How does the Duke's reaction to Brabantio's complaint change when he learns it is Othello that is the subject of the complaint? What is the significance of this?
What does the promotion of Cassio over Iago signify in terms of changing social attitudes?
Othello says "Rude am I in my speech", and that he will give a "round unvarnish'd tale" of his wooing of Desdemona.
What does his actual "tale" tell us about him?
What have we learned by the end of scene one?
What is Desdemona's response to Brabantio when he asks for her obedience as a daughter?
How does Iago try to make himself look good in Othello’s eyes? [I.ii]
How does Iago describe Othello's marriage to Cassio? What is the implication behind this metaphor
What do we learn from the first two speeches?
How old is Iago? What is the significance of his age?
Brabantio describes Desdemona as A maiden never bold, / Of spirit so still and quiet, that her motion /
Blush'd at herself. How does Desdemona's own behaviour compare with this description?
What are Iago's objections to the promotion of Cassio over him?
What does this account reveal about Othello's feelings for Desdemona, and the way he sees her?
Why is it appropriate that Iago swears "by Janus"?
Othello and Desdemona both make submissions for her to be allowed to accompany him to Cyprus. What is the significant difference between the substance of their arguments? What does this tell us about them?
Summarise Othello's explanation of how he won Desdemona's love.
By the end of Act I, Iago has come up with another reason to hate Othello. What is he suggesting now? How does this foreshadow later events?
On what two aspects of Roderigo's character is Iago's deception of him based?
What popular conceptions (prejudices) of Venetians and Blacks lie at the base of Iago's deceptions?
When Brabantio learns of Desdemona's elopement, what does he seem to be most concerned about?