Othello (Act 1)

What is Roderigo's primary reason for hating Othello?

• Roderigo is envious of Othello's high-ranking military position

  x

• Roderigo despises Othello for his North African background

• Roderigo is jealous because Othello has won Desdemona's love

• Roderigo hates Othello for his close relationship with Iago

Why does Iago claim to hate Othello?

• Iago is jealous of Othello's relationship with Desdemona

• Othello passed Iago over for a promotion to lieutenant

• Iago believes Othello is not a competent military leader

• Othello has spread false rumors about Iago

What character trait does Iago refer to when he says, "I am not what I am"?

• Deceptiveness

• Honesty

• Loyalty

• Humility

What does Iago use to rally Brabantio to his and Roderigo's side against Othello even though Brabantio thinks little of Roderigo?

• By invoking racial prejudice based on the color of Othello's skin

• By mocking Brabantio for letting Othello steal from him

• By implying that Othello's military genius makes him a threat to the city

• By claiming that Othello has lied to and manipulated Desdemona

Why does Iago leave after alerting Brabantio of Desdemona's elopement?

• To find proof of Othello and Desdemona's relationship

• To keep his plot against Othello secret by not revealing his identity

• To confront Othello directly about the elopement

• To search for Desdemona and bring her back to her father

What does Brabantio's change of heart regarding Roderigo—whom he formerly looked down upon but now says he wished had married Desdemona—reveal?

• Brabantio's belief that a nobleman is a better match for his daughter than a general

• Brabantio believes Othello is a much better match for his daughter.

• Brabantio's underlying prejudice against Othello

• Brabantio has always secretly preferred Roderigo over Othello.

How does Othello react when Iago tells Othello about the nasty things Roderigo said about him and Brabantio's opposition to his marriage to Desdemona?

• Othello becomes enraged and seeks revenge

• Othello is worried about the threat from these two men

• Othello appears unconcerned and secure in himself

• Othello comments that Iago must be exaggerating

What does Othello's decision to go before the Duke rather than argue about Brabantio's grievances in the street reveal about him?

• Othello is unsure of the outcome and fears the Duke's judgment

• Othello is confident that his honorable military service will outweigh his outsider status

• Othello believes the Duke will side with Brabantio but his pride forces him to take the risk

• Othello is indifferent to the outcome and is focused on his military responsibilities

What does Brabantio accuse Othello of when he confronts him?

• Eloping with Desdemona without seeking her father's permission

• Physically harming Desdemona

• Refusing to include Brabantio in their wedding

• Enchanting Desdemona to win her love

What does Desdemona's insistence on accompanying Othello to Cyprus demonstrate?

• Her lack of respect for her father

• Her lack of interest in Othello's military career

• Her fear of staying alone in Venice without Othello

• Her willingness to assert her will