Othello- William Shakespeare

Question 1

“I am not what I am”
Iago

Answer 1

Iago is deceitful

Question 2

“I know my price”
Iago

Answer 2

He values himself highly

Question 3

“Your fair daughter”
Iago

Answer 3

Shaming Othello and Desdemona’s marriage because she is superior due to her race

Question 4

“Barbary horse”
Iago discriminates Othello

Answer 4

North African horse, animalistic imagery, sub human, dehumanising

Question 5

“Making the beast with two backs”
Iago about O+D

Answer 5

Othello and Desdemona having intercourse, “two backs”= two races, interracial relationship

Question 6

“Lascivious moor”
Iago

Answer 6

Othello reveals a sexual interest

Question 7

“Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them”
Othello

Answer 7

Othello does not want to fight (peace with Brabantio), Brabantio calls Othello a thief (stole Desdemona)

Question 8

“Valiant Othello”
Iago about Othello

Answer 8

Iago praises Othello, he is a good warrior

Question 9

“Look to your wife”
Iago to Othello

Answer 9

Iago makes Othello realise that because Desdemona is Venetian, she is likely to have an affair (Iago’s machinations)

Question 10

“Strikes her”

Answer 10

Othello hit Desdemona due to his aggressive jealousy, Iago’s machinations are succeeding

Question 11

“It will cost thee dear”

Answer 11

If Othello kills himself, he will go to hell, suicide is a sin

Question 12

“Thick Lips”

Answer 12

Stereotypical, seen as hideous

Question 13

“Godless” “Bestial” “Hideous”
Loomba

Answer 13

Stereotypes of North African people

Question 14

What does Loomba focus on?

Answer 14

Race and society

Question 15

“Iago’s machinations are effective because Othello is predisposed to believing the inherent duplicity of women”
Loomba

Answer 15

Iago is successful in his machinations because Othello believes him and Desdemona don’t belong together (race, class) and that women are liars and cheats

Question 16

“Hierarchies are not external”
Loomba

Answer 16

Othello internalises racism and sexism

Question 17

Venice is a place for “female deviance” and “hub of international trade”
Loomba

Answer 17

Bianca is deviant (prostitute), Desdemona elopes with a black man

Question 18

Venice is a “model of civility”
Loomba

Answer 18

Mix of cultures due to international trade, critique of english society

Question 19

“tolerant society”
Loomba

Answer 19

Society allowed a white, well born woman to marry a black soldier with a slave past

Question 20

What does Honigmann focus on?

Answer 20

The portrayal of Iago

Question 21

“Chief humorist”
Honigmann

Answer 21

Iago appears as more appealing and seems more clever than his victims due to his humour

Question 22

“He confides in us” (The audience)
Honigmann

Answer 22

Audience is engaged by Iago’s ambition in his soliloquies, only the audience is aware of his machinations, making Iago more appealing

Question 23

“Iago neither felt nor understood spiritual impulses that bind ordinary human beings together”
Honigmann

Answer 23

Constant betrayal from Iago is evident of his lack of understanding of loyalty towards others

Question 24

What does Mack focus on?

Answer 24

Tragedy and madness

Question 25

"Tragic hero and buffoon" Mack

Answer 25

Othello is heroic but also a clown for believing Iago and mistrusting Desdemona

Question 26

Tragedy and Madness Mack

Answer 26

Othello's downfall is a product of his madness

Question 27

"fool in speech and action" Mack

Answer 27

Othello's speech subverts from eloquence to vulnerability and foolishness

Question 28

Othello is associated with the "disease" of madness Mack

Answer 28

Utter jealousy leads to Othello's downfall, madness is a form of punishment as Othello results in killing himself

Question 29

What does Leavis focus on?

Answer 29

The character of Othello

Question 30

Othello is a "stoic captain" Leavis

Answer 30

Othello is a dispassionate leader

Question 31

"self pride becomes stupidity" Leavis

Answer 31

Othello is egotistical, not a naïve and noble victim of Iago's machinations

Question 32

The character of Othello Leavis

Answer 32

Othello uses self- dramatisation to show off his authority as general of the venetian army

Question 33

"histrionic intent symbolically affirms the reality" Leavis

Answer 33

The reality that Othello's self pride led to his mistrust in Desdemona and his ultimate downfall (killing himself)

Question 34

What does Bradley focus on?

Answer 34

Shakespearean tragic hero

Question 35

"Earthly greatness to dust" Bradley

Answer 35

Othello turns from being army general to killing himself resulting in powerlessness due to his fatal flaw of jealousy

Question 36

"death of the hero" Bradley

Answer 36

Tragic flaw (Jealousy), internal imperfection that brings down the tragic hero (Othello kills himself)

Question 37

"Makes the whole scene, a scene of woe" Bradley

Answer 37

Othello's tragic flaw extends to other characters, bringing them down. Desdemona is killed although she was innocent. provides a dramatic sense to the play

Question 38

What does Nuttal focus on?

Answer 38

The pleasure of tragedy

Question 39

"Grief and fear become a matter for enjoyment" Nuttal

Answer 39

The audience value the disturbing work (machinations and murders)

Question 40

"enjoyed discomfort" Nuttal

Answer 40

tragedies are unnerving, yet enjoyable, people visit theatre to seek enjoyment

Question 41

What does Kastan focus on?

Answer 41

Shakespearean tragedy

Question 42

Tragedy's power is "universal and inexplicable" Kastan

Answer 42

Iago's motives are unclear, and Othello's fate is difficult to understand

Question 43

"Intolerable suffering" Kastan

Answer 43

Did Shakespeare decide Othello's fate when choosing his race? Absence of clear answers is central to Shakespearean tragedies. Kastan focuses on whether the cause of suffering is human weakness?

Question 44

"uncompensated suffering" Kastan

Answer 44

Desdemona, Bianca, Emilia, Brabrantio, Roderigo, Cassio, Othello

Question 45

"Fall from prosperity to wretchedness" Kastan

Answer 45

Othello is a General of the Venetian army, ends up killing himself, resembling downfall of the tragic hero in a tragedy