Othello Study Guide Questions

Transcription

1 Othello Study Guide Questions Act I 1. Why is Iago angry at Othello? 2. What is revealed about Iago s character when he says, I am not what I am (line 71)? 3. What kind of imagery does Iago use in telling Brabantio of Des treachery? What is significant about that? 4. What does Brabantio reveal about Roderigo s character and how does his opinion change by the end of the scene? 5. Why does Iago leave after Brabantio is roused? 6. What is Brabantio s first reaction when he discovers that Desdemona is gone? How does he then search for some excuse to justify her behavior? i 1. I lack iniquity/sometimes to do me service (Iago 3-4) Why is this ironic? 2. How does Iago in his next lines try to intimidate Othello? What does it mean when he asks Othello if he is fast married? Why is that significant? 3. How does Othello s response reveal his own positive self-image? 4. Why do you think Iago swears by Janus? 5. Sum up the news Cassio brings. 6. Iago knows that Othello is married to Desdemona whereas Cassio does not. Why is that significant? 7. What does marry mean in line 65? 8. How does Iago try to instigate a brawl? 9. Who maintains self control during the exchange between Othello and Brabantio? 10. What does Brabantio mean by incur a general mock, gross in sense, and a practicer of arts inhibited and out of warrant? 11. Even after hearing the reason for the Duke s emergency session of the Senate, does Brabantio change his concern? Why? ii 1. Explain what happens in terms of rising action. Sum up the reports that the Duke and Senators hear about the wars in Cyprus. What do the deceptive movements of the Turks symbolize? 2. Explain Brabantio s first response to the Duke (61-69) 3. What imagery appears in lines 75-77? 4. What accusation against Othello does Brabantio repeat to the Duke? 5. What does the Duke promise him (78-81)? 6. What is Othello s defense in lines ? 7. In Brabantio s response, what disturbs him most about the marriage? 8. How do the Duke and Senate show they are trying to conduct a fair hearing of this case? 9. Explain the reason Othello has for why Des loves him. 10. How does Des handle the question of whom she owes obedience? 11. What is Brabantio s response to her answer? 12. What does Des speech (lines ) say about her character? 13. Why do the Duke s words offer cold comfort to Brabantio? 14. Point out the irony of Brabantio s response to the Duke. 15. Othello accepts his orders to go to Cyprus with only one condition. What it is? 16. Why does Desdemona not want to stay at her father s house? What is her request to the Duke? 17. What are the final arrangements? 18. What does the Duke mean when he tells Brabantio Your son-in-law is far more fair than black? 19. What warning does Brabantio give Othello? 20. How does Othello respond to this warning?

2 21. How does Iago reassure Roderigo that Des will be his? 22. Why is Iago so anxious that Roderigo not take his own life? 23. Iago describes an English garden. What is he comparing it to? What is he saying about human control of life? (He reduces love to lust, and in gardening terms, sect is a cutting and scion an offshoot of a new plant from the cutting.) 24. What advice does he give Roderigo other than to get plenty of money? 25. How does he finally convince Roderigo to believe in him? 26. Look at Iago s soliloquy beginning at line 426. a. Why does he bother with Roderigo whom he despises for a fool? b. What is another possible reason he hates the Moor? c. How will he extract revenge? How does he plan to use Cassio? d. What is significant about the last 2 lines? Act II 1. How is Cassio portrayed in the beginning of this scene? (Note his interactions with and language regarding Desdemona) 2. What does Iago mean when he says, Sir, would she give you so much of her lips As of her tongue she oft bestows on me, You would have enough ( )? 3. What is Iago saying in lines ? 4. What is Othello s reaction when he and Des are reunited (lines )? 5. How does Des react? 6. What does Iago mean when he says, O, you are well tuned now, But I ll set down the pegs that make this music, As honest as I am ( )? 7. Why does Iago tell Roderigo that Desdemona is in love with Cassio? What (in Iago s words) causes Desdemona to fall in love with Cassio? 8. What plan does Iago devise in regards to Cassio 9. Examine Iago s soliloquy at the end of the scene. a. What further reason does Iago reveal about his hatred of the Moor? b. What is the thought whereof Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards? ii 1. What possible interpretation can you offer for lines 10-12? 2. How does Iago manipulate Cassio? 3. What does Iago say to Montano regarding Cassio ( )? 4. How does Iago relate what has happened to cause the near riot? 5. What is Cassio s punishment? 6. How does Iago respond to Cassio s lament that his reputation is ruined? 7. What is Iago s suggestion to Cassio in order to get reinstated? 8. What does Iago mean when he says, So will I turn her virtue into pitch, And out of her own goodness make the net That shall enmesh them all ( )? 9. What decision has Roderigo made at the end of the scene? 10. How does Iago convince him to keep pursuing Desdemona? 11. What action does Iago propose to put into motion at the end of the scene? Act III 1. What help does Iago offer Cassio in his suit to Des? 2. What is Othello s intention in regards to Cassio as he discusses the situation with Des? (We hear of this via Emilia)

