Study Guide for
William Shakespeare’s Othello
The Barter Player ENCORE Company’s production of Othello is
part of Shakespeare in American Communities,
a program of the
National Endowment for the Arts
in partnership with Arts Midwest
The National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest presents Shakespeare in
American Communities. The Barter Player ENCORE Company is one of 40 professional theater
companies selected to participate in bringing the finest productions of Shakespeare to middleand high-school students in communities across the United States. This is the twelfth year of this
national program, the largest tour of Shakespeare in American history.
Study Guide prepared by
Catherine Bush
Othello
By William Shakespeare
*Especially for Grades 8 and up
By the Barter ENCORE Players, spring 2016
(NOTE: standards listed below are for reading Othello and seeing a performance as well as
completing the study guide.)
Virginia SOLs
English: 8.2, 8.4, 8.5, 8.7, 8.9, 9.1, 9.3, 9.4, 9.6, 10.1, 10.3, 10.4, 10.6, 12.1, 12.3, 12.4, 12.6
Theatre Arts: 8.5, 8.9, 8.18, 8.22, 8.25, TI.8, TI.9, TI.10, TI.11, TI.12, TI.13, TI.16, TI.17, TII.9, TII.11,
TII.12, TII.15, TII.16, TII.21, T3III.7, TIII.8, TIII. 9, TIII.12, TIII.17, TIV.12, TIV.13
Tennessee /North Carolina Common Core State Standards
English/Language Arts - Reading Literacy: 8.1, 8.3, 8.7, 8.10, 9-10.1, 9-10.2, 9-10.3, 9-10.4, 9-10.5,
9-10.6, 9-10.9, 9-10.10, 11-12.1, 11-12.3, 11-12.4, 11-12.5, 11-12.7, 11-12.10
English Language Arts – Writing: 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.7, 9-10.1, 9-10.2, 9-10.4, 9-10.6, 9-10.9, 9-10.10, 1112.1, 11-12.2, 11-12.4, 11-12.6, 11-12.10
Tennessee Fine Arts Curriculum Standards
Theatre 6-8: 1.4, 3.2, 3.4, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2
Theatre 9-12:3.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2
North Carolina Essential Standards
Theatre Arts – 8.A.1, 8.AE.1, 8.CU.2, B.C.2, B.A.1, B.AE.1, B.CU.1, B.CU.2, I.C.2, I.A.1, I.CU.1,
I.CU.2, P.C.1, P.A.1, P.CU.2, A.C.2, A.A.1, A.CU.1, A.CU.2
Setting
Various locations in Venice and Cyprus. The past.
Characters
Othello – a general in the army, a Moor
Desdemona – Othello’s wife
Brabantio – Venetian senator and Desdemona’s father
Iago – A soldier under Othello, ambitious
Emelia – Iago’s wife, Desdemona’s lady-in-waiting
Roderigo – Iago’s flunky, in love with Desdemona
Michael Cassio – Othello’s lieutenant and friend
Bianca – a prostitute
The Duke – the Duke of Venice
Lodovico – Desdemona’s cousin, a diplomat
Messenger
Montano – Governor of Cyprus
Note: Cast Size and Doubling of Actors
In this production of Othello we will be using only six actors, with some actors playing more
than one role. Doubling of actors requires distinction between characters. In this production,
characters will be distinguished by costume, voice and other physical character traits.
Biography of the Playwright
William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon
in England, and his birthday is traditionally celebrated on April
23rd. At the age of eighteen he married Anne Hathaway, with
whom he had three children. By 1592, he was living in London
and working as an actor and playwright. He was part owner of
the acting company, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (later called
the King’s Men), which built and performed in the Globe
Theatre. Over the course of his career Shakespeare wrote 37
plays, 154 sonnets and many other poems. He died on April 23,
1616, and was buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford.
