English Revision Guide
Othello
LANGUGE STRUCTURE CONTEXT CRITICAL QUOTES WIDER LINKS
Summary
Act 1: Scene 1
1. Roderigo is angry at Iago who he believes he knew about Desdemona’s
elopement with Othello. Iago denies this and expresses his hate towards
Othello, for making Cassio his lieutenant instead of him, and Cassio for not
being fit for the job (professional jealousy).
2. They both go to Brabantio’s house to tell him of Desdemona’s elopement, but
Iago is hidden. He uses racial prejudice and challenges Brabantio's manhood in
order to get him on their side.
3. Iago leaves to go “warn” Othello but reveals he is only pretending to love him.
4. Brabantio finds Desdemona gone and rallies his guards to go search for Othello
and have him arrested.
Act 1: Scene 2
1. Iago warns Othello of Brabantio’s plans to legally divorce him and Desdemona.
2. Cassio and the servants of the Duke inform Othello that he is needed by the
Duke regarding an urgent military issue in Cyprus
3. Roderigo, Brabantio and his men arrive, and Brabantio uses racially charged
provocation against Othello in a speech accusing him of enchanting Desdemona
4. Brabantio decides to accompany Othello to the Duke and air his grievance there.
Act 1: Scene 3
1. The Duke and the senator speak of the Turks invasion. They manage to see
through a Turkish ploy to make it look as if the Turks will attack Rhodes instead
of Cyprus. Then the Duke and the Senators discuss how to repel the Turkish
attack on Cyprus.
2. Brabantio and Othello arrive, and Othello admits that he married Desdemona,
but no witchcraft was involved. They then send for her to confirm his statement.
3. While waiting Othello, in a speech, tells the Duke his history through the story of
how he got Desdemona to fall in love with him.
4. Desdemona arrives and confirms his statement
, 5. Othello must leave for Cyprus and decides Desdemona will go with him and
travel with Iago.
6. Iago then reassures Roderigo that he will end up with Desdemona. Once alone
he reveals his revenge plan.
Act 2: Scene 1
1. A messenger arrives with news that the Turkish fleet has been so damaged by
the storm that it no longer threatens Cyprus.
2. Cassio's ship, followed by Desdemona's ship, is the first Venetian ship to arrive.
The two pass the time, waiting for news of Othello, and Iago watches, planning
to catch Cassio in his own courtesies.
3. Othello finally arrives, triumphant, and he, Desdemona, and the others go into
the fortress.
4. Iago stays behind to tell Roderigo that Desdemona is in love with Cassio and
convince him to pick a fight with Cassio to cause mutiny and have him removed.
5. Iago, in his second soliloquy, speaks again of his hatred for Othello. The details
are not yet clear, but Iago plans to drive Othello mad.
Act 2: Scene 2
1. The herald reads a proclamation declaring a night of general festivities to
celebrate both the destruction of the Turkish fleet and Othello's recent marriage.
Act 2: Scene 3
1. Othello directs Cassio and the other soldiers to drink with moderation as he is
on night watch and keep the peace.
2. Then Othello and Desdemona retire to bed, the first night they will spend
together since their marriage.
3. Alone, Iago makes suggestive remarks about Desdemona to Cassio, which
Cassio turns aside; then Iago invites him to drink after previously declining,
Cassio gives in.
4. Iago spurs Roderigo into a fight with Cassio; others join in, and Iago sends
Roderigo to ring the alarm bell, waking Othello and bringing him and his armed
men to the spot.
5. Othello demands to know who started the fight, and feigning reluctance, Iago
names Cassio. Othello relieves Cassio of his post on the spot. Then he and
Desdemona return to bed.
6. Iago advises Cassio to ask Desdemona to speak on his behalf with her husband.
Cassio agrees, then Iago devises a plan using Emelia to set a private meeting
between Cassio and Desdemona.
Act 3: Scene 1
, 1. In attempts to win Othello good graces, Cassio orders musicians to play outside
of his and Desdemona’s lodgings. Othello sends his servant, a clown, to stop the
music.
