Act 1, Scene 1
- What is the setting (time and place) at the beginning of the play?
- Why is Roderigo angry with Iago?
- a) Why, according to what he tells Roderigo, does Iago hate Othello (referred to only as “him”)?
b) What position did Iago expect to get?
c) Who got it and why does Iago dislike that person?
d) Why is Iago continuing to serve “him”?
4. How does Brabantio find out about his daughter’s elopement?
5. What is Roderigo’s previous relationship to Brabantio and his daughter?
6. Why doesn’t Brabantio want Othello for a son-in-law?
7. To what instincts and or fears in Brabantio does Iago appeal to in this scene?
8. How does Brabantio assume the Moor won his daughter?
Act 1, Scene 2
- What do we learn about Iago’s methods of operation from what he tells Othello (still not named) at the beginning of this scene? Be sure to compare what Iago says here with what we saw happen (and heard him say) in 1.1.
- Note that Desdemona is first named here and by Othello. How is the Othello we see different from the one described in the previous scene?
- What is Othello’s attitude toward Desdemona?
- What is Othello’s background? Do you think he is likely to be accepted by the Venetians?
- What message does Cassio deliver? Was this the group of men you expected to be looking for Othello?
- Why does Iago say that he wants to stab Roderigo?
- Who accuses Othello of witchcraft? Why?
- How does Othello react when Brabantio orders him arrested?
- To whom does Othello convince Brabantio to go?
Act 1, Scene 3
- What danger is Cyprus facing?
- What has the Duke summoned Othello? (named for the first time in this scene)
- a) What does Brabantio tell the Duke? (notice he has not yet named Othello as Desdemona’s husband)
b) What powers does the Duke give Brabantio?
c) What happens when Brabantio accuses Othello?
4. a) What do we learn about both Othello and Desdemona in Othello’s long defense of himself?
b) How did he and Desdemona fall in love?
c) Why did Othello marry Desdemona? Why did Desdemona marry Othello?
5. How is the affair settled once Desdemona appears?
6. What does the Duke ask of Othello?
7. What arrangements are finally made for Desdemona?
8. What do we learn about Othello and Desdemona’s marriage from this scene?
9. What warning does Brabantio leave with Othello?
10. What is Roderigo’s response to all of this?
11. How does Iago comfort Roderigo about losing Desdemona? Does Iago’s advice work?
12. Finally Iago is alone. Why does Iago “hate the Moor”? What plan does Iago come up with for ruining Othello?