Define the following vocabulary words
squadron
succession
malicious
knavery
ruffian
lascivious
peril
sequent
mandate
potent
conjuration
ancient
beguile
bereft
interim
conveyance
countenance
profane
snipe
engender
knavery
lechery
perdition
wanton
infirmity
importune
pestilence
cudgel
dilatory
advocate
credulous
lethargy
bauble
minx
cuckold
expostulate
Synopsis
Iago is angry that Othello, the Army’s newly-appointed General, has passed him over for
promotion in favor of the less-seasoned Michael Cassio. Hoping to stir up trouble, Iago and his
friend Roderigo go to Brabantio’s house in order to inform him that Othello, a Moor, has eloped
with Brabantio’s fair daughter Desdemona, with whom Roderigo has fallen in love. Brabantio is
furious. Iago returns to Othello, pretending concern for his safety, while Roderigo and Brabantio
round up soldiers to arrest Othello. Meanwhile, as Othello is regaling Iago with his love for
Desdemona, Michael Cassio appears and tells Othello that the Duke requests his presence; the
Turkish fleet is attacking the isle of Cyprus and Othello must command an army against them.
Before Othello can report to the Duke, Brabantio and Roderigo arrive with a posse to arrest
Othello. Each party decides to put their case before the Duke and they adjourn to his villa.
Once before the Duke, Othello explains how Brabantio
had often invited him often to dine and upon those
occasions – and in Desdemona’s presence - would
entreat Othello to regale them with his life’s story.
Upon hearing of the hardships that Othello had
endured, Desdemona was moved to fall in love with
him, and he with her. Desdemona is fetched and she
corroborates his story. Brabantio disowns her, but the
Duke is satisfied that no wrongdoing has occurred and
sends Othello to Cyprus to fight the Turks. Othello
charges Iago with bringing Desdemona to Cyprus as
well. Iago plots Othello’s downfall with Roderigo,
promising Roderigo that Desdemona will soon be his.
A storm sweeps the island of Cyprus and destroys the Turkish fleet before they can attack. Once
Othello and his army arrive, a celebration is planned. Iago uses these events to seek revenge on
Othello by convincing Othello that Desdemona is sleeping with Michael Cassio. First he tells
Roderigo that Desdemona is in love with Michael Cassio and persuades Roderigo to fight with
Cassio. That night, according to plan, Iago gets Cassio drunk and Roderigo starts a fight with
him. When Montano, the Governor of Cypress, intervenes, Cassio strikes him as well. Awakened
by the noise, Othello enters. Iago tells him what has occurred and Othello fires Cassio from his
position. Afterward, when Cassio is lamenting both his loss of position and his reputation, Iago
suggests that he use Desdemona as an intermediary to get his job back. Cassio does so, and
Desdemona speaks on his behalf to Othello. However, Iago proposes to Othello that Desdemona
only does so because she is secretly in love with Cassio. Othello begins to feel jealous yet
demands proof of Desdemona’s betrayal. Meanwhile, Desdemona accidentally drops the
handkerchief given to her by Othello; Emelia, Desdemona’s lady-in-waiting, finds the
handkerchief on the ground and gives it to her husband Iago, who plants it in Cassio’s room.
When Othello demands that Desdemona show him the handkerchief, she cannot. Instead she
continues to press Cassio’s suit. Suspecting his wife of betrayal, Othello storms off.
Bianca enters, and wonders angrily why Cassio has not been to see her. To assuage her, Cassio
gives her a handkerchief – Desdemona’s handkerchief – that he found in his room. Meanwhile,
Iago continues planting seeds of doubt in Othello’s mind. He persuades Othello to hide and listen
while he talks to Cassio.
Synopsis (cont.)
Othello thinks Cassio is bragging about his relationship with Desdemona, when in fact he’s
talking about his relationship with Bianca. Just then Bianca shows up with the handkerchief and
complains that is one that obviously belonged to another woman. Othello recognizes the
handkerchief as the one he gave Desdemona and is now convinced his wife has betrayed him. He
plots her murder while giving Iago permission to kill Cassio.
Just then, Lodovico arrives with a message for Othello demanding his return to Venice. Cassio is
to be left behind to govern Cypress. That night, Othello confronts Desdemona, accuses her of
being a whore, and then leaves. Desdemona is completely confused and confesses as much to
Emilia. Emilia is furious that someone is casting suspicion on the good Desdemona’s character.
