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World Literature & Composition
Character Notes for Othello: Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare
IMPORTANT
CHARACTERS
1.
DESCRIPTION
Othello
 Role in story:
 Motivation:
 Personality:
2.
Desdemona
 Role in story:
 Motivation:
 Personality:
3.
Brabantio
 Role in story:
 Motivation:
 Personality:
 Warning to Othello:
4.
Iago
 Role in story:
 Motivation:
 Personality:
5.
Emilia
 Role in story:
 Motivation:
 Personality:
HOW TO REMEMBER THE
CHARACTER?
IMPORTANT
CHARACTERS
6.
DESCRIPTION
HOW TO REMEMBER THE
CHARACTER?
Cassio
 Role in story:
 Motivation:
 Personality:
7.
Roderigo
 Role in story:
 Motivation:
 Personality:
8.
Duke of Venice
 Role in story:
 Motivation:
 Personality:
*Note: there are additional sub-characters that act as servants or messengers *
Name:
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World Literature & Composition
Othello: Moor of Venice
Act One Study Guide
Act I, Scene 1
1.
What is the setting (time and place) at the beginning of the play?
2. Why is Roderigo angry with Othello? What information in the text provides you with this
information?
3. Why does Iago hate Othello? What predictions can you make about how this will affect
future events in the play?
4. How does Brabantio find out about his daughter’s elopement? What is his reaction to this
news?
5. Why doesn’t Brabantio want Othello for a son-in-law? What does this indicate about
Brabantio’s character?
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World Literature & Composition
Othello: Moor of Venice
Act I, Scene 2
1.
Why does the Duke want to see Othello?
2. Why does Iago say that he felt like stabbing Roderigo?
3. Who accuses Othello of witchcraft? What motivation might this character have to imply this?
4. How does Othello react when Brabantio orders him arrested? Why does he react this way?
5. To whom does Othello convince Brabantio to go? What does Othello hope to accomplish?
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World Literature & Composition
Othello: Moor of Venice
Act I, Scene 3
1.
According to Othello, how did he and Desdemona fall in love?
2.
Where does the Duke send Othello?
3.
How will the separation of Othello and Desdamona impact other characters in the story? Which
characters will this separation impact?
4.
How does Iago comfort Roderigo about losing Desdemona?
5.
What is Iago’s motivation for trying to ruin Othello?
6.
Make a prediction about what you think Iago is going to do next in Act II? Is he going to act alone?
What do you think is going to happen to Othello? To Desdemona?
7.
Write an open-ended question (one with more than one answer) on one of the following themes from
Act One:




Interracial marriage
Jealousy
Blindness to truth
War
My Question:
What would I say if I was asked the same question?
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World Literature & Composition
Othello: Moor of Venice
Act II, Scene 1
1.
How does the setting of the play shift in this act?
2. What is the result of the war (Venetians vs. the Turks)? How is it settled?
3. Do Iago and Roderigo really think that Cassio and Desdemona are lovers?
4.
Read the following passage from ACT II, scene i, line 313-323, and paraphrase the main idea of
each line. Finally, decipher how Iago justifies getting revenge on Othello.
Iago (to Rodrigo):…Now, I do love her too
Not out of absolute lust (though peradventure)
PARAPHRASE:________________________________
__________________________________
I stand accountant for as great a sin)
___________________________________
But partly led to diet my revenge
____________________________________
For that I do suspect the Moor
Hath leaped into my seat—the thought whereof
Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards,
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
And nothing can or shall content my soul
____________________________________
Till I am evened with him, wife for wife,
_____________________________________
Or, failing so, yet that I put the Moor
_____________________________________
At least into a jealousy so strong
That judgment cannot cure.
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
4b. According to this passage, how does Iago justify his revenge on Othello? Be specific.
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World Literature & Composition
Othello: Moor of Venice
Act II, Scene 2
1. What does Othello’s herald proclaim?
Act II, Scene 3
2. Why does Iago make sure Cassio gets drunk?
3. In the space below, create a timeline (at least five events) of actions occurring in Act
II, Scene 3, that leads up to Cassio’s wounding of Montano.
4. How does Othello punish Cassio for his part in the fight?
5. How does Iago persuade Cassio to go to Desdemona?
6. Why does Iago convince Roderigo not to go back to Venice?
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World Literature & Composition
Othello: Moor of Venice
Act III, Scene 1
Act III, Scene 1
1.
Who brings in the musicians? What is their intended effect?
2.
What does Cassio ask the clown to do? Why do you think he does this?
3.
What does Emilia agree to do for Cassio? What is Cassio hoping to accomplish?
Act III, Scene 2
4.
What task does Othello assign Iago?
5. What will Othello be busy doing while he waits for Iago?
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Othello: Moor of Venice
Act III, Scene 3
1.
What are Cassio and Desdemona talking about?
2. Why does Cassio leave Desdemona quickly when Iago and Othello arrive?
3. Why does Iago raise suspicions about Desdemona in Othello’s mind?
4.
Read III.iii.280. Explain Othello’s request in your own words.
5. How does Iago end up with Desdemona’s handkerchief?
6. What does Iago promise to do within three days?
7.
What does the handkerchief represent to Desdemona and Othello?
Act III, Scene 4
8. When does Desdemona realize Othello is angry with her?
9. What word best characterizes Bianca? How does she end up with Desdemona’s
handkerchief?
10. What does Bianca agree to do for Cassio?
11. Consider Cassio’s demand in III.iv.209-210. What are her vile “guesses”? How does this line
inform the audience about other characters in the play?
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Othello: Moor of Venice
Act IV, Scene 1
1.
Describe what happens before Othello falls into a trance (epileptic fit).
2. Why does Iago joke with Cassio about Bianca?
3. What does Bianca say that shows she is angry with Cassio?
4. How does Iago suggest Othello should kill Desdemona? What is symbolic about this method?
5. Why has Lodovico come to Cyprus?
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Othello: Moor of Venice
Act IV, Scene 2
1.
Why does Othello question Emilia?
2. What is ironic about the following events:
The names Iago calls Desdemona-
The person Desdemona goes to for advice about her problems with Othello:
3. Describe what Roderigo agrees to do for Iago.
Act IV, Scene 3
4. What does Othello order Desdemona to do? Why?
5. Interpret the "Willow Song" for what it means to Desdemona and her current situation.
6. Describe the main idea of the conversation Desdemona and Emilia have about cheating.
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Othello: Moor of Venice
Act V, Scene 1
1. Which two characters are wounded in the beginning of Act V?
________________________
_______________________
Explain the motivation behind each attack.
2. Is the character who wounds Cassio committed to his task or does he have
second thoughts?
Why?
3. Othello says: ". . .Strumpet I come. . . .Thy bed, lust-stained, shall with lust's
blood be spotted."
Who is Othello discussing? __________________ Explain the meaning and
importance of his words.
4. Why must Iago kill Roderigo? Explain using evidence from the text.
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Othello: Moor of Venice
Act V, Scene 2
1. What does Othello ask Desdemona to do before he kills her ?
2. What evidence can you find in the text that explains this request?
3. Why do you think Othello chooses suffocation when he kills Desdemona
instead of other methods?
Include evidence in the text to support your answer.
4. Discuss Iago's lack of remorse when his deeds are discovered. What is
his motivation for feeling this way?
5. Try to pin point the exact moment when Othello becomes a tragic figure.
This may be discussed in Act V but may occur in one of the earlier acts.