KEY TERMS
Key Term Definition Example
Exposition A scene in the play where the The conversation about going
audience is given the necessary to Cyprus.
information to understand the action
of the play.
Protagonist The central characters whose actions Othello.
we follow throughout the play.
Antagonist The character to throw the character Iago. The man trying to
off-track and trying to thwart his thwart Othello’s happiness.
plans.
Hamartia A fatal flaw, or Achilles heel in the Othello’s jealousy. And
protagonist that ultimately leads to everyone’s naivety.
their downfall, e.g. trusting the wrong
person.
Conflict Two things at odds with each other, Reputation.
characters in disagreement. Public and Private.
Women and Men.
Deceit and truth.
Aside Something said by a character, but Iago.
unheard by the other characters, only
the audience can hear.
Foil Presentation of the alternative. Bianca and Cassio are the foil
of Desdemona and Othello.
Emilia to Desdemona.
Linear Plot Chronological plot, the events The play.
happen one after the other.
Soliloquy Individual speech addressing the
audience and we learn their thoughts,
but not the other characters, we know
that we can trust them in this.
Climax The most dramatic moment of the Desdemona’s death.
play.
Denouement The last section of the play, after the Othello’s suicide, Cassio put
climax, where any plot points are in charge, the events of a
wrapped up. solution.
Key Term Definition Example
Exposition A scene in the play where the The conversation about going
audience is given the necessary to Cyprus.
information to understand the action
of the play.
Protagonist The central characters whose actions Othello.
we follow throughout the play.
Antagonist The character to throw the character Iago. The man trying to
off-track and trying to thwart his thwart Othello’s happiness.
plans.
Hamartia A fatal flaw, or Achilles heel in the Othello’s jealousy. And
protagonist that ultimately leads to everyone’s naivety.
their downfall, e.g. trusting the wrong
person.
Conflict Two things at odds with each other, Reputation.
characters in disagreement. Public and Private.
Women and Men.
Deceit and truth.
Aside Something said by a character, but Iago.
unheard by the other characters, only
the audience can hear.
Foil Presentation of the alternative. Bianca and Cassio are the foil
of Desdemona and Othello.
Emilia to Desdemona.
Linear Plot Chronological plot, the events The play.
happen one after the other.
Soliloquy Individual speech addressing the
audience and we learn their thoughts,
but not the other characters, we know
that we can trust them in this.
Climax The most dramatic moment of the Desdemona’s death.
play.
Denouement The last section of the play, after the Othello’s suicide, Cassio put
climax, where any plot points are in charge, the events of a
wrapped up. solution.
