English 9
Othello - Act 1 - Study Questions
Act 1, Scene 1
1. What is your first impression of Iago-- both from what he
tells us about himself and from the kind of language he
uses?
2. Why does Iago wake Brabantio in the middle of the night?
What does he have to tell him? What do you notice about
the language that Iago uses in speaking to Brabantio -especially at 1.1.95-100 and 1.1.122-127? What does his
language reveal about Iago’s view of Othello?
3. What impression do you get of Roderigo in scene one?
What do we learn about him, both from what he says and
what others (especially Brabantio) say about him.
4. Why does Iago leave before Brabantio comes down to speak
to them?
Act 1, Scene 2
1. What is your first impression of Othello, as reflected in
his manner and tone of speech, in the way he reacts to
Iago’s news, and the way he reacts when Brabantio comes
to arrest him (especially 1.2.76-79)
2. Why has Othello been called to appear before the Duke and
the Consuls?
3. What is Iago doing at the beginning of this scene? About
whom is he speaking to Othello?
Act 1, Scene 3
1. What does Brabantio accuse Othello of, and what does his
accusation show about how he views Othello?
2. How does Othello respond to Brabantio’s accusation, and
what does his response show about him?
3. According to Othello, how and why did he and Desdemona
fall in love? How do you feel about his description of
how they fell in love?
4. What is your first impression of Desdemona, based on her
defense of her marriage and her request to accompany
Othello?
5. Why, in your opinion, does the Duke so readily accept
Othello’s version of what happened?
6. What do we learn about Iago, Roderigo, and their
relationship in the exchange between them at the end of
the scene. What does Iago’s closing soliloquy
(1.3.426ff) add to your understanding of his character
and his intentions?