Neph131
04/02/15
William Shakespeare’s Othello Reading Comprehension Questions
Act One Scene One
Why is Roderigo angry with Iago?
Because Iago was supposed to get Desdemona to fall for him.
Why does Iago say” Go ahead and despise me if I don’t hate him.”
This portrays that Iago will go after what he wants. He let greed get the best of him.
Who has Othello promoted to lieutenant?
He promoted Cassio.
Why does Iago remain in the military under Othello’s leadership?
Because he is the Venetian Army’s general. He is great at what he does.
Why do Iago and Roderigo call Othello racists, derogatory names?
Because Othello is Black and he is the best there is at what he does as a general; he is despised because they envy him.
For what reason do they call on Brabantio?
Because Othello and Desdemona had eloped.
Why is Brabantio angry over Desdemona and Othello’s marriage?
Because he doesn’t approve of their love. He believes that Desdemona was drugged into marrying Othello.
Why is Roderigo upset over the marriage?
Because he loves Desdemona and she ended up eloping with Othello.
Act One Scene Two
In the beginning of the scene in what ways is Iago scheming against Othello?
He tells Othello that Roderigo has insulted him.
Why is Othello unaffected by Brabantio’s potential threats regarding the marriage to his daughter?
Because he is the Venetian Army’s general and his potentials have been great use to them.
According to Brabantio, why has Desdemona married Othello?
He believes that Othello drugged her and that he is using witchcraft.
Why does Othello refuse to fight?
He wants to prove himself to the duke and not make the duke’s assumption true. He wants to prove that his love is genuine and not witchcraft and drugs.
Act One Scene Three
What confusion is there regarding the destination of the Turkish fleets?
There isn’t an exact number of fleets, therefore, everyone conclude that it’s massive. A sailor confirms that the fleet is in fact not heading to Cyprus, but to Rhodes.
What do the Senators and the Duke think of Othello?
They think highly of him for they called him “vallant” and stated that they must “employ” him for his great skills.
How might such an opinion be an advantage for Othello?
His importance is highlighted which can be used in his defense in front of Brabantio, when he discusses his love for Desdemona.
What physical weakness does Othello claim to have?
According to Othello, how will this matter be solved?
Explain how Desdemona came to fall in love with Othello?
His bravery and war tales attracted her to him.
Why did Othello fall in love with Desdemona?
She was attracted to his tales, she “pitied” them.
Explain the meaning of Duke’s quote: “Men will use their broken weapons rather than their bare hands.”
Explain Desdemona’s response.
What advice does the Duke give to Brabantio with his proverb? He tells him to let it go since it’s already done. He tells Brabantio to let the racism go and appreciate Othello’s virtues instead.
Why must Othello return to war with the Turks?
Because the crisis (war) requires immediate action.
Where will Desdemona live while Othello is away?
She wants to join him at war.
With whom does Othello leave Desdemona until she can join him?
She stays with Iago and Iago’s wife.
In the end how does Brabantio feel about his daughter?
He remains vindictive and disappointed, he even warns Othello that she might deceive him as well.
Explain Iago’s belief regarding human’s ability to choose who we are and how we feel.
He sees it pathetic. He tells Roderigo to have some self-respect and not dwell on his love for Desdemona.
Why does Iago continue telling Roderigo to fill his pockets with money?
Because there’s something in for Iago. Iago tells Roderigo that for Iago’s own benefits. Roderigo was paying Iago to make his relationship with Desdemona possible anyway. He makes it seem that if Roderigo has money, then Desdemona will be attracted to him.
The truth comes out! What is the real reason why Iago hates Othello?
He loves Othello’s wife, Desdemona.
Explain Iago’s plan of revenge against Othello.
He plans on spreading a rumor that Desdemona is cheating on Othello with Cassio.
Act Two Scene Three
Explain two reasons why Cassio is upset.
He has been beaten to the point that he states that his reputation has perished and Iago played him.
What advice does Iago give Cassio to restore his military position?
He tells Cassio to go see Desdemona so she could convince Othello to reemploy Cassio.
What flaw of Desdemona’s does Iago hope to use again her?
He hopes to use her own kindness against her.
What other plans is Iago making regarding his plan of revenge?
