Act 1, Scene 1 Quotes

Question 1

Iago: “Horribly stuffed with ____________”

Answer 1

epithets of war

Question 2

Analyse “horribly stuffed with epithets of war”

Answer 2

Epithets are related attributes or qualities. Iago expresses that Othello is full of violence and war and that is the only thing that makes his personality.

Question 3

Iago: ‘I follow him to _______________. We can not all be ________, can not be truly__________’

Answer 3

serve my turn upon him
masters
followed

Question 4

Analyse ‘‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him. We can not all be masters, can not be truly followed’’

Answer 4

Dramatic irony, becomes clear that Iago is the villain and plotting to serve deceit Othello.
Use of CHIASMUS to reverse his point and make the argument seem more logical to reinforce the idea that he is correct.

Question 5

Iago: “I am not ___________”

Answer 5

what I am

Question 6

Analyse “I am not what I am”

Answer 6

Biblical ALLUSION references what God said to Moses, ‘i am that i am’ which used simple language to convey the open and honest nature of the statement, but Shakespeare adds negation with the word ‘not’ to characterise Iago as diabolical

-EPANALEPSIS used starting and finishing with the same clause, which shows his hubris and self assured nature, highlights how he is aware of his own self centred nature

-Shows that he is performing to keep up a certain perception by other characters and doesn’t show them his authentic self, exciting for the audience building up a relationship with them,

-Dramatic irony, only Roderigo can hear this and he has already been characterised as the fool and wont take note of it

Question 7

Iago: “Thieves, ______, _______”

Answer 7

thieves, thieves

Question 8

Analyse “thieves, thieves, thieves”

Answer 8

-EPIZUEXIS repeating the same word immediately creating a sense of panic and disorder

-Idea of Desdemona being stolen reflections the transactional nature of marriage at the time

-Iago exploiting the social conventions of daughters being their fathers property to create panic and meddle with Brabantio

Question 9

Iago: Now, now, ___________, an old ______________ is tupping your ___________-!’

Answer 9

very now
black ram
white ewe

Question 10

Analyse “Now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe!’’

Answer 10

EPIZUEXIS of repeating now emphasis that it is happening right now prompting immediate action, continuing to repeat it reinforce how grotesque, awful and constant the situation is

-ZOOMORPHISM adding layers of vulgarity suggesting the relations are animalistic, making it a crude and immoral act

-DIACOPE of repeating now with very in the middle is emphatic, intensifies the urgency of the situation