Meanwhile, Iago is confronted by Roderigo, who complains that Iago has not done enough to
help him win Desdemona. Instead of answering to that, Iago convinces Roderigo to kill Cassio
that very night.
Later, Othello orders Desdemona to get ready for bed. As Emelia helps her, Desdemona sings a
sad song about a woman forsaken who dies of a broken heart. She asks Emilia if she had ever
been untrue to her husband Iago. Emelia replies that she hasn’t yet, but that she understood why
some women do cheat, and that men should pay attention to their wives.
Meanwhile, Iago and Roderigo lie in wait for Cassio outside of Bianca’s room. When Cassio
exits, Roderigo takes a stab at him but only wounds him. Cassio quickly strikes back. Both men
cry for help. Iago steps forward and when Cassio identifies Roderigo as the man who wounded
him, Iago stabs and kills Roderigo. Montano enters then and he bears Cassio off to get medical
help.
Desdemona is asleep in her bed when Othello enters. She wakes, and he accuses her of betraying
him with Cassio. She denies it. Iago smothers her. Emilia enters and cries out upon seeing her
mistress dead. Othello explains that he killed her because she cheated on him. Emilia refuses to
believe it and Othello tells her to ask her husband Iago. Emilia finally realizes that Iago is
responsible for the rumors about Desdemona and cries for help. Lodovico and Iago enter. Emilia
accuses Iago of lying to Othello and then explains that she was the one who found the
handkerchief and gave it to Iago. Iago stabs her and runs off. Emelia is placed next to
Desdemona and dies. Cassio brings in the captured Iago. Othello stabs Iago then kills himself.
Cassio drags the wounded Iago off for punishment.
A Brief History
Barter Theatre was founded during the Great Depression by Robert Porterfield, an enterprising young
actor. He and his fellow actors found themselves out of work and hungry in New York City. Porterfield
contrasted that to the abundance of food, but lack of live theatre, around his home region in Southwest
Virginia. He returned to Washington County with an extraordinary proposition: bartering produce from
the farms and gardens of the area to gain admission to see a play.
Barter Theatre opened its doors on June 10, 1933 proclaiming, “With vegetables you cannot sell, you can
buy a good laugh.” The price of admission was 40 cents or the equivalent in produce, the concept of
trading “ham for Hamlet” caught on quickly. At the end of the first season, the Barter Company cleared
$4.35 in cash, two barrels of jelly and enjoyed a collective weight gain of over 300 pounds.
Playwrights including Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams and Thornton Wilder accepted Virginia ham as
payment for royalties. An exception was George Bernard Shaw, a vegetarian, who bartered the rights to
his plays for spinach.
Today, Barter Theatre has a reputation as a theatre where many actors performed before going on to
achieve fame and fortune. The most recognized of these alumni include Gregory Peck, Patricia Neal,
Ernest Borgnine, Hume Cronyn, Ned Beatty, Gary Collins, Larry Linville and Frances Fisher. The list
also included James Burrows, creator of Cheers, Barry Corbin, and the late Jim Varney
Robert Porterfield passed away in 1971. His successor, Rex Partington, had been at Barter in the 1950s as
an actor and in the 1970s as stage manager. Rex returned as chief administrator from 1972 until his
retirement in 1992. In March 2006, he passed away.
Richard Rose was named the producing artistic director in October 1992. In that time, attendance has
grown from 42,000 annual patrons to more than 163,000 annual patrons. Significant capital
improvements have also been made. Including maintenance to both theatres, and in 2006, the addition of
The Barter Café at Stage II and dramatic improvements to Porterfield Square.
Barter represents three distinct venues of live theatre: Barter Theatre Main Stage, Barter Theatre Stage II
and The Barter Players. Barter Theatre, with over 500 seats, features traditional theatre in a luxurious
setting. Barter Stage II, across the street from Barter Main Stage and beyond Porterfield Square, offers
seating for 167 around a thrust stage in an intimate setting and is perfect for more adventurous
productions. The Barter Players is a talented ensemble of actors, producing plays for young audiences
throughout the year.
