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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 drives the plot of this play?

2. Where does Othello go after his discussion with Brabantio at the inn?

3. What does the Duke do after hearing both Brabantio and Othello's sides of the story?

4. What does Roderigo want to do after the trial is over and the marriage was declared legitimate?

5. What is the big event of Act 2, Scene 2 in honor of?

Short Essay Questions

1. When we first see Iago speaking with Othello, what does Iago claim to not be?

2. What does Iago tell Montano about Cassio on his first night in Cyprus?

3. Why is Roderigo so unhappy about Othello's marriage?

4. What does Roderigo suggest that he and Iago do to try and stop the marriage between Othello and Desdemona?

5. How did Othello and Desdemona meet?

6. Why is Othello so torn about firing Cassio?

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

8. Why is Brabantio so mad at Othello?

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

10. What does Brabantio see that convinces him that Desdemona has eloped?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Emilia has her own theory for why some women cheat on their husbands. What is this theory? What are her validations for this? How does Desdemona feel about Emilia's theory? How do the characters' different opinions display themselves by the way the two women live their lives?

Essay Topic 2

Jealousy is a pretty strong theme throughout the book. Where are some places that this theme appears, and how do the characters touched by jealousy react?

Essay Topic 3

What role does the handkerchief play in the story and/or what does it symbolize? How is the plot altered by the presence of the handkerchief?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 550 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample