OTHELLO

Question 1

What are Desdemona’s qualities? (3)

Answer 1

Innocent
Loyal
Virtuous

Question 3

What does prose imply? (4)

Answer 3

Lower status
Eg: Emilia and Roderigo
Othello in Act 4
Iago in Act 2

Question 4

Bestial Imagery by Iago (3)

Answer 4

“on old black ram is tupping your white ewe”
“your daughter and the Moor are now making a beast with two backs”
“or else the devil will make a grandsire of you”

Question 5

Quotes by Iago that show his duplicity (2)

Answer 5

“I am not what I am”

“honest Iago” - Duplicity

Question 6

What epithets of Desdemona’s name are used? (5)

Answer 6

Fair
Gentle
Sweet
Divine
Virtuous

Question 7

What are Iago’s traits? (4)

Answer 7

Amoral
Racist
Jealous
Manipulative/duplicit

Question 8

What does Brabantio say about Othello? (4)

Answer 8

“foul thief”
“she in chains of magic were not bound”
“sooty bosom”
about how she would not love him unless under a spell

Question 10

Values of the society (3)

Answer 10

Patriarchal - Women are untrustworthy
Elizabethan - People of colour are not noble
Gender roles were very set

Question 11

What is Iago jealous of? (2)

Answer 11

He thinks Othello has cuckold him

Jealous of Cassio and the position he has

Question 13

What is the quote by Iago when talking to Roderigo? (2)

Answer 13

“put money in thy purse” refers to his eagerness for

money and corruptive nature

Question 14

Quote by Othello about race (2)

Answer 14

“her name, that was as fresh as Dian’s visage is now begrimed and black, as mine own face”

reflects societal views about people of colour

Question 15

Difference between Emilia and Desdemona (2)

Answer 15

Emilia - more worldly view of women

Desdemona - sheltered and privileged lifestyle

Question 16

What does the Duke say about Othello? (2)

Answer 16

your son in law is far more fair than black

reflects xenophobic and racist attitudes

Question 18

What does Othello’s last speech symbolise? (4)

Answer 18

Control of language
“nothing extenuates”
Still believes he has been justified
talks in 3rd person

Question 19

What is the impact of the vow of death? (2)

Answer 19

Reflects patriarchal views
Thinks his crime is justified
Reflects Iago’s nature and the success and susceptibility of Othello

Question 21

What does Blank Verse imply? (6)

Answer 21

Characters of noble birth
Protagonist
Higher status/class
Eg: Othello, Brabantio and Desdemona

Question 25

What are Othello’s key traits? (5)

Answer 25

Jealousy
Naivety 
Nobility
Insecurities - Race
Insecurities - Age

Question 31

What does Rhyming Verse imply? (2)

Answer 31

Authority figures

Eg: Duke

Question 32

JEALOUSY (4)

Answer 32

Othello’s hamartia

Iago’s duplicity fuels it “honest Iago” / “i am not what i am”

Iago’s inter-personal conflict expands to social conflict

Iago thinks Othello has “done his office” and is also annoyed Cassio was appointed above him

Othello switches from Blank verse to Prose due to Iago’s word and mirrors his descent from nobility. Regains his poise in final speech.

Question 33

SOCIETAL VALUES: XENOPHOBIA (4)

Answer 33

“or else the devil will make a grandsire of you” (bestial imagery)

“she in chains of magic were not bound” (can only be loved if she was under a spell)

“your daughter and the moor are now making the beast with two backs” (bestial imagery)

“your son-in-law is far more fair than black” (said by Authority figure, Duke) meant as a compliment but just reflects the values)

Question 34

INSECURITIES (2)

Answer 34

Race: “her name that was as fresh as Dian’s visage is now begrimed and black, as mine own face” (reflects the derogatory images that are popular within that society)

Age: “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (emphasises the absurdity of the age and race that would be associated with Desdemona)

Question 35

SOCIETAL VALUES: WOMEN (3)

Answer 35

Vows to God to kill Desdemona as he feels validated due to the values of society

“I have not deserved this … I will not stay to offend you”

Viewed as prized possessions - epithets of Desdemona’s name (fair, sweet, gentle, divine, virtuous)

Question 36

INTRODUCTION OTHELLO (3)

Answer 36

Elizabethan period
Patriarchal times
Deceptive nature of characters