| Why does Iago hate Othello? | Because Othello made Cassio his lieutenant, instead of Iago |
| Why does Iago choose to stay under Othello’s command? | To get back at Othello |
| Does Brabantio like Roderigo at first? Why or why not? | No, because Roderigo has spent the last few years trying to make Brabantio let him marry his daughter Desdemona |
| What does Brabantio think made his daughter run of with Othello? | He says that Othello enchanted her |
| What character traits does Othello have? | 1) Leadership2) Truthfulness3) Humility |
| What made Desdemona fall in love with Othello? | His stories |
| Why does the Duke suggest that Desdemona should stay behind while Othello fought the Turks? | Because she would be useless |
| Who does Othello leave in charge of Desdemona, while he fights off the Turks? | Iago |
| What is Roderigo going to do now that he knows Desdemona is married to another? | He says he is going to go drown himself |
| How is Othello respected? | He is respected with authority |
| What happened to the Turkish fleet? | They were destroyed in the storm |
| Iago tells Roderigo to do what with Cassio? | Fight |
| When Iago invites Cassio to drink and celebrate, what is Cassio’s initial response? | Cassio says he doesn’t have happy brains for drinking, meaning he doesn’t drink |
| What makes Cassio offended and start fighting with Montano? | Montano calling Cassio drunk |
| What does Othello do when he finds out Cassio started the fight? | He removes Cassio from his position as lieutenant |
| How does Cassio react to being removed from his position? | He is upset because his reputation is ruined |
| What does Cassio do to try and get his position back? | He talks to Desdemona and asks her if she can talk to Othello on his behalf |
| What two seeds does Iago start to plant in Othello’s mind? | 1) Jealousy 2) Doubt |
| Who takes Desdemona’s handkerchief? | Emilia |
| Does Emilia know what Iago plans to do with Desdemona’s handkerchief? Why does she give it to him? | No, she wants to please her husband’s fancy |
| What visual proof does Iago show Othello, that proves Cassio and Desdemona are having a affair? | The handkerchief |
| At the end of Act III, scene 3 what does Othello do? | He makes Iago his lieutenant |
| Why is the handkerchief so important to Othello? | It was his mother’s |
| What does Cassio do with the handkerchief he found? | He gives it to Bianca (his girlfriend) |
| Is Othello’s handkerchief really magic? | Yes, because he believes it isNo, because it is not magic |
| What are two of Othello’s flaws? | 1) Over-trusting2) Not seeing the truth |
| How does Cassio feel about Bianca? | He likes her, but doesn’t want to marry her |
| Why does Othello hit Desdemona? | Because he is mad at her |
| What does Emilia say about Desdemona as a wife? | That she is honest and the purest of wives |
| Othello identifies his weakness – what character trait does he say he is lacking? | Patience |
| What does Desdemona ask of Iago? | She asks him why Othello called her a “*****”, also what she can do to win her lord again |
| What is Iago’s reaction when Emilia almost figures out what he is up to? | He calls her a fool and tells her to leave |
| Why is Roderigo mad at Iago for telling him to go to Cyprus? | Because it didn’t help him get any closer to winning Desdemona, also he is treating him unjustly |
| How does Iago use flattery with Roderigo? | He tells Roderigo that he is witty, courageous and valor |
| What does the “Willow Song” foreshadow? | That there is lady and someone is deceiving her and that soon somebody will blame the deceitful one |
| What would Iago gain from Roderigo’s death? | He wouldn’t have to worry about Roderigo finding out he lied to him, or that he was being unjust to him |
| What would Iago gain from Cassio’s death? | He wouldn’t have to worry about Cassio finding out what he had been doing and then Cassio telling Othello the truth |
| What happens when Roderigo attacks Cassio? | Roderigo misses Cassio, Cassio stabs Roderigo, and Iago stabs Cassio in the leg |
| What does Iago do after he stabs Cassio? | He leaves because he knows Othello will be around soon |
| Act V, scene 1 includes the first death of this tragedy. Who dies and how? | Roderigo dies and he dies because Iago stabs him, pretending to be on Cassio’s side |
| Why does Othello ask Desdemona if she has prayed tonight? | Because he is going to kill her, and he doesn’t want to kill her if she hadn’t repented of her sins |
| How does Othello kill Desdemona? | He smothers her |
| What interruption occurs while Othello is smothering Desdemona? | Emilia starts calling to Othello |
| What is Emilia’s reaction when Othello tells her that Iago had revealed Desdemona’s affair with Cassio to him? | Every time Othello said how good Iago was to tell him of this Emilia would reply with “my Husband?” |
| Whom does Desdemona blame for her death? Does Emilia believe her? | HerselfEmilia does not believe Desdemona because she had no reason to kill herself |
| What happens when Iago tells his wife not to speak and to go home, orders which good renaissance wives should follow without question? | She spills everything out to Othello, and Iago then kills her and runs away |
| What are the letters found on Roderigo about? | 1) “the death of Cassio is to be undertook by Roderigo”2) “Iago’s plans”3) “Roderigo complaining about Cassio” |
| What justification does Othello try to give the murder of Desdemona? | He says that she was having an affair with Cassio, and the proof was that Cassio had Desdemona’s handkerchief |
| What does Othello tell Lodovico to write about “these unlucky deeds?” | He wants Lodovico to get straight to the point and not to sugar coat anything |
| What happens to Othello, Iago and Cassio in the end? | Othello kills himselfIago is taken away to be tormentedCassio becomes the governor of Cyprus (Othello’s position) |
Othello Test Review (Comprehension Questions)
July 3, 2019