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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Brabantio think will happen once he presents his case against Othello at the Duke's house?

2. What is so different about Desdemona and Othello's relationship?

3. What are Iago and Roderigo discussing as the first scene opens?

4. Who is ordered to attend Desdemona on her journey to Cyprus?

5. Who does Cassio want to have put in a good word for him with Desdemona the morning after his street brawl?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Iago so upset with Othello at the beginning of the play?

2. Why is Brabantio so mad at Othello?

3. What does Emilia tell Cassio when he asks her to put in a good word for him with Desdemona?

4. What does the Duke decide to do after he has heard Othello and Brabantio's sides of the case against Othello?

5. What does Othello do when he sees Cassio's deplorable behavior on his first night in Cyprus?

6. Why does Cassio refuse to drink the wine offered him by Iago when they are both on watch on their first night in Cyprus?

7. What does Cassio do to cheer himself up after being punished by Othello for his brawl in the street?

8. What does Cassio really want after his hired help is mocked by the clown?

9. Why is Othello so happy to see Desdemona when he comes ashore in Cyprus?

10. How does Brabantio think Othello got Desdemona to marry him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Othello asks Desdemona a question before he kills her. What is this question and why does Othello feel it was so necessary? What does this reveal about Othello's character?

Essay Topic 2

Which character did you relate with the most in this book? Why is this? How did this character change throughout the book?

Essay Topic 3

Othello is a black man in power. How does this major feature about him affect the people around him? What are people's first impressions of him? Does his skin color change the way people think about him? Why or why not? Make sure you support your answers with examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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