Othello Act 1 Review

What is the setting of Othello? (2 places) Venice and Cyprus
What literary term refers to when the audience knows more than the characters know? Dramatic Irony
How does Brabantio think Othello convinced Desdemona to marry him? Othello put a spell on her.
Why does Iago hate Othello? Othello promoted Cassio instead of Iago AND Iago suspects that Othello has slept with his wife.
Why does Iago continue to serve Othello if he claims to hate him? to get revenge on Othello by using his gullible (and jealous) nature against him
What are Roderigo’s feelings towards Desdemona? He loves her and wants to marry her. He thinks Iago will help him get Desdemona.
How did Othello win Desdemona’s heart? with stories of his valor in battle
How is the allusion to Janus relevant to this play? The Roman god Janus had 2 faces. Iago has 2 faces – the loyal one he shows to Othello and the deceitful, evil one he shows to the audience.
What is Iago’s plan to get revenge on Othello? He will make Othello believe that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona.
What is the Duke’s advice to Brabantio about Desdemona’s secret marriage? Accept it. He thinks his own daughter could have been won over by Othello’s stories of bravery.
Why does the Duke of Venice send for Othello? The Turks (enemy) are on their way to invade Cyprus.
What “fool” does Iago make to be his “purse”? Roderigo
What does Iago mean when he says, “I am not what I am”? Iago is 2 faced – he pretends to be something he is not.
Who is compared to a “white ewe”? Desdemona (pure/innocent)
Who says this – “Look to her, moor, it thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee.” Brabantio
How has Desdemona violated Natural Order? She married a man of a different race and social class without her fathers permission.
What literary term means a reference to something outside the text, usually from history, literature, or popular culture? allusion
What is a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is called by the name of something closely associated with that thing or concept? metonymy (Roderigo claims that Iago has had his “purse.” Purse is a metonym for money.)
According to Iago, which type of men have “some soul”? men who look after themselves first instead of pledging full loyalty to their masters
What does “iniquity” mean? immoral or grossly unfair behavior
What is a long speech made by a character alone on stage expressing feelings and thoughts? soliloquy
What literary devices are at work in this phrase: “hills who heads touch heaven”? alliteration and hyperbole (exaggeration)
Why Desdemona cannot love Othello Not thinking about marriage, social class, race, Afraid of him
What does Roderigo threaten to do at the end of Act 1 when he sees that Desdemona seems happy with Othello? He says he will drown himself (Iago tells him that is cowardly.)
What literary device is at work in this phrase: “wondrous pitiful”? oxymoron (2 opposite words next to each other)
Othello starts “in medias res.” What does that mean? It means that the play starts in the middle of a scene. Iago and Roderigo are having a conversation, and it takes awhile for the audience to understand what’s going on.
September 12, 2019