History is always in the making at Barter Theatre, building on legends of the past; Barter looks
forward to the challenge of growth in the future.
WORD SEARCH
Find the following words below:
Othello, Desdemona, Michael Cassio, Iago, Venice, Moor, Cyprus, tragedy,
Shakespeare, ancient, general, Turks, Emelia, Roderigo, Brabantio, jealousy,
handkerchief, villain, Bianca, confession, military, promotion, strangle
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Brush Up Your Shakespeare
Using the clues below, fill in the blanks with the appropriate title of one of the following
Shakespeare plays: Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, Othello, The Taming of the Shrew, Henry V, Much
Ado About Nothing, Julius Caeser, A Midsummers Night Dream, The Merchant of Venice, As You
Like It, Cymbeline, Richard III, Timon of Athens, Antony and Cleopatra, Henry VI Part II, Twelfth
Night, Henry IV Part I, Henry IV Part II, The Tempest,
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Across
Down
1. Out, damned spot
3. To be or not to be
5. Has three daughters
6. a pound of flesh
9. All the world's a stage
14. If we shadows have offended
16. Rome meets Egypt
17. the game is up
18. Et tu, Brute?
19. the Moor
20. Viola and Orsino
21. kill all the lawyers
2. We have seen better days
4. the stuff dreams are made on
7. Kate and Petruchio
8. Beatrice and Benedick
10. the world's my oyster
11. O, for a Muse of fire
12. eaten out of house and home
13. The winter of our discontent
15. give the devil his due
True and False
Write T if the statement is True and F if the statement is False.
1. ____ Othello’s new bride is Desdemona.
2. ____ Iago’s wife is Emilia.
3. ____ Roderigo is furious because Othello promoted Iago over him.
4. ____ Brabantio disowns Desdemona for marrying Othello.
5. ____ Othello is charged with preventing the Turkish fleet from attacking Venice.
6. ____ Othello gives Bianca the gift of a handkerchief.
7. ____ William Shakespeare was born in Cyprus.
8. ____ Iago relationship with Bianca.
9. ____ Richard Rose is the Producing Artistic Director of Barter Theatre.
10. ___ Iago kills Roderigo.
11. ___ Roderigo kills Cassio.
12. ___ Iago kills Emilia.
13. ___ Othello poisons Desdemona.
14. ___ Barter Theatre used to accept farm produce as payment to see a show.
Matching
Draw a line connecting the person in the first column with the corresponding description in the
second.
1. Bianca
2. Iago
3. Brabantio
4. Cassio
5. Emelia
6. Othello
7. The Duke
8. Montano
9. Roderigo
10. Desdemona
a. lost her handkerchief
b. orders Othello to Cyprus
c. a prostitute
d. a Moor
e. Othello’s lieutenant
f. Governor of Cyprus
g. in love with Desdemona
h. Emelia’s husband
i. gives a handkerchief to Iago
j. Desdemona’s father
Questions/Activities
“Heaven bless the island of Cyprus and
our noble general Othello”
Individually or in groups, research one of these
topics involving the island of Cyprus:
Greek Orthodox vs. Sunni Muslim religion
Aphrodite’s birthplace
Kyrenia castle
Zeno of Citium Halloumi cheese
Limassol Carnival Festival
Copper ore the Cypriot flag
Make an oral presentation to the class!
“I have very poor and unhappy brains
for drinking.”
tragedy: A drama or literary work in which the main character is
brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence
of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable
circumstances.
1. Using the definition above, explain why Othello is a tragedy. Cite passages
from the play to support your reasoning. Which character has a tragic flaw?
Othello? Desdemona? Iago? What is this tragic flaw? Discuss.
Compare and Contrast!
Both Emilia and Desdemona are married to soldiers.
Emilia and Iago
Desdemona and Othello
Write a paper comparing and contrasting their relationship with
their husbands. Who was the most loyal wife? How did the play
end for Emilia? For Desdemona?
