Study Questions for Othello
(Original Source (now defunct): http://www.susqu.edu/ac_depts/arts_sci/english/rachana/shake/Study.htm)

Act I

• Why doesn't Iago think Cassio deserved to be appointed to lieutenant?
• What is Iago's reason for continuing to follow Othello?
• What do Roderigo and Iago tell Brabantio about his daughter?
• What type of imagery does Iago use when describing Othello in Act 1, scene 1?  What type of stereoptypes does this imply?
• What does Brabantio accuse Othello of using to make Desdemona fall in love with him?
• Why is Othello respected by the Duke and senator? What qualities does he have?
• What warning does Brabantio give to Othello about Desdemona?
• What is Iago supposed to arrange for Roderigo? Do you think that Iago is really concerned with this or is he just using Roderigo?

• What is Iago's plan to shame Cassio? What is Roderigo's role in this?
• Whom does Cassio injure?
• How does Othello respond? What punishment does he give Cassio?
• Who does Iago suggest Cassio turn to for help? What type of help does Cassio want this person to give to him?

• What item does Desdemona lose? Who finds it and who do they give it to?
• Who are the people who receive it before it returns to Othello?
• What does Iago imply that Desdemona has done?
• Is Othello grateful for the idea that Iago has given him? What is his attitude about having this knowledge in III. iii.?
• What type of proof does Othello say he will need before he will believe Iago? What type of proof does he accept?
• What revenge do Othello and Iago plan?

• What does Othello believe is happening when Iago talks to Cassio?
• Who is really being talked about?
• How do you see the relationship between Bianca and Cassio?
• Does this change any of your perceptions about Cassio's character?
• What does Bianca return to Cassio? How does this support Iago's plan?
• What does Othello do that shocks Lodovico? Why does Ludovico find this behavior suprising for Othello?
• What does Emilia think is the reason for Othello's accusations?
• Why is Roderigo upset with Iago? What does he threaten to do?
• What does Iago ask Roderigo to do? How does Emilia feel about adultery? How does this differ from Desdemona's attitude?

• What is the result of the fight between Roderigo and Cassio?
• Who does Desdemona blame for her death?
• Who reveals Iago's plot? Do you find this to be strange or significant in any way?
• What reason does Othello give for his crime?
• How does Othello want to be remembered?

A critic said:
"You could strike out every reference to [Othello's] black skin and the play would be essentially the same. Othello's trouble is that he is an outsider. He is not a Venetian....The Senate has no consciousness whatever of his colour.... It simply has no place in their minds."
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?  Why?
(Source:http://starbuck.com/shakespeare/Othellohall/messages/36.html)

Other Critics say:

"Iago's final silence is equivalent to his suicide."
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?  Why?

"Iago only has to get [Othello] to suspect that Desdemona does not [really love him as the person he really is], to release the repressed fears and resentments of a lifetime, and the question of what she has done or not done is irrelevant."
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?  Why?

"The handkerchief  is the symbol of a woman's power, her loving, civilizing, sexual power."
Do you agree or disagree with this statement?  Why?
 

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) said that Iago displayed a "motiveless malignancy."  What do you think?

Final Questions:

• Is Othello a hero? Why or why not?
• Which matters more, Othello's race or his non-Venetian citizenship?