Othello Structure

Question 1

Beginning

Answer 1

Marriage of Othello & Desdemona

Question 2

Middle

Answer 2

Iago’s manipulation

Question 3

End

Answer 3

Murder of Desdemona & discovery of Iago’s lies

Question 4

Exposition

Answer 4

Act 1, Act 2

Question 5

Rising action

Answer 5

Act 3, Act 4

Question 6

Climax // falling action // denouement

Answer 6

Act 5

Question 7

Verse

Answer 7

Spoken by someone of importance, spoken by noble character

Question 8

Prose

Answer 8

Common, unimportance. Prose can be used to contrast blank verse.

Question 9

What is an example of prose transitioning into verse?

Answer 9

E.g., when Iago is convincing Roderigo not to end his life’…I hate the moor…’ – seamless transition into verse from prose to reveal devious plans

Question 10

How do scenes end?

Answer 10

Iambic rhyming couplets

Question 11

Who ends the first 4 acts in iambic rhyming couplets?

Answer 11

Iago, to create suspense

Question 12

What do soliloquies allow?

Answer 12

Insight to the characters mind, as they can express themselves verbally

Question 13

How many more soliloquies does Iago have than Othello?

Answer 13

Iago has roughly 4x soliloquies than Othello in the play, representing his conflict