ENGLISH PAPER 2
PRELIM NOTES
QUESTION 1 - SHAKESPEARE (30)
TITLE:
The original title of the play, The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, creates tension between
Othello's ethnicity as a Moor and his residence in the predominantly white Venice. ->The shortened
version of the title, Othello, draws attention only to the play's tragic hero.
SHAKESPERIAN TRAGEDY:
1. Introduction to tragic hero
2. We expect him to excel
3. His life and those around him become chaos
4. Tragic hero dies due to the chaos
-> Tragic hero is perceived as having a “fatal flaw” = jealousy and trust to wrong people
-> tragic flaw leads to bias decision = death
-> emphasis placed on the evil in human beings
TECHNIQUES AND THEIR EFFECTS:
1. Sililoguys - main character to reveal thoughts -> audience can keep up
>Act 1, Scene 3 – Iago : "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse..."
- > Introduces Iago’s manipulative nature + his real motives & It builds dramatic irony, since the
audience knows Iago’s plans while the characters don’t.
>Act 2, Scene 3 – Iago "And what’s he then that says I play the villain?"
-> justifies schemes as logical and even beneficial. Shows talent for self-deception and rationalization,
deepening his villainy. Builds suspense for how his manipulation of Cassio will unfold.
Act 3, Scene 3 – Othello "This fellow’s of exceeding honesty, And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit..."
-> Marks the turning point where Othello begins to doubt Desdemona. His trust in Iago is solidified. The
soliloquy exposes his vulnerability, insecurity, and the first seeds of jealousy.
Act 5, Scene 2 – Othello "It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul..."
-> Othello’s most famous soliloquy. He steels himself to kill Desdemona, framing it as an act of justice
rather than passion. The audience witnesses the tragic irony: he is convinced of a lie, making his
reasoning flawed but sincere. Heightens pathos before the murder.
2. Asides - many characters on stage, one speaks to audience -> humour, motives
3. Dramatic irony - audience knows b4 characters -> gives words ironic twist
4. Prose - everyday language -> relieves tension of previous scenes
Iago (often speaks prose in manipulation)
-> Act 1, Scene 1: Iago and Roderigo’s opening dialogue (“Three great ones of the city…”) → casual, gossip.
Act 2, Scene 1 & Scene 3: Uses prose when getting Cassio drunk → language is colloquial + persuasive.
-> Prose makes Iago’s manipulation feel more conversational, intimate, and believable.
Othello (later in the play)
In earlier acts, Othello mostly speaks in verse, dignified and eloquent -> when jealousy consumes him
-> Shows his unraveling mind a descent from controlled, noble speech to chaotic, disordered language.
, SUMMARY - BY STRUCTURE
INTRODUCTION -We meet Iago (resentful of Othello) and Roderigo (in love with Desdemona).
VENICE -They tell Brabantio that Othello has secretly married Desdemona.
ACT 1 -Othello defends his love before the Duke and Senators.
-The Duke sends Othello to defend Cyprus from the Turks.
Important events:
-Iago’s hatred was established.
-Othello and Desdemona’s marriage revealed.
Iago: “I am not what I am” (1.1) → duplicity theme.
Othello: “She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity
them.” (1.3) → their bond.
RISING ACTION Turkish fleet destroyed → no war threat, focus shifts to personal conflict.
Cyprus Iago begins his schemes:
Acts 2–3 (until -Gets Cassio drunk → Cassio disgraces himself in a brawl and loses his lieutenancy
mid Act 3) -Advises Cassio to seek Desdemona’s help in regaining Othello’s favor.
-Iago begins planting doubts in Othello’s mind (3.3).
Important events:
-Cassio’s downfall engineered by Iago.
-Othello begins to suspect Desdemona.
-Iago secures the handkerchief (Desdemona’s token of love).
-Cassio greets Desdemona by clasping her hand. Watching them, Iago tells the
audience that he will use “as little a web as this” hand-holding to ensnare Cassio
Iago: “and out of her own goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all.”
Othello: “This fellow’s of exceeding honesty.” (3.3) → tragic irony.
Iago: “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy: It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
the meat it feeds on.”
CLIMAX -Othello fully believes Desdemona has betrayed him with Cassio.
Cyprus -Iago manipulates him with the handkerchief “evidence.”
Act 3, Scene 3 -Othello kneels with Iago and vows revenge.
(Temptation
In Iago's language are traps set specifically for a character he has carefully
Scene) observed for weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Iago's greatest weapon is to turn his
victims' deepest desires against themselves: the confidence Othello shows in Act 1,
when he confronts Brabantio and the Duke, is shattered when he believes
Desdemona has betrayed him. As Othello says in this scene: "Perdition catch my
soul but I do love thee, and when I love thee not, chaos is come again."
Important events:
-Othello transitions from doubt → certainty → obsession with revenge.
