Othello- Pre-reading

Question 1

Location act 1

Answer 1

Venice- order
Symbol of reason, order, and law
Pleasure capital (immoral) 
Mercantile wealth
Luxury, culture, judicial system

Question 2

Cyprus

Answer 2

Rough islands near Turkey and Syria
great source of Venetian wealth and power
Between order and chaos
Only Othello can keep order, but has a “savage origin”

Question 3

Turkey

Answer 3

Barbaric
Ottomans
Infidels- don’t believe in God

Question 4

Moor

Answer 4

Not negative
Describe a black person or Arabic

Uncivilized, sexualized, tempered
Tolerance was strained

Question 5

Ranks

Answer 5

Ancient- Iago

Lieutenant- Cassio

Question 6

Story time

Answer 6

1601

Successful

Question 7

Othello

Answer 7

Soldier from N. Africa 
General
Outsider
Respected
Dynamic

Question 8

Desdemona

Answer 8

Young
Accomplished
Stands for love trust and purity
Protected by her father

Question 9

Iago

Answer 9

Passed over for lieutenant for Cassio
Want revenge
Destroy what Othello values
Static

Question 10

Emilia

Answer 10

Desdemona’s maid
Marries Iago
Loyal to Desdemona but helps her husband

Question 11

Cassio

Answer 11

Gentleman soldier
Man of ability loyalty and grace
Respects Desdemona and Othello
Drinks

Question 12

Brabantio

Answer 12

Father of Desdemona

Venetian nobleman and senator

Question 13

Roderigo

Answer 13

In love with Desdemona
A fool
Plans with Iago

Question 14

Foil

Answer 14

A character that emphasizes certain traits of the main character by contrasting them
Emilia v. Desdemona
Iago v. Cassio

Question 15

Conficts

Answer 15

External
Iago v. Cassio
Iago v. Othello

Internal
Othello v. Himself

Question 16

Themes

Answer 16

Destructive nature of jealousy 
Importance of honor and reputation
Being an outsider
Appearance v. Reality
Loyalty v. Treachery
Envy
Betrayal
Corruption of moral order
Honesty 
Trust
Blind ambition
Innocence destroyed 
Passion

Question 17

Motifs

Answer 17

Animals
Jealousy 
Light v. Dark
The handkerchief 
Magic
Evil and devil