2. Cassio pays the clown to send Emilia to him. Iago enters and says that he will
directly call for Emilia so she can speak with Cassio.
3. Emila tells him of Desdemona and Othello’s conversation about him. Othello
says that he loves Cassio and wants to reappoint him as lieutenant but Montano
is too influential in Cyprus so they must wait for the right time.
4. Cassio then waits to speak with Desdemona.
Act 3: Scene 2
1. Iago, Othello and a gentleman walk together. Othello gives Iago some letters to
send to the Venetian senate and tells him to meet him on the fortifications. Iago
exits. Othello goes to tour the fortifications.
Act 3: Scene 3
1. Cassio speaks to Desdemona, asking her to intercede with Othello on his behalf.
Desdemona willingly agrees.
2. In a conversation with Iago, in which Iago continues to imply that he knows
something that he refuses to divulge, Othello denies that he would give himself
over to jealousy.
3. When Desdemona re-enters, Othello's aspect is changed; he watches her
intently, looking for signs, and brushes away her handkerchief when she seeks to
sooth him. They go into dinner, and Emilia picks up the fallen handkerchief, one
that her husband, Iago, often urged her to steal from Desdemona. Emilia
decides to have a copy made to give to Iago, but he enters, sees the
handkerchief, and snatches it from her.
4. Othello dismisses love and calls for vengeance. Certainty has freed his mind
from doubt and confusion. Now he swears action, and Iago swears to help him.
Othello wants Cassio dead, Iago agrees to do it, and then Othello wonders how
to kill Desdemona.
Act 3: Scene 4
1. Desdemona sends for Cassio to tell him that she has spoken with Othello; she is
also worried that she has lost her handkerchief.
2. When Othello enters, he claims a headache and asks her for a handkerchief to
bind his head, but he will have only the embroidered strawberry handkerchief. In
vain, Desdemona tries to deflect his questions about the handkerchief, speaking
again of Cassio. Othello walks out in fury.
3. Cassio gives Bianca Desdemona's handkerchief, which he found in his lodgings
(Iago had placed it there) and asks her to make a copy of it for him.
Act 4: Scene 1
Othello
LANGUGE STRUCTURE CONTEXT CRITICAL QUOTES WIDER LINKS
Summary
Act 1: Scene 1
1. Roderigo is angry at Iago who he believes he knew about Desdemona’s
elopement with Othello. Iago denies this and expresses his hate towards
Othello, for making Cassio his lieutenant instead of him, and Cassio for not
being fit for the job (professional jealousy).
2. They both go to Brabantio’s house to tell him of Desdemona’s elopement, but
Iago is hidden. He uses racial prejudice and challenges Brabantio's manhood in
order to get him on their side.
3. Iago leaves to go “warn” Othello but reveals he is only pretending to love him.
4. Brabantio finds Desdemona gone and rallies his guards to go search for Othello
and have him arrested.
Act 1: Scene 2
1. Iago warns Othello of Brabantio’s plans to legally divorce him and Desdemona.
2. Cassio and the servants of the Duke inform Othello that he is needed by the
Duke regarding an urgent military issue in Cyprus
3. Roderigo, Brabantio and his men arrive, and Brabantio uses racially charged
provocation against Othello in a speech accusing him of enchanting Desdemona
4. Brabantio decides to accompany Othello to the Duke and air his grievance there.
Act 1: Scene 3
1. The Duke and the senator speak of the Turks invasion. They manage to see
through a Turkish ploy to make it look as if the Turks will attack Rhodes instead
of Cyprus. Then the Duke and the Senators discuss how to repel the Turkish
attack on Cyprus.
2. Brabantio and Othello arrive, and Othello admits that he married Desdemona,
but no witchcraft was involved. They then send for her to confirm his statement.
3. While waiting Othello, in a speech, tells the Duke his history through the story of
how he got Desdemona to fall in love with him.
4. Desdemona arrives and confirms his statement
, 5. Othello must leave for Cyprus and decides Desdemona will go with him and
travel with Iago.
6. Iago then reassures Roderigo that he will end up with Desdemona. Once alone
he reveals his revenge plan.
