Othello
Study Guide Questions
Act I, scene i
1. Roderigo paid Iago for something. Can you tell what it was?
2. Iago states that he hates Othello. For what reason?
3. What does Iago say of Cassio?
4. What two kinds of followers are there, according to Iago?
5. Shortly after this, Iago speaks about appearance and reality. He concludes, “I am not what I
am.” State what preceded that line and explain it.
6. How do Iago and Roderigo stir up trouble?
7. What is Brabantio’s reaction?
8. Of what does Brabantio say that this situation reminds him?
9. Why does Iago make sure he leaves before Brabantio comes out of the house?
10. Earlier Brabantio has told Roderigo that there is no way that Roderigo is suitable for
Desdemona. What does he say to Roderigo after finding out about her and Othello?
Act I, scene ii
1. Why does Iago say he wished to kill Roderigo? What reason does he give for not killing him?
2. What is Othello’s response?
3. Why is Othello not worried about Brabantio’s wrath?
4. Iago tells Othello that Brabantio and his friends are coming and it is best if Othello goes into
the house. What is Othello’s response?
5. The lights turn out to be carried by Cassio. What message does he bring?
6. As Othello is about to leave for the Senate, Brabantio and his supporters show up and draw
their swords. How would you describe Othello when he responds?
7. Of what does Brabantio accuse Othello?
8. Brabantio wishes to arrest Othello and hold him in jail until he can be brought to court. What
forces him to change his plans?
9. What is Brabantio’s new plan?
Act I, scene iii
1. At the opening of scenes 1 and 2, the audience is right in the middle of the action. About what
are the Duke and Senators concerned?
2. By what adjective do the Senators and the Duke refer to Othello? What does this indicate?
3. Why is Brabantio convinced the Moor used drugs and spells on Desdemona?
4. How does the Senate react to Brabantio’s charges against Othello? What does the Duke say?
5. What is the tone of Othello’s response? What does this say about his temperament?
6. How did Brabantio misread Desdemona’s actions toward the Moor?
7. The Duke tells Brabantio that his (Brabantio’s) saying that Othello used drugs as charms on his
daughter is not proven. Then a Senator asks Othello if it is true. What is Othello’s response?
8. How did Othello win Desdemona’s love?
9. The Duke says his daughter, too, would have fallen in love with Othello after hearing him
speak. What is Brabantio’s response?
10. Desdemona speaks truthfully before this group, and Brabantio is convinced she married of
her own free will. The Duke then gives Brabantio advice. What is Brabantio’s mood at this
point?
11. What is Desdemona’s request of the Duke?
12. Why do you suppose Brabantio says to Othello, “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see;
She has deceived her father, and may thee”?
13. Everyone leaves and Roderigo tells Iago he is going to drown himself. What is Iago’s
response? What is Iago’s view of human nature and of love?
Act II, scene i
1. What news do we get of the Turkish fleet?
2. At this point, what is Cassio’s hope?
3. Although they seem to be enjoying themselves on the dock with Iago’s cynical comments on
women, we see that Iago’s fierce mood has not abated. What does he observe and what does he
conclude?
4. It is clear that Iago views Othello as different and thinks that eventually Desdemona will too.
Why does he think Desdemona will lose her love for Othello?
5. Some critics make the point that Othello is an outsider; and certainly, Brabantio, Iago and
others see him as that. To be an outsider, though, one must feel apart from society. Is there any
indication, so far, that Othello feels like an outsider?
6. Iago accuses Cassio of putting on a false appearance to gain his own ends. Why is this
accusation an example of irony?
Act II, scene ii
1. What announcement is made by the Herald?
Act II, scene iii
1. What is Othello’s opinion of Iago?
2. Why is Cassio reluctant to have a drink? Why does he finally agree?
3. How does the clever Iago, in one breath, praise and condemn Cassio to Montano?
4. Iago tells Roderigo to provoke Cassio and he does. Then, as Montano and Cassio fight,
Roderigo rings the alarm bell. Othello, very angrily, orders them to stop. What does Othello say
to Iago?
5. How is this a departure from his earlier temperament, and what makes this ominous?
6. Reluctantly, Iago tells Othello what happened. How is Othello’s reaction all that Iago had
hoped?
7. What advice does Iago give to Cassio?
8. What are the next two moves in Iago’s plan?
Act III, scene i
1. Why does Cassio pay money to the clown to find Emilia?
2. What does Emilia tell Cassio?
3. At this point, how could Cassio upset Iago’s devious plan?
Act III, scenes ii and iii
1. Is Emilia part of Iago’s plot, or does she truly believe that Iago is saddened by what happened
to Cassio?
