NAME _______________Gina Hong_____________________ CLASS ___4___ DUE ________5/15/12__________

Shakespeares OTHELLO STUDY GUIDE (MAJOR GRADE)

While reading Othello , answer the following questions using complete sentences and proper documentation
EX: (Act. Scene. Lines) = (II. iii. 23-26). You are not required to provide direct quotes.

Act One
1. What is Iago's complaint in Scene I?
Iagos complaint in Scene I is that Othello choose Cassio as lieutenant over him (I. i. 31-34).
2. Why does Iago leave Roderigo at Brabantio's house?
Iago leaves Roderigo at Brabantios house because he doesnt want Othello finding out he is talking bad about him
and Othello needs to think Iago is still loyal to him, in order to get Cassios job (I. i. 145-159).
3. What is Brabantio's reaction to Othello's marriage to Desdemona?
Brabantios reaction to Othellos marriage to Desdemona is anger towards Othello and saying that Othello used
witchcraft towards Desdemona to love him (I. ii. 76-78).
4. Why does the Duke send for Othello?
The Duke sends for Othello because there was a Turkish fleet heading towards Cyprus and they want Othello to
defend and governor it (I. iii. 54-55).
5. What danger is Cyprus facing?
The danger Cyprus is facing is that the Turkish fleets are going to attack Cyprus (I. iii. 18, 45).
6. Brabantio complains to the Duke about Othello's marriage to Desdemona. After listening to both
sides of the story, what is the Duke's reply?
After the Duke listens to both sides of Othellos marriage to Desdemona, his reply is he sees that there is no wrong
to their marriage and that his daughter would also be swoon torwards Othello (I. iii. 183).
7. What is Roderigo's complaint, and what is Iago's reply to it?
Roderigos complaint is he is upset that Desdemona is marrying Othello and Iago replies that he should be patient
and give him more money (I. iii. 337, 378).
8. Who is Othello, and why is he so respected by the Duke?
Othello is a general of armies in Venice and he is so respected by the Duke because the Duke knows Othello has
experience and very talented to defend Cyprus (I. iii. 237-238).
9. What warning does Brabantio give to Othello?
Brabantio warns Othello that since Desdemona tricked even her own father, that she might trick him too (I. iii. 314).
10. What does Iago say must happen to Desdemona?
Iago says that once Desdemona realizes that Othello is body is getting too old she will go to someone younger, like
Roderigo (I. iii. 366-367).
11. Why does Iago hate the Moor?
Iago hates the Moor because he believes Othello slept with his wife (I. iii. 397-398).

Act Two
12. Where are we as Act 2 begins? What is the situation at sea?
In the beginning of Act 2 it starts off at a sea-port in Cyprus, where there is a large storm in the sea (II. i. Stage
direction, 2).
13. Why does Iago want Roderigo to anger Cassio?
Iago wants Roderigo to anger Cassio because if Cassio were to fight with Roderigo than he may be stripped of his
position (II. i. 283-286)
14. What evidence is Iago using to rationalize his plan? Is his evidence solid?
The evidence Iago is using to rationalize his plan is when they arrived in Cyprus Cassio held Desdemonas hand (II.
i. 265). This evidence isnt solid because Cassio was just being a gentleman.
15. What keeps Roderigo from seeing the truth instead of Iagos lies?
Why Roderigo is kept from seeing the truth is because of his love for Desdemona and wanting to get Desdemona
for himself (II. i. 252-253).
16. How does Iago see Desdemona, and how does Cassio see Desdemona?
Iago sees Desdemona as immoral but Cassio sees her as a pure woman, which is the opposite as Iagos (II.iii. 17-
25).
17. Why does Iago want Cassio to drink more wine? What is the outcome of Cassios drinking?
Iago wants Cassio to drink more wine because once Cassio is drunk he will be easily provoked. The outcome of
Cassios drinking is that he got provoked by Roderigo and they fought (II. Iii. 44, 139-140).
18. What lie does Iago tell Montano about Cassio?
The lie Iago tells Montano about Cassio is he is always a drunk (II. Iii. 119-121).
19. Why does Othello strip Cassio of his rank?
Othello strips Cassio of his rank because Cassio got drunk, attacked Roderigo, and injured Montano when he was
suppose to be on guard (II. Iii. 220-230).
20. Why does Iago want Cassio to ask Desdemona for help in restoring Othello's faith in Cassio?
Iago wants Cassio to ask Desdemona for help to restore Othellos faith in him, because if Desdemona were to ask
Othello this it will seem like Desdemona has feelings for Cassio making it seem like the rumors of a affair between
them is true (II. Iii. 341-348).
21. How does Iago get back in Othellos good graces?
Iago gets back in Othellos good graces because he tells Othello about telling Othello what happen in the fight, but
making it seem like he doesnt want to get Cassio in trouble and saying he has good faith in all men (II. Iii. 240-241).
22. What is Roderigos complaint, and how does Iago answer it?
Roderigos complaint is he is beaten up, broke, and still doesnt have Desdemona, but Iago tells him they are
getting closer to their goals and to be patience (II. Iii. 350-353, 364-366).

