Othello Review
World Literature
Mrs. O’Donnell
Part I: Who is Speaking?
A. OthelloE. EmiliaB. DukeF. Roderigo
C. DesdemonaG. CassioD. Iago
1. “I must show out a flag and sign of love, Which is indeed but a sign.”
2. “But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my unhoused free condition put into circumscription and confine for the sea’s worth?”
3. “…take up this mangled matter at the best. Men do their broken weapons rather use Than their bare hands.”
4. “And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets H’as done my office.”
5. “The Moor is of a free and open nature That thinks men honest that but seem to be so;”
6. “I have drunk but one cup tonight, and that was craftily qualified too;….I am unfortunate in the infirmity and dare not task my weakness with any more.”
7. “Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me for making him egregiously an ass and practicing upon his peace and quiet even to madness.”
8. “I’ll watch him tame and talk him out of patience; His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; I’ll intermingle everything he does With Cassio’s suit”
9. “No, Iago; I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; And on the proof there is no more but this: Away at once with love or jealousy!”
10. “O, beware, my lord of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on.”
11. “I am glad I have found this napkin; This was her first remembrance from the Moor. My wayward husband hath a hundred times Wooed me to steal it;”
12. “Why did I marry?”
13. “’Tis not a year or two shows us a man. They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;”
14. “The jewels you have had from me to deliver Desdemona would half have corrupted a votarist.”
15. “If I do die before, prithee shroud me In one of these same sheets.”
16. “When I have plucked the rose, I cannot give it vital growth again;”
17. “Cassio did top her. Ask thy husband else.”
18. “Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word.”
19. “I have done the state some service, and they know’t.”
Part II: Multiple Choice
20. Desdemona first listened to Othello’s stories when a) she followed him around town b) her father invited Othello to their home c) she saw him at the Council meetings d) she heard him boasting to Cassio
21. The Turkish fleet is a) destroyed in a battle with the Venetians b) destroyed by a storm c) a subplot to bring humor to the play d) never an issue in the play
22. Iago thinks he should have been made lieutenant instead of Cassio because a) he has more experience
b) he’s Othello’s best friend c) his father used to have that position d) Cassio is young and a drunk
23. The most important point that exposes Iago as a villain is when a) Roderigo is stabbed b) Othello is convinced by Desdemona of her innocence c) Emilia understands the importance of the handkerchief (napkin) d) Bianca is accused to Cassio’s attack
24. Which two characters tell Brabantio of his daughter’s marriage? A) Othello and Desdemona b) Lodovico and Gratiano c) Emilia and Iago d) Iago and Roderigo
25. The setting of the play is a) Venice b) Florence c) Venice and Cyprus d. Florence and Cyprus
26. Brabantio claims that a) Othello used magic on Desdemona b) Othello won her fairly c) Desdemona was kidnapped d) there was mutual attraction between the two
27. Roderigo doesn’t like Othello because a) Desdemona is married to him b) he gave Cassio the position Roderigo wanted c) Othello is his boss
28. The first person to doubt Iago’s honesty, besides Roderigo is a) Cassio b) Emilia c) Othello
d) Desdemona
29. When Iago gets Roderigo to ambush Cassio, he hopes a) to have Cassio killed b) to have Roderigo killed c) to disgrace Roderigo and Cassio d) both will be killed
30. According to Emilia, she might cheat on Iago. A) true b) false
31. According to Desdemona, she might cheat on Othello a) true b) false
32. What does Othello try to get Desdemona to do before he kills her? A) fight back b) bathe
c) pray/confess d) undress
33. Who is the new governor of Cyprus to replace Othello? A) Iago b) Montano c) Cassio d) Gratiano
34. Desdemona’s father comes to Cyprus at the end of the play a) true b) false
35. Iago dies at the end of the story a) true b) false
36. Cassio and Desdemona slept together a) true b) false
37. Iago is in love with Desdemona and wants to be with her a) true b) false
Part III: VERY Short Answer
Act One
1. What was Iago's complaint in Scene I?
2. Why did Iago leave Roderigo at Brabantio's house?
3. Why did the Duke send for Othello?
4. Brabantio complains to the Duke about Othello's marriage to Desdemona. After listening to
both sides of the story, what was the Duke's reply?
Act II
1. Why did Iago want Roderigo to anger Cassio?
2. Why did Iago want Cassio to drink more wine?
3. What lie did Iago tell Montano about Cassio?
Act III
1. What was Iago's reply when Othello demanded proof of his wife's disloyalty?
2. What did Othello decide and command at the end of Scene III?
3. Who had the handkerchief at the end of Act III? Why?
Act IV
1. After Iago lied and told Othello that Cassio confessed going to bed with Desdemona, what
advice did he give the overwhelmed Othello?
2. How did Iago trick Othello into thinking Cassio was gloating and bragging about his affair
with Desdemona?
3. Why was Bianca angry with Cassio?
4. Why did Othello hit Desdemona?
5. To whom does Desdemona turn for help after Othello calls her a strumpet?
Act V
1. What happened when Cassio and Roderigo fought?
2. What did Iago do after he wounded Cassio?
3. How was Desdemona faithful to Othello to the end?
4. What was Emilia's reaction when Othello told her that Iago had revealed Desdemona's affair
with Cassio to him?
5. Who told the truth about Iago?
Part IV: Identifications: Who Said it? To Whom? About What? Hint: These are in chronological order
ACT I
1. I am not what I am. (Ii65)
2. Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds
By what you see them act. (Ii171-172)
3. Good signior, you shall more command with years
Than with your weapons. (Iii60-61)
4. So please your Grace, my Ancient,
A man he is of honesty and trust.
To his conveyance I assign my wife. (Iiii284-286)
5. Your son-in-law is far more fair than black. (Iiii291)
6. Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see.
She has deceived her father, and may thee. (Iiii293-294)
7. The Moor is of a free and open nature
That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,
And will as tenderly be led by the nose
As asses are. (Iiii405-408)
ACT II
1. Oh, you are well tuned now,
But I'll set down the pegs that make this music,
As honest as I am. (IIi202-204)
2. Provoke him, that he may, for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny, whose
qualification shall come into no true taste again but by the displanting of Cassio. (IIi279-282)
3. . . . yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong
That judgement cannot cure. (IIi309-311)
4. And 'tis great pity that the noble Moor
Should hazard such a place as his own second
With one of an ingraft infirmity. (IIiii143-145)
5. I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth
Than it should do offense to Michael Cassio.
Yet I persuade myself to speak the truth
Shall nothing wrong him. (IIiii221-224)
6. I know, Iago
Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,
Making it light to Cassio. (IIiii247-249)
7. Reputation, reputation, reputation! Oh, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal
part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation! (IIiii262-265)
8. Our General's wife is now the General. (IIiii320)
9. Confess yourself freely to her, importune her help to put you in your place again. (IIiii322-
323)
10. So will I turn her virtue into pitch,
And out of her won goodness make the net
That shall enmesh them all. (IIiii366-368)
ACT III
1. Men should be what they seem,
Or those that be not, would they might seem none! (IIIiii127-128)
2. No, Iago,
I'll see before I doubt, when I doubt, prove,
And on the proof, there is no more but this --
Away at once with love or jealousy! (IIIiii189-192)
3. Do not chide, I have a thing for you. (IIIiii301)
4. Trifles light as air
Are to the jealous confirmations strong
As proofs of Holy Writ. (IIIiii322-324)
5. They are not ever jealous for the cause,
But jealous for they are jealous. 'Tis a monster
Begot upon itself, born on itself. (IIIiv160-162)
ACT IV
1. Work on,
My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught,
And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,
All guiltless, meet reproach. (IVi45-48)
2. For I will make him tell the tale anew,
Where, how, how oft, how long ago, and when
He hath and is again to cope your wife. (IVi86-87)
3. If that the earth could teem with a woman's tears,
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile. (IVi256-257)
4. The world is a huge thing. It is a great price
For a small vice. . . . . The ills we do, their ills instruct us so. (IViii103)
ACT V
1. Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.
Put out the light, and then put out the light.
If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,
I can again thy former light restore,
Should I repent me. (Vii6-9)
2. I would not kill thy unprepared spirit. (Vii31)
3. Nobody, I myself. Farewell. (Vii124)
4. I told him what I thought, and told no more
Than what he found himself was apt and true. (Vii176-177)
5. For naught did I in hate, but all in honor. (Vii295)