2. Cassio knows he is going to get his job back, so what worries him now?
3. For what two reasons does Desdemona agree to plead Cassio’s case?
4. To what is Iago referring when his says, “Ha! I like not that”?
5. Desdemona pleads Cassio’s case, and Othello agrees to reinstate him. What happens next?
6. What does Iago say about the women in Venice?
7. Why might Othello be inclined to believe this or, at least, not dismiss it immediately?
8. Who echoes Brabantio’s earlier warning to Othello?
9. Desdemona’s handkerchief becomes an important piece of stage business. Why does
Desdemona produce it? What happens to it?
10. Othello returns and is quite upset at this point. What warning does he give Iago?
11. What proof of Desdemona’s disloyalty does Iago give Othello?
12. What is Iago’s final proof?
13. At this point what is Othello’s mood?
14. Othello makes Iago his lieutenant. What task is Iago to perform?
Act III, scene iv
1. Why does Desdemona not wish to admit to Othello that she lost the handkerchief?
2. Why does he demand to see the handkerchief when he already knows she does not have it?
3. When Cassio asks Desdemona about his suit, what does she tell him?
4. What does Desdemona think is the cause of Othello’s anger?
5. State the two reasons Bianca is upset with Cassio?
Act IV, scene i
1. Iago tells Othello that Cassio has told him of his affair with Desdemona. He agitates Othello
with lewd images. What is the result?
2. Cassio shows up at some point, and Iago tells him to come back later. How does Iago say he’ll
show Othello further proof?
3. Iago plans to get Cassio talking about Bianca, so Othello will think Cassio is talking about
Desdemona. What further information does Iago reveal about Bianca?
4. How does Iago manage to get Cassio to talk about Bianca while Othello thinks he is talking
about Desdemona?
5. Why does Othello say that Desdemona is a sweet creature and, in another breath, talk of
letting her rot?
6. What news does Lodovico bring from Venice?
7. How does Desdemona react to this news?
8. After Othello slaps Desdemona in front of the guests, how does she react?
Act IV, scene ii
1. Throughout the discussion with Othello, Desdemona still does not understand the problem;
finally, Othello calls her a whore. What is her reaction?
2. After she recovers, what seems to be her plan?
3. Roderigo shows up. What is his complaint to Iago?
4. Once again, however, Iago wins Roderigo back to his side. How?
5. Iago makes up a story to trick Roderigo. What is it he wants Roderigo to do?
Act IV, scene iii
1. Othello seems much calmer since he has made up his mind. What is revealed about
Desdemona’s thoughts?
2. Desdemona asks Emilia if she thinks that there are women who are unfaithful to their
husbands. Does Desdemona seem naïve with this question?
3. What is Emilia’s response? What does she say about females who commit adultery?
4. Desdemona has been abused, slapped, and humiliated by her husband, yet she loves him and
hopes to convince him of the purity of their marriage. Does she seem weak or foolish because
of her total love for Othello?
Act V, scene i
1. What is Iago’s plan for Cassio?
2. For what two reasons does he say he wants Cassio dead?
3. Iago also feels he will benefit if it happens that Cassio kills Roderigo. How can he benefit?
4. Who saves Cassio?
5. Why does Roderigo say to Iago, “O damn’d Iago! O inhuman dog!”?
6. Why is it necessary for Gratiano and Lodovico to be present at this time?
7. What is the meaning of Iago’s aside at the end of this scene?
Act V, scene ii
1. From his soliloquy that opens this scene, what would you say is Othello’s mood?
2. Why does Othello say, “No; heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul”?
3. As Desdemona tries to convince Othello that she is innocent of what he accuses her, she
breaks down and weeps at what news?
4. How does Othello interpret her weeping?
5. Before she dies, Desdemona tells Emilia that she has killed herself. Why do you think she
does not say that it was Othello who killed her?
6. Why does Emilia repeat the phrase, “My husband!” three times?
7. At this point, why does Othello draw his sword on Emilia?
8. Bravely, because Othello might easily kill her at this point and because her own life may be
at risk, Emilia defies Othello. Why?
9. Iago tells Emilia to go home, but she refuses. Why is he telling her to leave, and why does
she refuse?
10. After Emilia dies, Othello gets another sword. He tells Gratiano, who is guarding him, that
Gratiano does not have to worry about Othello trying to escape. Why?
11. Othello admits to planning Cassio’s murder with Iago. Cassio is shocked to hear this, since
he has done nothing wrong to Othello. What is Othello’s response?
12. What is Othello’s request of Lodovico?
13. Othello kills himself, and Lodovico and Gratiano prepare to return to Venice. What will
be the future for Cassio and Iago?