2. Shakespeare’s original title for this play is “The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of
Venice.” The word “Moor” was once used to describe a Muslim from Africa. How
important is race in this play? What was the Venetians attitude toward Othello?
Were these attitudes influenced by Othello’s race? Cite passages from the play to
support your answer. Is this attitude towards blacks still prevalent in our culture
today? Who are some famous biracial couples today? Do they face the same
societal pressure that Othello and Desdemona faced? How would your parents
react if you dated someone of another race? Discuss.
3. Why did Othello promote Michael Cassio over Iago? What could Cassio do for
his career that Iago could not? Do you think Iago was justified in seeking revenge
for this slight? What reasons does he give for his behavior? Discuss.
“The soldier is the Army. No army is better
than its soldiers.” ~ General George S. Patton
This play is set in the military world. What sort of trust needs to
exist between soldiers and why? What happens if soldiers don’t
trust each other? How does Iago use this trust to sway Othello?
When Othello and his army arrive in Cyprus, they find the enemy
has already been destroyed by a storm at sea. How does a soldier
mentally prepare for battle? What happens to that soldier’s mental
state when the battle no longer exists? What happened to Othello’s
army?
Could this story be told outside of a military complex? Discuss.
4. Why do you think it is possible for Iago to so quickly convince Othello that
Desdemona is cheating on him? Does this seem like a realistic shift in Othello’s
character? What it is about the world in which Othello lives that might make him
lose trust and believe that Desdemona has been unfaithful? Have incidents
occurred in your life where trust was lost in your family or among your
friends? What were the circumstances? How did you handle it? Discuss.
5. Does Othello love Desdemona? Did he ever? What are Desdemona’s feelings
towards Othello? Cite passages from the play to support your answer.
6. What is a “soliloquy?” Examine the several soliloquies in Othello. What is their
function? Are they effective? Discuss.
7. When questioned by Othello, Emilia tries to convince Othello of his wife’s
loyalty. Imagine you are Emilia and that you know what Othello plans to do; write
a paper persuading Desdemona to leave her husband.
“Thou foul thief, where hast thy stowed my daughter?”
8. What role does each character play in this tragedy’s bloody conclusion? Is
anyone wholly innocent of responsibility? What could each of the principal
characters have done to prevent at least some of the bloodshed? Discuss.
Blank Verse
Shakespeare wrote most of Othello in “blank verse.”
blank verse: unrhymed verse having a regular meter, usually of iambic pentameter.
iambic pentameter: a common meter in poetry consisting of an unrhymed line with
five feet or accents, each foot containing one unaccented syllable followed by one
accented syllable, like this:
ba-DUM, ba-DUM, ba-DUM, ba-DUM, ba-DUM
Consider the line Othello speaks aloud as he considers his suspicions:
“Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content!”
Can you count the five stressed accents in the line?
The regular rhythm of iambic pentameter is equivalent to the rhythm of a heartbeat.
Punctuation placed in the middle of a pentameter throws this “heartbeat” off. What
happens to your heartbeat when you are happy? Scared? Angry? Shakespeare used
punctuation deliberately to give the actor clues to the character’s emotional state.
Consider Othello’s following soliloquy:
I had been happy if the general camp,
Pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body,
So I had nothing known. Oh, now forever
Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content!
Farewell the plumèd troops and the big wars
That makes ambition virtue! Oh, farewell!
Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump,
The spirit-stirring drum, th' ear-piercing fife,
The royal banner, and all quality,
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!
And O you mortal engines, whose rude throats
The immortal Jove’s dead clamors counterfeit,
Farewell! Othello’s occupation’s gone.
PUNCTUATION WALK - try this activity!
Walk around the room reciting this soliloquy. Start off walking in a straight line.
When you get to a comma, pause reading and stop for a moment, then continue.
When you come to a period, turn 90°.
When you get to a semi-colon, switch directions (or turn 180°).
When you get to an exclamation point, jump and turn 360°.
What happened to your heartbeat when you performed these actions?
How did that affect your emotional state? What do you think Shakespeare
was trying to tell you about the character at those moments? Discuss.