Act Three
23. How successfully does Desdemona plead for Cassio? What is Othello's response to Desdemona as
she leaves?
Desdemona is not really successful pleading for Cassio since Othello tells Desdemona they will talk about another
time (III. Iii. 93-95). Othellos response to Desdemona as she leaves is he calls her a wench, but he still loves her
and when he is not loving her there is chaos (III. Iii. 100-103).
24. Why doesn't Iago simply tell Othello right away that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair?
Iago simply doesnt tell Othello right away that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair because he doesnt
want Othello to think he is lying and when he is pretending to try to keep it a secret it makes him seem like an
honest man (III. iii. 161-163).
25. Othellos love for Desdemona is solid. Why does he become a man in misery by his next
speech? What has moved him from love to jealousy?
He becomes a man in misery by his next speech because even though Othello loves Desdemona, he is tricked by
Iagos lies about Desdemona not loving him but is having an affair with Cassio (III. iii. 200-203).
26. What thing does Emilia find and give to Iago? What does Iago intend to do with it?
The thing Emilia finds is Desdemonas handkerchief that Othello gave her and Iago intends to put it in Cassios
room to have evidence that there is an affair between Cassio and Desdemona (III. iii 323-324, 358-361).
27. What is Iago's reply when Othello demanded proof of his wife's disloyalty?
Iagos reply when Othello demands proof of his wifes disloyalty is he has seen Cassio with the handkerchief
Othello gave to Desdemona (III. iii. 484-486).
28. What does Othello decide and command at the end of Scene 3?
At the end of Scene 3, Othello decides to promote Iago to lieutenant and he plans to kill Desdemona and Cassio
(III. iii. 527-530).
29. What, according to Othello, is the history of the handkerchief? Is Othello telling the truth here? What
else might he be doing?
According to Othello, the history of the handkerchief is an Egyptian witch gave the handkerchief to his mother and
was meant to make her love stay loyal to her but if it were lost then her husband would leave her for another
woman (III. iv. 60-72). Othello is not telling the truth because he is trying to tell Desdemona that he know about the
affair because he knows Cassio has the handkerchief (III. iv. 89-93).
30. What does the argument show about both Othello and Desdemona?
The argument shows that Othello is stubborn but desperate to find evidence to prove Desdemona is not sheating
on him and that Desdemona is very patience and kind (III. iv. 60-72).
31. What is Emilia's view of men? How justified is she?
Emilias view of men is she believes men keep their wives just to amuse them and when they get bored they throw
their wives away (III. iv. 111-114). She is sort of justified because Iago doesnt love her and Othello loves his wife
but is just angry because he thinks Desdemona is sheating on him.
32. Who is Bianca? What is her relationship to Cassio? What does he ask her to do? What is her
emotional response? How does Cassio get the handkerchief?
Bianca is a prostitute that loves Cassio and come when he calls on her (III. iv. 181-182). Cassio ask Bianca to copy
the handkerchief he found in his bedroom, which is Desdemonas (III. iv. 202, 204-204). Her response is that Cassio
has found another woman and is gloating it to her (III. iv. 212-214).
33. Who had the handkerchief at the end of Act 3? Why?
At the end of Act 3, Bianca has the handkerchief because Cassio gave it to her, for her to make a copy for him (III.
iv. 204-205).

