Othello

Question 0

What is Roderigo’s motivation for for helping Iago?

Answer 0

He wants to court Desdemona

Question 1

What are the five themes of Othello?

Answer 1

Hypocrisy, passion, prejudice, jealousy, revenge.

Question 2

What is the definition of Tragedy in a Shakespeare play?

Answer 2

A drama of a solemn and dignified quality that typically depicts the development of a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force such as fate, circumstance, or society, and reaches a mournful or ruinous conclusion.

Question 3

What time period is of Othello?

Answer 3

Late Sixteen century, during the wars between Venice and Turkey

Question 4

Setting of Othello?

Answer 4

Venice in Act 1 and the island of Cyprus thereafter

Question 5

Iago was Malcontent.. What does Malcontent mean.?

Answer 5

He has a bitter and cynical view of the world around him

Question 6

What disease does Othello suffer from?

Answer 6

Epilepsy

Question 7

What are the elements of a Shakespearian tragedy?

Answer 7

• It ends with the death of numerous characters including the title character.
• The protagonist is admirable, but flawed, with the audience able to understand and sympathies with the character.
• The protagonist is capable of both good and evil.
• Free will is insisted upon…. The protagonist must always be able to back out of a situation or to redeem themselves. But always towards their inevitable doom

Question 8

Who is Othello’s lieutenant ? Who is passed over for the same position?

Answer 8

Cassio is his lieutenant.. And Roderigo’s

Question 9

What are Emilia’s views on the world?

Answer 9

That women only live to serve men

Question 10

Where does the name Iago come from?

Answer 10

Santiago or Saint James

Question 11

Who is the character in Othello who is 100% generally innocent?

Answer 11

Desdemona

Question 12

What does the term “Left lieutenant” literally mean?

Answer 12

An extension of his left hand

Question 13

What does the term Hubris mean in Shakespearian literature?

Answer 13

Excessive pride

Question 14

Who does Othello marry at the beginning of the play? Who is her father?

Answer 14

Desdemona and Her father is Brabantio

Question 15

What are the five characteristics of the Moors people?

Answer 15

• Black nomadic people of the northern shores of Africa, originally the inhabitants of Maurentania
• Converted to Islam in the 8th century
• They invaded Spain in 711 and dominated until the 17th Century.
• Had the great dynasties up until 1492, when the last of their cities was conquered by Spain.
• Virtually exterminated by Spain during the Inquisition ( late 1400s- 1820)

Question 16

What does the term “tragic hero” mean in Shakespearian literature?

Answer 16

The main character of great importance to his state or culture and who is conventionally of noble birth and high social station, the ruler or an important leader in his society

Question 17

What are the four characteristics of the Venetian people in the Shakespeare’s Othello

Answer 17

• Most are the noblemen and women (Brabantio, Desdemona, and Roderigo).
• Also, there are the nobles’ servants (Emilia)
• Some are soldiers (Cassio, Iago)
• Others are apart of the Venetian government ( the Duke)

Question 18

What does the term “tragic flaw” mean in Shakespearian literature?

Answer 18

A defect in the protagonist that brings about his or her downfall