Othello Shakespeare Question and Answers
Act 1 .................................................................................................................................. 2
Scene 1 ............................................................................................................................................ 2
Scene 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Scene 3 ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Act 1 Scene 1 memo ....................................................................................................................... 5
Act 1 Scene 2 memo ...................................................................................................................... 5
Act 1 Scene 3 memo ...................................................................................................................... 5
Act 2 ................................................................................................................................. 7
Scene 1 ............................................................................................................................................ 7
Scene 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 8
Scene 3 ............................................................................................................................................ 8
Act 2 Scene 1 memo ...................................................................................................................... 9
Act 2 Scene 2 memo...................................................................................................................... 9
Act 2 Scene 3 memo ...................................................................................................................... 9
Act 3 ............................................................................................................................... 10
Scene 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Scene 2 ........................................................................................................................................... 11
Scene 3 ........................................................................................................................................... 11
Scene 4 ......................................................................................................................................... 12
Act 3 Scene 1 memo .................................................................................................................... 13
Act 3 Scene 2 memo .................................................................................................................... 13
Act 3 Scene 3 memo .................................................................................................................... 13
Act 3 Scene 4 memo ................................................................................................................... 13
Act 4 ............................................................................................................................... 14
Scene 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 14
Scene 2 .......................................................................................................................................... 15
Scene 3 .......................................................................................................................................... 15
Act 4 Scene 1 memo .................................................................................................................... 16
Act 4 Scene 2 memo ................................................................................................................... 16
Act 4 Scene 3 memo ................................................................................................................... 16
Act 5 ............................................................................................................................... 17
Scene 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 17
Scene 2 .......................................................................................................................................... 18
Act 5 Scene 1 memo .................................................................................................................... 19
Act 5 Scene 2 memo .................................................................................................................... 19