Act Four
34. After Iago lied and told Othello that Cassio confessed going to bed with Desdemona, what advice
does he give the overwhelmed Othello?
Iagos advice to Othello is to hide while he talks to Cassio about if he is having an affair with Desdemona (IV. i. 86-
101).
35. How does Iago trick Othello into thinking Cassio is gloating and bragging about his affair with
Desdemona?
Iago tricks Othello into believing Cassio is gloating and bragging about his affair with Desdemona is, instead of
talking about Desdemona, Iago talks about Bianca (IV. i. 107-113). Which Cassio believes is just a normal
conversation, he laughs about it, but Othello thinks he is laughing about Desdemona.
36. How does Bianca's return with the handkerchief help Iago?
Biancas return with the handkerchief helps Iago because it proves to Othello that Cassio had the handkerchief and
making it seem that Cassio doesnt care about Desdemona (IV. i. 184-188).
37. Why does Othello hit Desdemona?
Othello hits Desdemona because Desdemona says she loves Casio as a good friena but it still anger Othello (IV. i.
243-256).
38. What is Lodovico's reaction to Othello's behavior towards Desdemona? How does Iago later explain
Othello's behavior to Lodovico?
Lodovicos reaction to Othellos behavior towards Desdemona is he is very shocked that a man like Othello would
strike his wife (IV. i. 256-260). Iago then explains to Lodovico that Othello has changed into an abusive and his next
actions will speak for themselves to what Othello has become (IV. i. 289).
39. Why does Othello ask Emilia about Cassio's affair with Desdemona, and what is her reply?
Othello ask Emilia about Cassios affair with Desdemona because he wants to know if she really having an affair
with Cassio, since Emilia is always with Desdemona so she would know is they were acting suspicious (IV. ii. 6-11).
Emilias reply is that Desdemona is loyal to Othello and has a pure heart (IV. ii 13-20).
40. Why does Iago tell Rodrigo to kill Cassio? Why does Roderigo consent to think about it?
Iago tells Rodergio to kill Cassio because Iago doesnt want Cassio to find out that he is the suppose to kill him and
Rodergio considers this because if Cassio is not killed then Othello will have to leave and he will take Desdemona
with him (IV. ii. 263-268).
41. If Roderigo kills Cassio, what promise has Iago taken care of?
If Rodergio killed Cassio, then Iago has taken care of his promise to Othello to kill Cassio (IV. i. 224-225).

Act Five
42. How would Iago gain from Roderigo's death? Cassio's?
 Iago would gain from Rodergios death because Iago will get to keep the money he gave to Desdemona and if
Cassio dies, the truth of his plans wont come out (V. i. 12-19).
43. After Bianca appears, what new part of his plot does Iago begin in Scene 1?
The new plot Iago starts to plan in the beginning of Scene 1 is Iago suspected that Bianca was a suspect to
Cassios ambush (V. i. 132).
44. Who will get the blame for the attack on Cassio if Iago has his way?
If Iago has his way Roderigo would be the blame of Cassios attack (V. i. 124-125).
45. What justification does Othello try to give the murder of Desdemona in Scene 2?
Othellos justification to try to give the murder of Desdemona in Scene 2 is that she has been cheating on him with
Cassio (V. ii. 163).
46. Whom does Desdemona blame for her death? Does Emilia believe her?
Desdemona blames herself for her death, but Emilia does not believe her, she believes someone murder her (V. ii.
148, 153).
47. How is Desdemona faithful to Othello to the end?
Desdemona is faithful to Othello to the end because she does not tell Emilia that Othello was the one that murder
her and the last thing she said was she still loved Othello (V. ii. 149).
48. What is Othello finally beginning to realize? What has happened to Desdemonas father?
Othello is finally beginning to realize that Iago has been lying to him and tricking him about the affair (V. ii. 275).
Desdemonas father died because of depression from Desdemonas marriage (V. ii. 239).
49. What happens to Othello, Iago and Cassio in the end?
Othello kills himself because he killed Desdemona with no good reason, Iago is stabbed and being taken captive
where he will be trial and torture for the crimes he committed, and Cassio is now going to be the governor of Cyprus
(V. ii. 405, 419-420, 381).
50. Who gets Othellos estate? Why?
Grantio is the person who will be getting Othellos estate because he is Desdemonas uncle (V. ii. 416-417).

Student name____________Gina Hong______________ Assignment Title ___Othello Study Guide Questions___ Date ______5/21/12_______

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