English II Honors: Othello Act 5 Study Guide

What is Iago’s plan for Cassio? Roderigo and Iago will attack him and kill him.
For what two reasons does he say he wants Cassio dead? Iago wants Cassio dead because he says Cassio has a good character that makes Iago look bad, and if Othello confronts Cassio then his plan will be foiled.
Iago feels he will also benefit if Cassio kills Roderigo. How can he benefit from that? Since Iago has taken Roderigo’s fortune, Roderigo has threatened to tell everyone this if he doesn’t get his money back.
What saves Cassio? Cassio has armor underneath his clothes that saves him from Roderigo when he stabs him.
Why does Roderigo say to Iago, “O damn’d Iago! O inhuman dog!” Roderigo says this to Iago because Iago killed him and he realized at the end that Iago is a terrible and evil person.
Why is it necessary for Grantiano and Lodovico to be present at this time? If Gratiano and Lodovico weren’t there it would have been easy for Iago to kill Cassio.
What is the meaning of Iago’s aside at the end of the scene? He meant that his actions and the events of that night would either make him or break him.
Based on his opening soliloquy, what would you say is Othello’s mood? Othello is much calmer and it shows that since he is slightly unsure about killing Desdemona, he still loves her. However, he is determined to kill her.
Why does Othello say, “No; heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.” He is telling Desdemona to confess her sins before he is going to kill her because he doesn’t want her to go to hell after he kills her (if she still had a sin she had not forgiven).
As Desdemona tries to convince Othello of her innocence, what news makes her break down and weep? She is told that Cassio is dead and he could prove that she is innocent.
How does Othello interpret her weeping. He thinks she is weeping because she loved Cassio.
Before she dies, Desdemona tells Emilia that she has killed herself. Why does she not say Othello did it? She is trying to protect him from punishment.
Why does Emilia repeat the phrase “My husband!” three times? She can’t believe that her husband would have lied about Desdemona cheating on Othello
At this point, why does Othello dray his sword on Emilia? When she says that her husband lied about Desdemona being unfaithful and then she insults him by saying that he didn’t deserve Desdemona.
Emilia defies Othello, despite the fact her life is at risk. Why? She loves and remains loyal to Desdemona.
Why does Iago want Emilia to go home and why does she refuse? Iago knows she will tell Othello the truth. She is determined to prove Desdemona’s innocence.
After Emilia dies, Othello grabs another sword and tells Grantiano that he does not need to worry about him trying to escape. Why not? Othello no longer has any wish to live.
When Othello admits that he and Iago were plotting Cassio’s murder, Cassio is shocked as he has done nothing wrong to him. What is Othello’s response to this? He demands that Iago explain why he ruined his life.
What is Othello’s request of Lodovico? He requests that when Lodovico writes the report on the deaths that he describes Othello exactly how he is- not better or worse and as the “one who loved not wisely but too well.”
What is Othello’s fate? What will be in the future for Cassio and Iago? Cassio will be the governor of Cyprus and Iago is condemned to be tortured to death.
September 5, 2019