3 ii 1. Even though Desdemona reassures Cassio that Othello will reinstate him, what is Cassio worried about? 2. How does Iago begin to prepare Othello for an assault on Cassio s character later in the scene (38 and 41-43) 3. Why does Desdemona chastise Othello regarding the situation with Cassio? (85-92) How is this passage foreshadowing? 4. Look at lines What do these lines say about Othello s love for Des? 5. What aspect of Othello s character appears in his conversation with Iago? ( and ) 6. What is ironic in lines ? 7. What does Iago inadvertently reveal about himself in lines ? 8. What is Iago alluding to in lines ? 9. What decision does Othello make ( )? 10. Why does Iago say he feels the need to tell Othello about Des infidelity ( )? 11. What is Iago doing in lines ? What 2 items is he bringing back into Othello s mind? 12. What is significant about the use of negatives in line 265? 13. Where do you first see Othello give an overt indication that he thinks Des has cheated? 14. What suggestion does Iago make in lines ? 15. Examine Othello s speech in lines What is he saying? How does he over-exaggerate? 16. What does the exchange between Iago and Emilia reveal about their relationship? 17. What does Othello mean in lines ? 18. What is Othello really bidding farewell to in lines ? 19. What does Othello mean in lines ? 20. What proof does Iago offer? 21. Describe the scene between Othello and Iago at the end of the scene? What is significant? 22. What imagery is seen at the end of the scene? 23. What is ironic about Iago s concluding statement of the scene? v 1. What does Des believe about her husband (lines 25-29)? 2. What does Othello say about the history of the handkerchief? How does this speech seem in keeping with his emotional state at this point? (65-80 and 81-87) 3. What is the discrepancy in Des focus versus Othello s focus during their conversation? 4. What is Emilia s view on marriage (lines )? 5. To what does Des attribute Othello s mood? How does she view herself as being to blame? ( ) 6. What does Emilia say about jealousy (lines )? How does this idea tie into Iago s speech at the end of I. iii.? 7. What does Bianca immediately assume when Cassio gives her the handkerchief? Act IV 1. What is Iago doing in the beginning of this scene? Give specific examples. What is its effect upon Othello? 2. What is Iago s continual urging? 3. What does Iago mean in lines 86-87? 4. What is Iago s plan in lines 95 to 101? 5. What is Cassio s attitude toward Bianca? 6. Bianca enters with the handkerchief. What is her reaction to it ( )? 7. How does Iago rub salt in Othello s wounds? ( ) 8. How is Othello torn from lines ? 9. How does Othello propose to kill Des ( )? 10. What does Iago suggest instead ( )? 11. What is the plan for Cassio?

4 12. How does Des respond after Othello hits her? 13. Notice the animal allusion that Othello makes before he exits from the scene. Why is that significant? 14. How has Othello changed in Lodovico s opinion ( )? i 1. What is Othello asking Emilia about at the beginning of the scene? 2. What is Emilia s response (13-20)? 3. Why doesn t Othello believe Emilia (21-25)? 4. Upon Des arrival, how does she act towards Othello? 5. What explanation does Des offer to explain Othello s behavior (53-55)? 6. What life philosophy do we see Othello professing in lines 56-74? 7. How does Des react after Othello has accused her (lines and )? 8. Humorously, what is Emilia saying in lines and ? 9. What personal life experience does Emilia draw upon in lines ? 10. How do Emilia and Des respond to Othello in different ways? 11. What does Des mean in lines ? 12. Why is Roderigo angry ( ) and ( )? 13. What is significant about lines ? 14. What plan does Iago convince Roderigo of fulfilling? ii 1. What does Othello tell Des to do? 2. What request does Des make of Emilia if she dies? What is symbolic about this? 3. Why select a song of willow? 4. What is some possible symbolism in Des song? 5. What is Emilia s view on women committing adultery (lines )? 6. Who does Emilia blame if women commit adultery? What prompts women to do so? (97-115)? 7. What is Des response to this? Act V Scene i 1. Interpret Iago s lines How does Othello gain courage to kill Des? (34-41) 3. What has happened as a result of the attack upon Cassio? i 1. Look at lines a. What is the cause? b. What are some images of purity? c. Why must Des die (in Othello s opinion)? d. How does Othello view himself in this soliloquy? 2. Why doesn t Othello kill Des immediately? 3. What is Othello saying in lines 65-70? 4. What is the significance of Des last lines ( )? 5. How does Othello excuse the murder (lines )? Note all the heaven and hell imagery. 6. How does Emilia show great bravery towards Othello? 7. What is Iago s response to his wife s charge ( )? 8. How does Emilia stand up to Iago? 9. What does Othello mean in lines ? 10. What is the essence of Iago s final speech ( )? 11. What did the letters found in Roderigo s pockets say?

5 12. What did Roderigo reveal before he died ( )? 13. Closely examine Othello s final speech (lines ). a. What poetical devices do you see? b. What is the significance of the base Judean? c. Why does Othello reference a turbanned Turk?