Othello Close Reading Quiz
Coyne
Answer the following questions from Act I, scene II (refer to DiYanni 4th ed. for line numbers)
1.
2.
3.
In lines 1-5, Iago criticizes himself for
a. Acting against his conscience
b. Not being loyal to Othello
c. Being too moral for his own good
d. Slaying men in war
e. Missing his target in a duel
The words “keep up” as they are used in line 58, could be best restated as
a. Put away
b. Hold high
c. Continue with
d. Do justice to
e. Maintain carefully
Brabantio objects to Othello as a husband for his daughter because he views Othello as
a. I only
I.
Lower in social status
b. II only
II.
Of an inferior race
c. I and II only
III.
Not a Christian
d. II and III only
e. I, II, III
Answer the following Questions from Act II scene iii (refer to DiYanni 4th ed. for line numbers)
4.
It is evident that Iago believes “reputation” is something (pg. 1018)
a. I only
I.
b. II only
c. I and II only
II.
d. II and III only
e. I, II, and III
III.
5.
Attributed to a person
rather haphazardly
More valuable than a
person’s physical well
being
Extremely difficult to
recover once it is lost
The meaning of line 303 would be made clearer if “were’t” were reworded as
a. Especially if it were
b. Because it were
c. And if it were
d. Even if it were
e. As long as it were
6.
In Iago’s final soliloquy (1019), the shift in his stance toward his scheme begins in
a. Line 300
b. Line 308
c. Line 310
d. Line 311
e. Line 313
Answer the following Questions from Act III scene iii (refer to DiYanni 4th ed. for line numbers)
7.
8.
9.
In Iago’s opening soliloquy(1031), he suggests that his success in manipulating Othello is primarily the
result of
a. Iago’s oratorical abilities
b. Othello’s natural tendencies
c. Desdemona’s suspicious behavior
d. Iago’s use of poisonous herbs
e. Cassio’s gullibility
In line 339, the meaning of the word “wanting” would be clarified by substituting the word
a. Desiring
b. Lacking
c. Missing
d. Failing
e. Valuing
In Othello’s speech in lines 380-387, his attitude toward Iago and Desdemona could best be described as
a. Objective
b. Partial
c. Magnanimous
d. Paradoxical
e. Disinterested
Answer the following Questions from Act IV scene ii (refer to DiYanni 4th ed. for line numbers)
10. In lines 17-19 Emilia expresses her belief that
a. Even the purest of wives is unfaithful at some point
b. Desdemona represents the highest degree of faithfulness
c. Othello should not think he is the first man to be troubled with such matters
d. Desdemona, unlike most wives’, is not hypocritical
e. Men are never happy with their wives’ behavior, even when it is faultless
11. Othello’s dismissal of Emilia’s words in lines 20-24 is most likely a result of his
a. Lack of respect for Emilia’s subservient position
b. Refusal to consider that perhaps he is mistaken about Desdemona
c. Certainty that Desdemona has told Emilia what to say
d. Determination to gather concrete evidence to support his suspicions
e. Observation that Emilia was equivocal in her answers to him
12. Othello’s words in line 36, “be double damn’d,” can best be interpreted to mean
a. “Be damned for unfaithfulness and for dishonesty”
b. “Be damned to die and also to suffer after death.”
c. “Be damned by me and also by the devils themselves.”
d. “Be damned in this life and also in the next life.”
Answer the following Questions from Act V scene ii (refer to DiYanni 4th ed. for line numbers)
13. In lines 1-15, Othello addresses, respectively,
a. Himself, a servant, Desdemona, a flower
b. His soul, God, a minister, Desdemona
c. The stars, himself, the servants, a candle
d. His soul, the stars, a candle, Desdemona
e. God, the stars, himself, Desdemona
14. Lines 63-64 could best be interpreted to mean that Othello feels Desdemona is forcing him to
a. Kill her brutally rather than as mercifully as possible
b. Kill her even though he realizes she faces damnation
c. Kill her in anger rather than out of a sense of justice
d. Kill her knowing that what he is doing is wrong
e. Kill her before she has a chance to confess
15. Desdemona’s pleas in lines 78-84 progress from more to less
a. Rational
b. Specific
c. Ambitious
d. Desperate
e. Realistic
16. (pg. 1068) Othello says he is glad he did not kill Iago because
a. Death would be a release for Iago
b. Othello wants to die before Iago does
c. The pleasure of killing Iago is still before him
d. Death would mean being with Desdemona
e. Iago deserves to be tortured before he dies
17. In his speech in lines 335-352, Othello requests that Lodovico represent him to the Venetian state
a. Kindly and sympathetically
b. Fairly and accurately
c. Generously and compassionately
d. Completely and unemotionally
e. Truthfully and dispassionately
18. In this passage, Othello reveals his belief that
a. The end never justifies the means
b. It is always better to live than to die
c. The intention behind actions is important
d. A criminal who has served the state deserves leniency
e. Iago must have had good reason for what he did