Study Questions for Othello

Act I, Scene1

11. In Act I, scene 1 why does Iago say he hates Othello? What are all the charges he makes against the general?

12. Why does Roderigo hate Othello?

13. Why is the speech by Iago, lines 38 - 62, important in explaining what happens later?

14. Why should Roderigo pay particular attention to Iago's speech?

15. In Act I, scene 1, what is Iago's master plot to annoy Othello and Desdemona?

16. Find all the examples in I, 1, of Iago referring to the sex in terms of animals.

17. Find all the references in I, 1 of Othello as a devil. Find Iago's use of "taboo words. "

18. Explain the contrast in the way Iago speaks to Brabantio and the way Roderigo speaks to him.

19. How does Brabantio's attitude toward Roderigo change in the course of this scene?

20. What is Brabantio's explanation of why his daughter has run off with Othello?

21. Why does this scene begin in the middle of a conversation? Act I, Scene 2

22. Who does Iago tell Othello badmouthed him to Brabantio?

23. Everyone says Othello is lucky to wed the daughter of the rich Brabantio, except Othello. Why is he not impressed?

24. Explain what happens between Iago and Cassio in the short time Othello is off stage in the Sagittary (lines 47 - 52)

25. List all of the negative comments or words Brabantio uses to describe Othello.

26. How does Othello react to the provocation of Brabantio's attack?

27. Find five places in I, 2 where Othello exercises authority. Act I, Scene 3

28. At the beginning of I, 3 what do the duke and the council of Venice determine the Turks' military objective be? How does this relate to what happens later?

29. What is effective in Othello's first speech of justification (lines 76 - 94)?

30. Explain how the relationship between Othello and Desdemona began. Who first initiated the idea of love?

31. How do we know Othello's second speech of justification (lines 127 - 169) was effective?

32. What makes the second speech of justification effective as a piece of language?

33. Why is Desdemona's response to her father's question at lines 176 - 178 especially effective?

34. In this scene what does Desdemona tell us attracted her to Othello? What attracted her to him?

35. How does Desdemona argue that she should be allowed to accompany her husband to Cyprus?

36. What assurances does Othello offer the Council that he will take care of business, even if his wife is with him?

37. Explain Iago's "parable of the garden" (lines 314 - 327).

38. Find all Iago's uses of the word "love" in this scene. What's unusual about them?

39. How does Iago manipulate Roderigo in lines 329 - 370?

40. What is the "real reason" Iago hates Othello?

41. Why is Cassio a particularly handy scapegoat for Iago's plot? Act II, Scene 1

42. Describe how Cassio acts when he lands at Cyprus, especially when Desdemona comes ashore. (II, 1, lines 42 - 97)

43. Why does Iago verbally attack his wife at II, 1, lines 99 - 110?

44. According to Iago what is all the most accomplished woman in the world is good for? (II, 1, lines 146 - 158)

45. Explain what Iago is talking about at II, 1, lines 165 - 175.

46. How does Iago convince Roderigo that Cassio is in love with Desdemona? (II, 1, lines 215 - 245)

47. What is ironic about Roderigo's response to this news at II, 1, lines 248 -249?

48. In Act I, 3 we hear how Othello's life story helped win the love of Desdemona. In Act II, 1, lines 220 - 225 we learn Iago's reaction to the same story. What?

49. What has changed since I, 3, in Iago's explanation of why he wants revenge on Othello and others? (II, 1, lines 285 - 311) Why has it changed? Act II, Scene 2

50. In II, 2, lines 12 - 29, what is Iago trying to get Cassio to do? Why?

51. How does Iago's personality change from the way he's behaved in the past? Why the change?

52. What is unattractive about Cassio's behavior as a drunk?

53. How does Iago manipulate the gentlemen of Cyprus to object to Cassio's behavior?

54. Look at II, 2, lines 177 - 182. Why did Iago use those particular words?

55. What new aspect of Othello's personality do we see in II, 2, lines 201 - 215?

56. Describe how Iago, while apparently defending his friend Cassio actually encourages Othello to take action against him? (II, 2, lines 218 - 244)

57. Explain why Cassio reacts as he does at II, 2, lines 260 - 263?

58. Explain why Iago's advice at II, 2, 264 - 325 is perfectly natural response?

59. In Iago's explanation of his revenge plot at II, 2, lines 333- 359 are there any new motives for his behavior? Act III, Scene 3

60. Is Desdemona's statement at III, 3, lines 20 - 27 surprises? How will it affect the outcome of the play?

61. Why does Desdemona push so hard for Cassio to get his job back?

62. Explain the passage at III, 1, lines 75 - 85. In what way are Othello and his wife operating at crossed purposes?

63. How does Iago manipulate Othello in the passage from lines 93 - 123?

64. How many times does Othello demand to know Iago's thoughts (or some variation on that theme) in the passage of III, 3, lines 93 - 164? Why doesn't Iago answer him?

65. How does Iago manipulate Othello in the passage from line 124 - 176? (Where is the first mention of "cuckoldry" in this scene?

66. How does Othello appear to escape Iago's trap in the passage lines 176 - 192?

67. How does Iago manipulate Othello in lines 193 - 213? Why does Othello fall for the manipulation?

68. How does Iago manipulate Othello in lines 214 - 241?

69. At what point in the play does Iago know for sure that he's hooked, Othello?

70. What are the reasons Othello believes Desdemona may have betrayed him? What does he decide to do about the betrayal?

71. Why does Emilia take Desdemona's handkerchief? What does that tell us about the relationship between Iago and his wife?

72. Why is Iago upset at Othello's reaction at lines 335 - 370?

73. How does Iago manipulate Othello in lines 371 - 423?

74. How does Iago manipulate Othello at lines 424 - 476?

75. In the sequence at III, 3, lines 330 - 370 how has Othello's attitude changed since we saw him last?

76. Explain why Othello threatens Iago at III, 3, lines 355 -379. How do you think Iago feels when he is threatened with violence?

77. Where did Iago's "dream" (III, 3, lines 407 - 423) come from? Why did Iago select the particular details that he chose? 78. How does the relationship between Iago and Othello change in the last 30 lines of the scene? How does Shakespeare physically show the shift in power?

79. What do you think may have been going through Iago's mind when he says, in line 472, "But let her live"? Act III, Scene 4

80. In Act III, 4, line 34, what does Othello mean by, "O, hardness to dissemble! "?

81. How does Emilia explain Othello's anger over the missing handkerchief? How effective a liar is Desdemona?

82. Is Othello's handkerchief really magic? Argue both "yes" and "no. "

83. How does Iago control the communications between Othello and all the other characters? Why does Desdemona excuse her husband's anger?

84. Who is Bianca and what's her problem? What similarities does she have with Othello? Act IV, Scene 1

85. In the first 30 lines of IV, 1, how has the relationship between Iago and Othello changed since III, 3?

86. Why does Othello lose consciousness at IV, 1, lines 35 - 44? How does Iago explain what happened? Why?

87. Explain how Iago stages the dual, simultaneous manipulation of Cassio and Othello at IV, 1, lines 95 - 144.

88. Do you think Iago anticipated Bianca's appearance at line 145? How is he able to use her arrival to further his deception?

89. What's different about Othello's attitude toward Desdemona lines 178 - 210? What causes this change?

90. Explain what is happening in the sequence at IV, 1, lines 218 - 261? Why "goats and monkeys! "

91. How does Iago manipulate Lodovico in the last 20 lines of IV, 1? Act IV, Scene 2

92. What does Othello mean when he addresses Emilia at IV, 2, lines 27 - 30?

93. According to Othello what's the worst part of being a cuckold?

94. Where in Act IV, 2, does Desdemona finally start to fight back? Explain her physical reaction right after Othello leaves at line 92.

95. Where in this scene does Emilia almost figure out what happened? Explain her husband's reaction to her speculations.

96. Who is the first person in the play to figure out Iago's duplicity? How is Iago able to manipulate this person, even after the truth is known? Act IV, Scene 3

97. What is the point of Act IV, 3?

98. Explain the difference between Desdemona's and Emilia's attitudes toward adultery.

99. Explain exactly how Iago manipulates every single person who appears in this scene.

100. Explain the significance of Iago's lines at IV, 3, lines 18 - 20.

101. Why does Iago accuse Bianca of complicity in the attack on Cassio? How is he able to make the case against her? Act V, Scenes 1 & 2

102. Contrast V, 1 and V, 2 in terms of characters' motivations, actions, the pace of the events, the moral significance of the actions, etc.

103. Based on your sense of Act V, scene 2 (what happens and why it happens) argue that Iago wins the battle for Othello's soul. Then argue that Othello wins the battle.

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