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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 song does Desdemona sing while Emilia helps her get ready for bed?

2. Who is NOT present during the walk after dinner?

3. What does Roderigo feel Iago has wasted by not fulfilling his promise?

4. Why does Iago have to work so hard to convince Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful?

5. What does Desdemona know for certain as she readies herself for bed?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Iago tell Desdemona he will do when Desdemona talks about Othello's odd and angry behavior towards her?

2. Who is the most villainous person in this play?

3. What does Desdemona lose that she is worried about finding?

4. What does Iago tell Othello he heard from Cassio while he is talking to Othello at the beginning of Act 4?

5. What does Iago tell Cassio to do after Iago is done speaking with Othello at the beginning of Act 4?

6. Why does Othello complain to Desdemona about having watery eyes?

7. What part did Cassio play in Othello and Desdemona's courtship?

8. Who does Iago try to frame for the attack on Cassio?

9. What does Othello ask Iago to give him after he overhears Iago and Cassio talking?

10. What does Othello give to Iago in Act 3, Scene 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Othello is outraged when he overhears a conversation between Iago and Cassio. Explain this scene. How does Othello react to this conversation? Why does he feel this way? How does this one conversation change the outcome of the entire play?

Essay Topic 2

Bianca was a minor character whose presence made a big difference in the plot. How did she accomplish this? What are some ways that her presence, however brief, alters the outcome of the plot? What would have happened differently if Bianca had not been in the book at all?

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)

This section contains 549 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample