Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Events/Points/Ideas
Othello’s character?
Attitudes to Othello and
Desdemona’s marriage?
Iago's character?
Iago’s plotting and
planning?
Turkish Invasion of Cyprus?
Character Analysis?
What does the character say/ do?
What do others say about the character?
Relationships with other characters?
Themes linked to characters?
Act 2 Key Events/ Ideas/
Points
Act 2 Scene 1:
How is the storm described? (nature imagery)
How is Othello depicted? By who? Is this significant?
How is Cassio depicted? How does he refer to Othello
and Desdemona? Is he a ladies’ man?
Iago’s views on and treatment of women? Misogynist?
(His relationship with his wife, Emilia.)
How is the appearance Vs reality theme presented in this
scene? (Desdemona & Iago’s conversation)
How does Iago use rhetoric to influence Roderigo?
(Lines: 214-240)
Iago is formulating his plan of revenge. What are the
key aspects?
Act 2 Scene 2
say?
Do you think Emilia is being sincere or is
she complying with her husband’s wishes?
Machiavellian plotting
Verisimilitude
Loyalty
Irony
Act 3 Scene 3
What are Cassio’s fears?
How does Desdemona reassure
him?
What do you think of
Desdemona’s tactics?
Why is Iago’s statement, “Ha! I
like not that.” significant?
How does Desdemona approach
Othello about Cassio?
Act 3 scene 3 continued..
Line 90. Othello says, “Excellent
wretch! Perdition catch my soul/ But I
do love thee; and when I love thee
not,/ Chaos is come again.” Explain
the significance of his words.
How does Iago continue to sow the
seeds of doubt? Line 96.
How does Othello react to Iago’s
questions? Line 97 onwards.
Act 3 Scene 3 continued…
There are several examples of
dramatic irony in the conversation
between Iago and Othello. Can you
spot some examples and explain the
effect?
Do you think Iago is gifted in the art
of rhetoric? What techniques does
he use to manipulate Othello?
How are Othello’s emotions changing
under Iago’s influence?
Act 3 Scene 3 continued…
How is theme of JEALOUSY presented in
this scene?
Othello lines 179-194 attempts to shake
off his doubts about Desdemona. How
does Iago continue to plant the idea of
deceit?
Line 246, Iago sets a key part of his plot in
motion. What does he advise Othello to
do? Is Othello naïve to follow Iago’s
advice?
Act 3 Scene 3 continued…
Line 260 onwards: What is Othello’s
opinion of Iago? What does this tell
you about Iago’s
character/behaviour? What does
Othello think of Desdemona?
Line 282: How is Othello’s character
changed since his conversation with
Iago?
What is a cuckold?
What is the significance of the
napkin/handkerchief?
Act 3 Scene 3 continued…
How does Iago treat his wife, Emilia?
Line 336: Othello says, “Thou hast
set me on the rack./ I swear ‘tis
better to be much abus’d/ Than but
to know a little.” How is Othello’s
character depicted?
What does Othello think he knows
and how does this affect him? How
would you describe his state of
mind?
Act 3 Scene 3 continued…
What is Othello’s opinion of his wife?
What vile images does Iago suggest to
Othello?
What job does Othello give Iago? How
does
this suit Iago’s plans?
Line 410 onwards: What are Iago’s
suggestions? How do Iago’s suggestions
affect Othello?
Who is controlling who?
How is Desdemona referred to by Othello?
Act 3 Scene 4
Desdemona’s opinion of Othello at
the opening of the scene?
How would you describe Othello’s
behavior towards Desdemona? How
has his character changed from
earlier scenes?
Is Othello finding evidence for his
doubts?
Images of Desdemona’s sexuality?
The handkerchief?
Act 4 Scene 1
What images does Iago conjure up
for Othello’s mind?
Iago continues to lie to Othello.
What is his next ‘porkie’ regarding
Cassio?
How does Othello’s character react
to the strain of Iago’s lies?
What rhetorical language does Iago
use on pages 92 – 93?
Act 4 Scene 1 Continued...
How does Cassio refer to Bianca? Is
this a
different side to Cassio that we have
not
seen before?
The handkerchief?
Othello’s treatment of Desdemona?
Act 4 Scene 2
Othello questions Emilia and then
Desdemona, how do they react to his
suspicions?
How would you describe Othello’s mood
and character in comparison to the start of
the play?
How does Iago react to Desdemona’s
situation with Othello?
What does Desdemona think of Iago?
How does Iago reassure Roderigo?
Act 4 Scene 3
Has Desdemona changed her
feelings towards Othello?
What is the significance of the willow
tree song?
What are Desdemona’s and Emilia’s
opinions on adultery? What images
of women are created?
Act 5 Scene 1
What has Iago to gain from Cassio or
Roderigo’s death?
What does Othello mean on lines 31-
36?
What is the significance of the
references to light and dark?
How does Iago ‘cover his tracks’ with
Bianca?
Act 5 Scene 2
Discuss the images created in
Othello’s opening speech.
How would you describe Othello’s
behaviour to Desdemona?
Does Desdemona defend herself?
How does she appear?
How does Othello behave after the
murder?
Act 5 Scene 2 continued…
How does Othello’s imagery contrast
with Emilia’s imagery of Desdemona?
How does Iago defend himself?
What do you think of Emilia’s
behaviour towards her husband?
What does Othello realise in the lines
257-279?
Pages 140 – 143, how does Othello
appear? Lines: 334 - 352?
Imagery in Othello?
A picture created in the mind’s eye through
language…
Poisoning
Helland the Devil
Animals and Insects
The Sea and Military Heroism
Black and White
Cuckoldry
Themes in Othello
An idea/image that recurs throughout a story.
Jealousy
Honesty/ Appearance Vs Reality
Men and Women: Gender roles/ Sexuality
Race and Colour
Ambition/ Machiavellian
Heroism
Power
Religion
Language & Structure
Blank Verse
Specific Idioms for different characters (The usage
or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of
people.)
Poetic verse
Shared speech Patterns
Dramatic Structure
Irony
Rhetoric
The Timescale of Othello