Othello

 Overview

Sex/Love/Eroticism

Animal imagery

Racism/Exoticism

Identity and Self-Perception

Trust/Lies

Tragic Hero/Fatal Error

Iago’s Motive(s)

Themes

Discussion questions:

  1. Why/how does Desdemona fall in love with Othello? Why/how does Othello fall in love with Desdemona?

  2. What does Othello think of himself? What do others think about Othello’s character/personality?

  3. Many people make reference to O’s and D’s sex life. Find these moments and discuss what effect this has on the audience’s perception of O and D?

  4. What is Iago’s opinion of women in general and his wife in particular?

  5. How does the handkerchief (napkin) figure into Iago’s plan?

  6. What is the significance of the wedding sheets in Acts 4 and 5?

  7. Why does Othello choose not to stab Desdemona? How does he kill her and why?

  8. Do you think Desdemona anticipated her own death?

  9. How much responsibility do you assign to Iago for the death of Desdemona?

  10. Why did Shakespeare make Othello a Moor? How does the racial dynamic affect the characters, plots, and outcomes? Would this play be different if Othello were white? Why or why not? Is Othello's personality closely tied to his race?

Reading Guide Questions by Act:

Act I
1. What was Iago's complaint in Scene I?
2. Who was Brabantio, and why did Iago and Roderigo awaken him in the middle of the night?
3. Why did Iago leave Roderigo at Brabantio's house?
4. What was Brabantio's reaction to Othello's marriage to Desdemona?
5. Why did the Duke send for Othello?
6. Brabantio complains to the Duke about Othello's marriage to Desdemona. After listening to
both sides of the story, what was the Duke's reply?
7. What was Roderigo's complaint, and what was Iago's reply to it?
 

Act II
1. Why did Iago want Roderigo to anger Cassio?
2. What was the purpose of Iago's plan?
3. Why did Iago want Cassio to drink more wine?
4. What lie did Iago tell Montano about Cassio?
5. Why did Othello strip Cassio of his rank?
6. Why did Iago want Cassio to ask Desdemona for help in restoring Othello's faith in Cassio?
 

Act III
1. Why didn't Iago simply tell Othello right away that Desdemona and Cassio were having an
affair?
2. What thing did Emilia find and give to Iago? What did Iago intend to do with it?
3. What was Iago's reply when Othello demanded proof of his wife's disloyalty?
4. What did Othello decide and command at the end of Scene III?
5. What was Emilia's relationship with Iago? Desdemona?
6. Who had the handkerchief at the end of Act III? Why?
 

Act IV
1. After Iago lied and told Othello that Cassio confessed going to bed with Desdemona, what
advice did he give the overwhelmed Othello?
2. How did Iago trick Othello into thinking Cassio was gloating and bragging about his affair
with Desdemona?
3. Why was Bianca angry with Cassio?
4. How did Bianca's return with the handkerchief help Iago?
5. Why did Othello hit Desdemona?
6. What was Lodovico's reaction to Othello's behavior towards Desdemona? How did Iago later
explain Othello's behavior to Lodovico?
7. Why did Othello ask Emilia about Cassio's affair with Desdemona, and what was her reply?
8. To whom does Desdemona turn for help after Othello calls her a strumpet?
9. Why did Iago tell Rodriego to kill Cassio? Why did Roderigo consent to think about it?18
Othello Short Answer Study Questions Page 2
 

Act V
1. How would Iago gain from Roderigo's death? Cassio's?
2. What happened when Cassio and Roderigo fought?
3. What did Iago do after he wounded Cassio?
4. How was Desdemona faithful to Othello to the end?
5. What was Emilia's reaction when Othello told her that Iago had revealed Desdemona's affair
with Cassio to him?
6. Who told the truth about Iago?
7. What happened to Othello, Iago and Cassio in the end?


 

 Thanks to dreher.richlandone.org for Reading Guide questions.