, Act 1
Scene 1
1. What is Roderigo upset about at the beginning of the scene?
2. How does Roderigo feel about Iago's involvement with his money?
3. Why does Roderigo abhor the idea of Desdemona marrying Othello?
4. According to Iago, why did Othello choose Cassio as his lieutenant?
5. Describe Iago's feelings towards Othello's decision to promote Cassio.
6. How does Iago characterize Cassio's military experience?
7. What does Iago mean when he says, "Mere prattle without practice is all his soldiership"?
8. How does Iago suggest he will serve Othello?
9. Why does Iago say, "We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly followed"?
10. What contrast does Iago draw between different types of servants?
11. How does Iago explain his loyalty to Othello?
12. What does Iago mean when he says, "I am not what I am"?
13. How does Roderigo respond to Iago's plan regarding Othello and Desdemona?
14. Why does Iago wake Brabantio in the middle of the night?
15. How does Iago describe Othello and Desdemona's relationship to Brabantio?
16. What is Brabantio's initial reaction upon hearing Iago's news?
17. What accusation does Iago make against Othello to Brabantio?
18. How does Brabantio respond to Iago's accusations?
19. What does Iago suggest Brabantio should do about his daughter's supposed elopement?
20. How does the scene conclude?
, Scene 2
1. What is Othello's attitude towards murder as expressed in the opening lines?
2. How does Othello describe his internal struggle regarding the thought of killing someone?
3. Why does Othello say he refrained from harming someone in the past?
4. How does Othello justify his decision not to act violently?
5. What provocation did Othello face that he mentions to Iago?
6. What is the significance of the "little godliness" that Othello claims to possess?
7. How does Othello feel about Desdemona, and how does this impact his decisions?
8. How does Othello view his own status compared to others in Venice?
9. What does Othello mean when he says his "services... shall out-tongue his complaints"?
10. How does Othello view his own position and status in Venice society?
11. Who is referred to as "the magnifico" in the conversation?
12. What does Othello fear will happen if he loses favor with the Duke?
13. How does Iago respond to Othello's concerns about Desdemona?
14. Describe Cassio's role and relationship with Othello based on this scene.
15. What news does Cassio bring to Othello from the Duke?
16. How does Othello react to the urgent message from the Duke?
17. What is the state of affairs in Cyprus as described in this scene?
18. How does Brabantio react upon finding Othello with his daughter?
19. What accusations does Brabantio level against Othello?
20. How does Othello respond to Brabantio's accusations and threats?
Act 1 .................................................................................................................................. 2
Scene 1 ............................................................................................................................................ 2
Scene 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Scene 3 ........................................................................................................................................... 4
Act 1 Scene 1 memo ....................................................................................................................... 5
Act 1 Scene 2 memo ...................................................................................................................... 5
Act 1 Scene 3 memo ...................................................................................................................... 5
Act 2 ................................................................................................................................. 7
Scene 1 ............................................................................................................................................ 7
Scene 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 8
Scene 3 ............................................................................................................................................ 8
Act 2 Scene 1 memo ...................................................................................................................... 9
Act 2 Scene 2 memo...................................................................................................................... 9
Act 2 Scene 3 memo ...................................................................................................................... 9
Act 3 ............................................................................................................................... 10
Scene 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Scene 2 ........................................................................................................................................... 11
Scene 3 ........................................................................................................................................... 11
Scene 4 ......................................................................................................................................... 12
Act 3 Scene 1 memo .................................................................................................................... 13
Act 3 Scene 2 memo .................................................................................................................... 13
Act 3 Scene 3 memo .................................................................................................................... 13
Act 3 Scene 4 memo ................................................................................................................... 13
Act 4 ............................................................................................................................... 14
Scene 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 14
Scene 2 .......................................................................................................................................... 15
Scene 3 .......................................................................................................................................... 15
Act 4 Scene 1 memo .................................................................................................................... 16
Act 4 Scene 2 memo ................................................................................................................... 16
Act 4 Scene 3 memo ................................................................................................................... 16
Act 5 ............................................................................................................................... 17
Scene 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 17
Scene 2 .......................................................................................................................................... 18
Act 5 Scene 1 memo .................................................................................................................... 19
Act 5 Scene 2 memo .................................................................................................................... 19
, Act 1
Scene 1
1. What is Roderigo upset about at the beginning of the scene?
2. How does Roderigo feel about Iago's involvement with his money?
3. Why does Roderigo abhor the idea of Desdemona marrying Othello?
4. According to Iago, why did Othello choose Cassio as his lieutenant?
5. Describe Iago's feelings towards Othello's decision to promote Cassio.
6. How does Iago characterize Cassio's military experience?
7. What does Iago mean when he says, "Mere prattle without practice is all his soldiership"?
8. How does Iago suggest he will serve Othello?
9. Why does Iago say, "We cannot all be masters, nor all masters cannot be truly followed"?
10. What contrast does Iago draw between different types of servants?
11. How does Iago explain his loyalty to Othello?
12. What does Iago mean when he says, "I am not what I am"?
13. How does Roderigo respond to Iago's plan regarding Othello and Desdemona?
14. Why does Iago wake Brabantio in the middle of the night?
15. How does Iago describe Othello and Desdemona's relationship to Brabantio?
16. What is Brabantio's initial reaction upon hearing Iago's news?
17. What accusation does Iago make against Othello to Brabantio?
18. How does Brabantio respond to Iago's accusations?
19. What does Iago suggest Brabantio should do about his daughter's supposed elopement?
20. How does the scene conclude?
, Scene 2
1. What is Othello's attitude towards murder as expressed in the opening lines?
2. How does Othello describe his internal struggle regarding the thought of killing someone?
3. Why does Othello say he refrained from harming someone in the past?
4. How does Othello justify his decision not to act violently?
5. What provocation did Othello face that he mentions to Iago?
6. What is the significance of the "little godliness" that Othello claims to possess?
7. How does Othello feel about Desdemona, and how does this impact his decisions?
8. How does Othello view his own status compared to others in Venice?
9. What does Othello mean when he says his "services... shall out-tongue his complaints"?
10. How does Othello view his own position and status in Venice society?
11. Who is referred to as "the magnifico" in the conversation?
12. What does Othello fear will happen if he loses favor with the Duke?
13. How does Iago respond to Othello's concerns about Desdemona?
14. Describe Cassio's role and relationship with Othello based on this scene.
15. What news does Cassio bring to Othello from the Duke?
16. How does Othello react to the urgent message from the Duke?
17. What is the state of affairs in Cyprus as described in this scene?
18. How does Brabantio react upon finding Othello with his daughter?
19. What accusations does Brabantio level against Othello?
20. How does Othello respond to Brabantio's accusations and threats?