Act 2: Scene 1
1. A messenger arrives with news that the Turkish fleet has been so damaged by
the storm that it no longer threatens Cyprus.
2. Cassio's ship, followed by Desdemona's ship, is the first Venetian ship to arrive.
The two pass the time, waiting for news of Othello, and Iago watches, planning
to catch Cassio in his own courtesies.
3. Othello finally arrives, triumphant, and he, Desdemona, and the others go into
the fortress.
4. Iago stays behind to tell Roderigo that Desdemona is in love with Cassio and
convince him to pick a fight with Cassio to cause mutiny and have him removed.
5. Iago, in his second soliloquy, speaks again of his hatred for Othello. The details
are not yet clear, but Iago plans to drive Othello mad.
Act 2: Scene 2
1. The herald reads a proclamation declaring a night of general festivities to
celebrate both the destruction of the Turkish fleet and Othello's recent marriage.
Act 2: Scene 3
1. Othello directs Cassio and the other soldiers to drink with moderation as he is
on night watch and keep the peace.
2. Then Othello and Desdemona retire to bed, the first night they will spend
together since their marriage.
3. Alone, Iago makes suggestive remarks about Desdemona to Cassio, which
Cassio turns aside; then Iago invites him to drink after previously declining,
Cassio gives in.
4. Iago spurs Roderigo into a fight with Cassio; others join in, and Iago sends
Roderigo to ring the alarm bell, waking Othello and bringing him and his armed
men to the spot.
5. Othello demands to know who started the fight, and feigning reluctance, Iago
names Cassio. Othello relieves Cassio of his post on the spot. Then he and
Desdemona return to bed.
6. Iago advises Cassio to ask Desdemona to speak on his behalf with her husband.
Cassio agrees, then Iago devises a plan using Emelia to set a private meeting
between Cassio and Desdemona.
Act 3: Scene 1
, 1. In attempts to win Othello good graces, Cassio orders musicians to play outside
of his and Desdemona’s lodgings. Othello sends his servant, a clown, to stop the
music.
2. Cassio pays the clown to send Emilia to him. Iago enters and says that he will
directly call for Emilia so she can speak with Cassio.
3. Emila tells him of Desdemona and Othello’s conversation about him. Othello
says that he loves Cassio and wants to reappoint him as lieutenant but Montano
is too influential in Cyprus so they must wait for the right time.
4. Cassio then waits to speak with Desdemona.
Act 3: Scene 2
1. Iago, Othello and a gentleman walk together. Othello gives Iago some letters to
send to the Venetian senate and tells him to meet him on the fortifications. Iago
exits. Othello goes to tour the fortifications.
Act 3: Scene 3
1. Cassio speaks to Desdemona, asking her to intercede with Othello on his behalf.
Desdemona willingly agrees.
2. In a conversation with Iago, in which Iago continues to imply that he knows
something that he refuses to divulge, Othello denies that he would give himself
over to jealousy.
3. When Desdemona re-enters, Othello's aspect is changed; he watches her
intently, looking for signs, and brushes away her handkerchief when she seeks to
sooth him. They go into dinner, and Emilia picks up the fallen handkerchief, one
that her husband, Iago, often urged her to steal from Desdemona. Emilia
decides to have a copy made to give to Iago, but he enters, sees the
handkerchief, and snatches it from her.
4. Othello dismisses love and calls for vengeance. Certainty has freed his mind
from doubt and confusion. Now he swears action, and Iago swears to help him.
Othello wants Cassio dead, Iago agrees to do it, and then Othello wonders how
to kill Desdemona.
Act 3: Scene 4
1. Desdemona sends for Cassio to tell him that she has spoken with Othello; she is
also worried that she has lost her handkerchief.
2. When Othello enters, he claims a headache and asks her for a handkerchief to
bind his head, but he will have only the embroidered strawberry handkerchief. In
vain, Desdemona tries to deflect his questions about the handkerchief, speaking
again of Cassio. Othello walks out in fury.
3. Cassio gives Bianca Desdemona's handkerchief, which he found in his lodgings
(Iago had placed it there) and asks her to make a copy of it for him.
Act 4: Scene 1
