Othello+Reading+Guides

Return to Othello

**Act 1:** 1. What does the Duke want Othello to do? 2. What does the Duke give Brabantio the permission to do regarding Desdemona? 3. Why is Iago upset? 4. Who is sent to bring Desdemona back to the Duke's to defend Othello? 5. Why is the Duke meeting with his council? 6. Where is Desdemona? 7. What request does Desdemona make? 8. What news does Cassio bring? 9. How does Othello plan to convince Brabantio that he is worthy of Desdemona? 10. At the opening of Scene 1, where are Iago and Roderigo? Why are they there? 11. What warning does Brabantio give to Othello? 12. As Iago and Othello converse, who arrives first on the scene? 13. What does Brabantio believe Othello used to steal Desdemona? 14. What does Brabantio think about what Roderigo is telling him? 15. Where do the opening scenes take place?

1. According to Cassio, what is his greatest loss? 2. Who is in command of the watch? 3. What does Othello do to end the fight? 4. Who starts the fight? 5. What are "the burning Bear" and "th' ever fixed pole"? 6. What proclamation is made by Othello's herald as Othello's ship arrives in Cyprus? 7. What does Iago succeed in getting Cassio to do? 8. What is the purpose of Act 2, Scene II? 9. When Cassio arrives in Cyprus, why is he concerned about Othello? 10. Where does Scene 1 open? 11. What is Iago plotting with Roderigo? 12. What does Iago suggest to Cassio in order to win the favor of Othello again?
 * Act 2:**

1. When does Scene I take place? 2. How does Iago use the handkerchief to further his plot? 3. What does Othello ask Desdemona to give to him? 4. Othello tells Desdemona that the handkerchief is magical. How does this affect her? 5. What does Cassio ask Bianca to do? 6. What does Othello give to Iago? 7. Who is Bianca? 8. Why does Cassio leave when he sees Othello coming? 9. Where does Bianca think Cassio got the handkerchief? 10. Why does the clown send the musicians away? 11. Who is Desdemona looking for? 12. Why does Desdemona think Othello is angry? 13. What is the purpose of Scene I? 14. What emotion is stirred up in Othello? 15. What is Cassio's first name?
 * Act 3:**

1. What does Othello decide he must do? 2. Who defends Desdemona's fidelity? 3. What does Roderigo announce to Iago? 4. How does this affect Othello? 5. Who arrives from Venice? What news does this person bring? 6. What causes Lodovico to have a change of heart about Othello? 7. After Iago convinces Roderigo to stay, what does Roderigo agree to do? 8. What happens to Othello as he contemplates punishing Desdemona and Cassio? 9. What does Emilia believe is happening? 10. What does Bianca throw at Cassio? 11. When Iago speaks to Cassio, whom do they discuss? Why does Iago do this? 12. What punishment does Othello want for Cassio?
 * Act 4:**

1. What does Othello do when he realizes he has been tricked? 2. Who is the heir to Othello's estate? 3. What happens to Emilia when she exposes Iago's plot? 4. Who is mortally wounded in the ambush? 5. What does Othello order Desdemona to do when he enters their bedchamber? 6. How does Othello kill Desdemona? 7. Where is Cassio stabbed? Who stabs him? 8. What does Lodovico have that further condemns Iago? 9. Whom does Roderigo ambush? 10. Who is the first to know what Othello has done?
 * Act 5:**