about Desdemona s thoughts? 2. Desdemona asks Emilia if she thinks that there are women who are unfaithful to their husbands. Does Desdemona seem naive with this question? 3. What is Emilia s response? What does she say about females who commit adultery? 4. Desdemona has been abused, slapped and humiliated by her husband, yet she loves him and hopes to convince him of the purity of their marriage. Does she seem weak or foolish because of her total love for Othello?
Act V, Scene i 1. What is Iago s plan for Cassio? 2. For what two reasons does Iago say he wants Cassio dead? 3. Iago also feels he will benefit if it happens that Cassio kills Roderigo. How can he benefit from that? 4. What saves Cassio? 5. Paraphrase Othello s short speech beginning with the words, Tis he What literary device is used? 6. Why does Roderigo say to Iago, O damn d Iago! O inhuman dog!? 7. Why is it necessary in the plot for Gratiano and Lodovico to be present at this time? 8. What is the meaning of Iago s aside at the end of the scene? Act V, Scene ii 1. From his soliloquy that opens Scene 2, what would you say is Othello s mood? 2. Why does Othello say, No; heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.? 3. As Desdemona tries to convince Othello that she is innocent of what he accuses her, she breaks down and weeps at what news? 4. How does Othello interpret her weeping? 5. Before she dies, Desdemona tells Emilia that she has killed herself. Why do you think she does not say that it was Othello who killed her? 6. Why does Emilia repeat the phrase, My husband! three times? 7. At this point, why does Othello draw his sword on Emilia? 8. Bravely, because Othello might easily kill her at this point and because her own life may be at risk, Emilia defies Othello. Why? 9. Iago tells Emilia to go home, but she refuses. Why is he telling her to leave, and why does she refuse? 10. After Emilia dies, Othello gets another sword. He tells Gratiano, who is guarding him, that Gratiano does not have to worry about Othello trying to escape. Why not? 11. Othello admits to planning Cassio s murder with Iago. Cassio is shocked to hear this, since he has done nothing to wrong Othello. What is Othello s response? 12. What is Othello s request of Lodovico? 13. Othello kills himself, and Lodovico and Gratiano prepare to return to Venice. What will be the future for Cassio and Iago?