| Othello | A Moorish general in the Venetian army; main character/Governor of Cyprus; Jealousy is his fatal flaw |
| Desdemona | Othello’s wife |
| Brabantio | Desdemona’s father; a Venetian senator |
| Iago | Othello’s “ancient”; villain of the play and master manipulator |
| Emilia | Iago’s wife; Desdemona’s attendant |
| Cassio | Othello’s second in command/lieutenant; has a major drinking problem |
| Roderigo | Iago’s pawn. In love with Desdemona. Supposed to kill Cassio |
| Lodovico | Venetian gentleman; kinsmen to Brabantio. Witnessed Othello striking Desdemona |
| Gratiano | Venetian gentleman & kinsman to Brabantio; |
| Montano | Official in Cyprus that is stabbed by Cassio when Cassio gets drunk |
| Bianca | Prostitute that Cassio has a relationship with |
| What was Iago’s complaint in Act 1 Scene I? | Othello made Cassio lieutenant instead of him |
| Why did Iago and Roderigo awaken Brabantio in the middle of the night? | To tell him Desdemona has eloped with Othello |
| Why did Iago leave Roderigo at Brabantio’s house? | To conceal his identity so no one knew he told Brabantio about the marriage; to warn Othello in order to gain favor with him |
| What was Brabantio’s reaction to Othello’s marriage to Desdemona? | He doesn’t approve and believes Othello has bewitched Desdemona. |
| Why did the Duke send for Othello? | He wants Othello to go to Cyprus and stop the Turkish fleet that is preparing to attack it. |
| What does the Duke tell Brabantio about Othello and Desdemona’s marriage? | He thinks Othello is a good man and that the couple is in love so Brabantio should accept it. |
| What was Roderigo’s complaint and what was Iago’s reply? | Roderigo complains that Desdemona doesn’t love him and that he doesn’t want to live without her. Iago tells him to “put money in thy purse” and come with him to Cyprus to get her back. |
| Why did Iago want Roderigo to anger Cassio? | He believes the fight will disgrace Cassio and get him in trouble with Othello. |
| What was the purpose of Iago’s plan? | To get Cassio fired so Iago can get the title. He wants to get back at Othello. |
| Why did Iago want Cassio to drink more wine? | Because Cassio has a drinking problem and will be easier to disgrace while drunk. |
| What lie did Iago tell Montano about Cassio? | He cares for Cassio and wants to help him with his severe drinking problem, because he is drunk all the time. |
| Why did Othello strip Cassio of his rank? | Because Cassio got into a drunken fight with Montano and stabbed him. |
| Why did Iago want Cassio to ask Desdemona for help in restoring Othello’s faith in Cassio? | So he could make Othello believe Cassio and Desdemona were having an affair. |
| Why didn’t Iago tell Othello right away that Cassio and Desdemona were having an affair? | He needed concrete proof; he wanted to make Othello suffer; didn’t want to be caught in a lie. |
| What thing did Emilia find and give to Iago? | Othello’s/Desdemona’s handkerchief |
| What did Iago plan to do with the handkerchief? | Plant it outside Cassio’s lodgings so he would find it and keep it. |
| What was Iago’s reply when Othello demanded proof of his wife’s disloyalty? | He says he doesn’t have anything concrete so Othello should just watch. He tells Othello the story about Cassio’s dream about Desdemona. Says he saw Cassio with the handkerchief. |
| What did Othello decide and command at the end of Act 3 Scene 3? | Commands Iago to kill Cassio. He vows to kill Desdemona. |
| What was Emilia’s relationship with Iago? | Even though she’s his wife, she despises him but she must obey him. |
| What was Emilia’s relationship with Desdemona? | She cares for Desdemona and regrets helping Iago hurt her. |
| Who had the handkerchief at the end of Act 3? Why? | Bianca. Cassio found the handkerchief and gave it to Bianca as a token/payment. |
| What advice did Iago give Othello after he lies about Cassio’s confession about sleeping with Desdemona? | He tells him to listen to the convo between Iago and Cassio to confirm Iago’s findings; advises him to smother Desdemona not poison her. |
| How did Iago trick Othello into thinking Cassio was gloating and bragging about how affair with Desdemona? | Iago questions Cassio about BIANCA but doesn’t say her name loud enough for Othello to hear. |
| Why was Bianca angry with Cassio? | Because the handkerchief he gave her was obviously another woman’s token to him. |
| How did Bianca’s return with the handkerchief help Iago? | Othello can now see that Cassio did have the handkerchief and now believes Cassio is sleeping with BOTH women. |
| Why did Othello hit Desdemona? | For answering Lodovico’s questions about Cassio and for being so happy to leave Cyprus |
| What was Lodovico’s reaction to Othello’s behavior towards Desdemona? | Shocked and horrified; he is concerned about Othello’s state of mind |
| How did Iago later explain Othello’s behavior to Lodovico? | He says Othello is a changed man and that Lodovico must see the change for himself because Iago will not discuss his master’s problems. |
| Why did Othello ask Emilia about Cassio’s affair with Desdemona? | He believes she would know all about it because of her close relationship with Desdemona and because she is with Desdemona at all times. |
| What is Emilia’s reply to Othello’s questions about the affair? | She says nothing is going on between Cassio and Desdemona |
| To whom does Desdemona turn for help after Othello calls her a strumpet? | Emilia and Iago |
| Why did Iago tell Roderigo to kill Cassio? | Iago doesn’t want to be directly involved in Cassio’s death and he can manipulate Roderigo to do it. |
| Why did Roderigo consent to think about killing Cassio? | Because Iago tells him that killing Cassio is the only way to keep Othello and Desdemona from going to Africa. |
| How would Iago benefit from Roderigo’s and Cassio’s deaths? | Roderigo: he can’t be implicated in the plot to kill Cassio or in betraying Othello; no loose endsCassio: Othello will promote him to lieutenant for being loyal; Cassio can’t defend himself against the affair accusations |
| What happened when Cassio and Roderigo fought? | Cassio wounds Roderigo and Iago stabs Cassio’s leg, but Cassio doesn’t know it was Iago |
| What did Iago do after he wounded Cassio? | He calls to Lodovico and Gratiano to help Cassio. He kills Roderigo. |
| How was Desdemona faithful to Othello to the end? | She didn’t tell Emilia that it was Othello who killed her. |
| What was Emilia’s reaction when Othello told her that Iago had revealed Desdemona’s affair with Cassio to him? | She was shocked, confused, and in disbelief because there was no affair and that Iago was involved, until Iago confirmed it. |
| Who told the truth about Iago? | Emilia |
| What happened to Othello, Iago, and Cassio in the end? | Othello: kills himselfIago: gets caught, stabbed by Othello, and will be punished for his crimes by Cassio; he gets nothing that he wantedCassio: Promoted to General, gets everything Othello had and Iago wanted |
| “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: She has deceived her father and may thee” | Brabantio |
| “I am not what I am” | Iago |
| “Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial” | Cassio |
| “When devils will the blackest sins put on, They do suggest at first with heavenly shows, As I do now.” | Iago |
| “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss” | Iago |
| “What did you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the work?–A likely piece of work, that you should find it in your chamber, and not know who left it there! This is some minx’s token.” | Bianca |
| “We cannot all be master, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.” | Iago |
| “But here’s my husband And so much duty as my mother showed To you, preferring you before her father” | Desdemona |
| “You rise to play, and go to bed to work.” | Iago |
| “Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul But I do love thee! And when I love thee not Chaos is come again” | Othello |
Othello Test Study Guide
July 27, 2019