-material—the handkerchief—for the "ocular proof"
Othello: “Now do I see ’tis true.” (3.3)
Othello: “Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!” (3.3)
PRELIM NOTES
QUESTION 1 - SHAKESPEARE (30)
TITLE:
The original title of the play, The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, creates tension between
Othello's ethnicity as a Moor and his residence in the predominantly white Venice. ->The shortened
version of the title, Othello, draws attention only to the play's tragic hero.
SHAKESPERIAN TRAGEDY:
1. Introduction to tragic hero
2. We expect him to excel
3. His life and those around him become chaos
4. Tragic hero dies due to the chaos
-> Tragic hero is perceived as having a “fatal flaw” = jealousy and trust to wrong people
-> tragic flaw leads to bias decision = death
-> emphasis placed on the evil in human beings
TECHNIQUES AND THEIR EFFECTS:
1. Sililoguys - main character to reveal thoughts -> audience can keep up
>Act 1, Scene 3 – Iago : "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse..."
- > Introduces Iago’s manipulative nature + his real motives & It builds dramatic irony, since the
audience knows Iago’s plans while the characters don’t.
>Act 2, Scene 3 – Iago "And what’s he then that says I play the villain?"
-> justifies schemes as logical and even beneficial. Shows talent for self-deception and rationalization,
deepening his villainy. Builds suspense for how his manipulation of Cassio will unfold.
Act 3, Scene 3 – Othello "This fellow’s of exceeding honesty, And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit..."
-> Marks the turning point where Othello begins to doubt Desdemona. His trust in Iago is solidified. The
soliloquy exposes his vulnerability, insecurity, and the first seeds of jealousy.
Act 5, Scene 2 – Othello "It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul..."
-> Othello’s most famous soliloquy. He steels himself to kill Desdemona, framing it as an act of justice
rather than passion. The audience witnesses the tragic irony: he is convinced of a lie, making his
reasoning flawed but sincere. Heightens pathos before the murder.
2. Asides - many characters on stage, one speaks to audience -> humour, motives
3. Dramatic irony - audience knows b4 characters -> gives words ironic twist
4. Prose - everyday language -> relieves tension of previous scenes
Iago (often speaks prose in manipulation)
-> Act 1, Scene 1: Iago and Roderigo’s opening dialogue (“Three great ones of the city…”) → casual, gossip.
Act 2, Scene 1 & Scene 3: Uses prose when getting Cassio drunk → language is colloquial + persuasive.
-> Prose makes Iago’s manipulation feel more conversational, intimate, and believable.
Othello (later in the play)
In earlier acts, Othello mostly speaks in verse, dignified and eloquent -> when jealousy consumes him
-> Shows his unraveling mind a descent from controlled, noble speech to chaotic, disordered language.
, SUMMARY - BY STRUCTURE
INTRODUCTION -We meet Iago (resentful of Othello) and Roderigo (in love with Desdemona).
VENICE -They tell Brabantio that Othello has secretly married Desdemona.
ACT 1 -Othello defends his love before the Duke and Senators.
-The Duke sends Othello to defend Cyprus from the Turks.
Important events:
-Iago’s hatred was established.
-Othello and Desdemona’s marriage revealed.
Iago: “I am not what I am” (1.1) → duplicity theme.
Othello: “She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity
them.” (1.3) → their bond.
RISING ACTION Turkish fleet destroyed → no war threat, focus shifts to personal conflict.
Cyprus Iago begins his schemes:
Acts 2–3 (until -Gets Cassio drunk → Cassio disgraces himself in a brawl and loses his lieutenancy
mid Act 3) -Advises Cassio to seek Desdemona’s help in regaining Othello’s favor.
-Iago begins planting doubts in Othello’s mind (3.3).
Important events:
-Cassio’s downfall engineered by Iago.
-Othello begins to suspect Desdemona.
-Iago secures the handkerchief (Desdemona’s token of love).
-Cassio greets Desdemona by clasping her hand. Watching them, Iago tells the
audience that he will use “as little a web as this” hand-holding to ensnare Cassio
Iago: “and out of her own goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all.”
Othello: “This fellow’s of exceeding honesty.” (3.3) → tragic irony.
Iago: “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy: It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
the meat it feeds on.”
CLIMAX -Othello fully believes Desdemona has betrayed him with Cassio.
Cyprus -Iago manipulates him with the handkerchief “evidence.”
Act 3, Scene 3 -Othello kneels with Iago and vows revenge.
(Temptation
In Iago's language are traps set specifically for a character he has carefully
Scene) observed for weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Iago's greatest weapon is to turn his
victims' deepest desires against themselves: the confidence Othello shows in Act 1,
when he confronts Brabantio and the Duke, is shattered when he believes
Desdemona has betrayed him. As Othello says in this scene: "Perdition catch my
soul but I do love thee, and when I love thee not, chaos is come again."
Important events:
-Othello transitions from doubt → certainty → obsession with revenge.
-material—the handkerchief—for the "ocular proof"
Othello: “Now do I see ’tis true.” (3.3)
Othello: “Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!” (3.3)
