Name
English 10: Period
Othello Act II Review Questions **Homework**
Scene 1:
1. How does the setting of the play shift in this act?
2. Why is Desdemona worried about Othello?
3. After Cassio's extravagant welcome, Desdemona answers him very shortly.
Why?
4. Do lago and Roderigo really think that Cassio and Desdemona are lovers?
5. Who does lago suspect of having an affair with his wife?
6. What does lago's speech (line 110) reveal about lago's attitude toward
women?
7. What is lago trying to convince Roderigo of in his long speech (line 220)?
8. What argument does he offer to support his claims?
9. How does lago use his knowledge of Cassio's character to plot against him?
As the play proceeds, look for other instances where lago uses his knowledge
of others to do them harm.
10. In his soliloquy (line 287), how does what lago says about Desdemona and
Othello differ from what he has said about them to Roderigo?
Scene 3:
1. What does Othello warn Cassio against in his first speech?
Name
English 10: Period
2. What is the effect of the repeated use of the word "honest" in connection with
lago? What dramatic or literary effect is this an example of?
3. In what two ways does lago try to tempt Cassio in this scene? Does he
succeed?
4. Why do you think lago tries to make sure Cassio gets drunk?
5. What does Montano now believe about Cassio as a result of lago's
manipulations?
6. lago is again pretending to be what he is not. What is he pretending? What
role does he play here?
7. How does Othello punish Cassio for his part in the fight?
8. What flaws in Othello's character are revealed in his speech (line 243)?
9. What imagery does Cassio use to describe the effects of drinking? What
larger themes in the play do these images reflect?
10. How does lago persuade Cassio to go to Desdemona?
11. Notice the imagery of disease, hunting, and trapping that lago uses to
describe his plotting. What is his attitude towards his own actions here? (Is
he ashamed Does he feel guilty?)
12. Would all have gone differently if Cassio had refused to drink an more? What
didn't he "just say no" to lago?