Consider the following sentence:
Othello’s tragic flaw is that he internalized the prejudice
surrounding him; he had come to believe that he, as a black
man, was unworthy of love.
Do you agree with this statement? Discuss.
9. Giraldi Cinthio’s short story, Il Moro Di Venezi, is considered the source
material for Shakespeare’s Othello. Research this short story and write a paper
explaining how Shakespeare drew on it and transformed it to create Othello.
10. What similarities exist between the characters in Othello and you and your
friends and family? What themes in this play can be found in your life? How does
a teenager in 2015 connect to a Moorish general from long, long ago? Discuss.
What is the difference between poetry and prose? How does
Shakespeare use both?
ACTIVITY
Below is one of Iago’s speech to Roderigo. Rewrite it in blank
verse in today’s language then read it to your class!
“Lay thy finger thus: and let thy soul be instructed. Mark me with
what violence she first loved the Moor, but for bragging, and
telling her fantastical lies. And will she love him still for prating,
let not thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed. And what
delight shall she have to look on the devil? Nature will compel her
to some second choice. Now, Sir, who stands so eminent in the
degree of this Fortune, as Cassio does? Why none, why, none. The
knave is handsome, young: and hath all those requisites in him, that
folly and green minds look after. And the woman hath found him
already.”
Extra Credit!
Create a graphic novel version of Othello set in
the present.
11. How would knowing the geography and history of
Venice and Cyprus better help you understand this play?
How does knowledge of the different poetic styles and
meters – and Shakespeare’s use of them – make the play
more accessible? Discuss how the various subjects
studied in school often overlap.
12. Characters in a play or a book always have a reason for doing what they do.
This is referred to as their “motivation.” What motivates Iago to sabotage his
marriage to Desdemona? What motivates Emelia to give Iago the handkerchief?
Make a list of the characters in Othello. Next to each name write that character’s
primary action in the play and their motivation. Cite passages from the play to
support your reasoning. Did interactions with the other characters change or alter
their motivations? If so, how did this affect the plot?
13. Define “protagonist.” Who is the protagonist of Othello? Why? Discuss.
14. How many characters are in Othello? How many characters are in this
adaptation? Did you think the story was still told in spite of the fact that several
scenes and characters were eliminated? Discuss.
15. How many actors performed this play for your school? What did the actors
change, besides their costumes, to become new characters? How were the various
locations in the play represented in the show?
16. Write a critique of the Barter ENCORE Players’ production of othello. Be
sure to include descriptions and analyses of the individual performances, the
directing/staging choices, and the design elements (costume, set, props, sound).
Why do you think some of these artistic choices were made? How would you have
done it differently?
17. Breaking into groups, pick a scene from Othello, rehearse it and perform it
for your class. Now pick another scene and rewrite it in contemporary English
for a contemporary setting. Rehearse and perform it for your class. Compare the
two experiences.
Back in the good ol’ days…
Othello was first produced in 1604. Using the internet, research
how the original production would have looked – set, costumes,
acting style, etc. How does it compare and contrast to the
Barter ENCORE Player’s production?
18. What was your personal response to the Barter ENCORE Player’s production
of Othello? Were you entertained? What did this play teach you about the human
experience? Discuss.
19. Pick your favorite scene from Othello and design a set for it. Keep in mind
time, place and location. Is it the streets of Venice? Is it Othello’s bedroom in
Cypress? Is it day or night? Also consider the entrances and exits of your
characters. How do they enter the scene? How do they exit? Draw a picture of
what your set should look like. Then make a model of it and present it to your
class, explaining how it will work when built.
Suggested Reading/Links
Books about William Shakespeare
Shakespeare: The Biography by Peter Ackroyd
Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt
Shakespeare: An Ungentle Life by Katherine Duncan-Jones
Soul of the Age: A Biography of the Mind of William Shakespeare by Jonathan Bate
Shakespeare Links
To find out more about William Shakespeare, his life and his works, check out the
links below…
Folger Shakespeare Library
http://folger.edu/template.cfm?cid=863
Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet
http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/
Shakespeare in American Communities website link:
www.shakespeareinamericancommunities.og