Othello Vocab

Question 1

What is a point of catharsis?

Answer 1

• where emotions are purged to restore order

Question 2

In the play, where would the point of catharsis be? How does Shakespeare subvert the traditional structure of the tragedy?

Answer 2

• the death of Desdemona/ the suicide of Othello

- the villain doesn’t die, the ‘villain’ who dies is also the tragic hero

Question 3

What could Othello’s hamartia be?

Answer 3

• naivety
• jealousy
• Desdemona
• love
• trust
• insecurity in his role as lover/ ‘outsider’ status

Question 4

How could Othello be said to suffer hubris (extreme ambition and pride)?

Answer 4

• willingness to marry, he does not recognise the struggles he will face, decisiveness means he lacks observation

Question 5

What is a peripeteia and when might this be in the play?

Answer 5

• a sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances

- beginning of Iago’s manipulation? - Act 3 Scene 3

Question 6

When does the anagnorisis take place in the play?

Answer 6

• this critical discovery occurs once Desdemona has already been killed, Iago is found as the true villain

Question 7

How could the play be characterised as a revenge tragedy?

Answer 7

• Iago is motivated by revenge against Othello
• Othello is motivated by revenge against Desdemona
• Roderigo is motivated by revenge against Othello

Question 8

How could the play be characterised as a domestic tragedy?

Answer 8

• situation is grounded in reality and the domestic sphere

Question 9

Who takes on the role of the ‘Greek chorus’?

Answer 9

• Emilia (she comments upon the action, recaps etc)

Question 10

What is the difference between a soliloquy and a monologue?

Answer 10

• soliloquy is basically a monologue if a monologue was an aside, it is thoughts spoken aloud regardless of other characters

Question 11

Who would be the malcontent and why?

Answer 11

• Iago, he is dissatisfied and rebellious, lies, he is deceptive

Question 12

What is miscegenation?

Answer 12

• interbreeding of people from different racial backgrounds

Question 13

Summarise Bradley’s view - whose fault is Othello’s downfall?

Answer 13

• Othello is the most romantic figure
• newness of marriage makes Othello’s jealousy credible
• Iago is a metadramatic figure who finds satisfaction in puppeting others

Question 14

Summarise Leavis’ view - whose fault is Othello’s downfall?

Answer 14

• Othello has a natural tendency to jealousy

- Othello’s love is largely ignorant of himself and Desdemona

Question 15

Summarise Rymer’s view

Answer 15

• can’t see past the fact that there is such an unrealistic mix of races and classes
• doesn’t believe the play imparts a moral message
• too many comedic features to be considered a tragedy