Othello: Study Questions for Act IV
Act IV, Scene i – pages 83-94
1. What are Iago and Othello talking about at the beginning of this scene? What
does Iago tell Othello and what happens to Othello upon hearing this news?
2. While Othello is unconscious Michael Cassio enters the room; how does Iago use
this to his benefit? What does he tell Othello he plans on doing to Michael Cassio
later?
3. When Iago confronts Cassio later who are they talking about? Who does Othello
think they are talking about? What are some things Michael Cassio says?
4. How does Othello plan on killing Desdemona and where did he get this idea?
What does he want done to Michael Cassio and who does he want to do this?
5. Why does Othello slap Desdemona in front of Lodavico? When Lodavico
confronts Iago about Othello’s behavior what is Iago’s response?
Act IV, Scene ii – pages 94-103
1. What does Othello ask Emilia and what is her response? Why does Othello not
believe her?
2. After Othello’s accusation of Desdemona on pages 96-98 what is her behavior
like? What does she ask Emilia to do for her that night?
3. What are Emilia’s comments on page 99 and why are they so ironic?
4. Why is Roderigo so upset at the end of this scene? What does Iago tell him about
Cassio, Othello and Desdemona? What does Iago tell Rederigo he should do to
ensure that Othello and Desdemona have to postpone their trip?
Act V, Scene iii – pages 103-107
1. At the beginning of this scene Othello gives Desdemona a specific order, what is
it? Why doe she tell her this?
2. On pages 104 and 105, what is the significance of the songs that Desdemona
sings? What literary device is being used in these two pages? Why?
3. At the end of this scene, Desdemona asks Emilia a question, what is it? What is
Desdemona’s response and what does this scene reveal to us about both
Desdemona and Emilia?