Besides using Desdemona's kindness against her, he figured that his advice to Cassio falls right into his plan to make Othello jealous. He furthers his plan by saying that he will bring Othello to the scene where his wife is talking to Cassio, which will make it look out of concept.
Act Three Scene One
What is Emilia’s role in Iago’s plan regarding Cassio and Desdemona?
Iago wants to use Emilia and have her to plead Cassio’s case to Desdemona, who will then plead the case to Othello.
Act Three Scene Three
Othello sees Cassio as he was leaving his wife’s company. Why is this a part of Iago’s plans?
Othello’s jealousy for his wife might get the best of him. Seeing Desdemona with Cassio will give Othello a motive to hate Cassio and break it off with Desdemona which could potentially lead to her being Iago’s.
How does Iago act when at first mentioning Cassio’s probable involvement with Desdemona? Why is this so effective?
He comments on how bizarre it is that Cassio was talking to Desdemona and how he left s soon as Othello came_ implying that something is going on between Cassio and Desdemona.
Why does Iago continually speak good regarding Cassio as a person? How does Iago use this as a ploy to entrap Othello?
Because he wants his plan to go through indirectly and knows Othello’s weakness better than Othello knows it himself. He implants little hint inside Othello’s head. By complimenting, later implying dishonesty, about Cassio’s character, he amplifies Othello’s jealousy by implying that Desdemona would go for Cassio.
39-41. What three facts regarding Desdemona and Othello’s marriage does Iago use to further bring doubt into Othello’s mind?
He uses Othello’s jealousy and insecurity, and Desdemona’s kindness and vulnerability. He drops uncomfortable hints on how nice Cassio and Desdemona were to each other and made it seem like it would bother him if he was Othello and Desdemona was his wife.
42. How will Desdemona’s pressuring of Othello to reinstate Cassio convince Othello of her alleged affair?
She’s persistent and vulnerable. She wouldn’t let Othello alone and she further said that she wouldn’t rest until Othello considered Casio’s case. She suggested different days that Othello could consider it when he says “not now”.
43. Othello is back and forth between believing Iago and believing the truth. Explain Othello’s statement: “If she’s unfaithful, then heaven is faithless to itself! (159).
He sees Desdemona as his heaven which is suppose to be good and pure. By comparing Desdemona to heaven, he’s implying that Iago is lying and if his sweet Desdemona is not faithful, then neither is heaven as great as it is portrayed.
44. Predict: Why did Iago ask his wife to steal Desdemona’s handkerchief?
Because the handkerchief is a great symbol in Othello and Desdemona’s marriage. The handkerchief will be the ultimate weapon used in Iago’s master plan.
45. Explain Othello’s reasoning regarding the fact that he would have been better off not knowing about Desdemona’s affair.
He knows that his jealousy brings out his anger which brings out the worst out of him. Now that he knows, it will bother him to the point that he might end up hurting his wife, which is his way of “solving” the problem.
46. How does Iago effectively lead Othello from being close to killing him to provoking him to stop and think?
He tells Othello to watch Desdemona and Cassio closely which steers Othello’s attention from him. Then again he tells Othello that he’s probably overreacting.
47. What are two examples of “proof” does Iago have regarding the alleged affair?
He gives him a vivid description of Desdemona being with Cassio and he states that he heard Cassio call her out in his sleep.
Act Three Scene Four
48. What is the significance of Desdemona’s handkerchief?
The handkerchief is the main symbol of their marriage, the handkerchief is the one thing that Desdemona always has with her and uses for Othello’s needs. It was a gift of Othello to Desdemona_ a family heirloom. The handkerchief later becomes the key of Iago’s master planning.
49. What does Othello believe has happened to the handkerchief?
He believes that Desdemona gave it to Cassio and didn’t in fact lose it.
50. How is Othello’s belief of Desdemona’ guilty furthered solidified?
Iago tells him that he saw Cassio with the handkerchief. When Othello asks Desdemona for the handkerchief and she didn’t have it, he assumes that what Iago said was true. Especially after Desdemona brought up Cassio’s case again. She makes it worse when she tells him that the handkerchief is not lost.
51. Desdemona tells Cassio that she can no longer speak on his behalf. What changes her mind?
She reasons that Othello must be upset because of work, relating to Cyprus.
52. What does Cassio want Bianca to do with the handkerchief? How did he come to have it?
He asked her to copy the patterns. He found it in his room, where Iago placed it.
