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Othello Exam Review

Total questions: 58

Worksheet time: 17mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Iago can be characterized as all of the following EXCEPT:

a)

deceptive

b)

sincere

c)

cruel

d)

misogynistic

2.

“I prithee speak to me as to thy thinkings,/ As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts/ The worst of words.” In this sentence, “ruminate” most nearly means:

a)

speak openly

b)

consider hastily

c)

ponder deeply

d)

explain thoroughly

3.

Iago says that “I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth/ Than it should do offense to Michael Cassio.” In this situation, Iago is:

a)

shy, struggling to vocalize the story of Cassio’s transgressions against Montano

b)

honest, displaying that he sincerely struggles to say bad things about Cassio

c)

excited, rejoicing openly in the fact that he finally gets to speak negatively of Cassio

d)

deceitful, covering up the fact that he really does want to speak ill of Cassio

4.

Iago’s soliloquies over the course of the play make the audience privy to all of the following EXCEPT:

a)

his anger regarding Cassio’s appointment to lieutenant

b)

his lust for Desdemona

c)

his suspicions that Othello slept with Emilia

d)

his sympathy for Roderigo’s unrequited love

5.

Othello is an outsider in Venetian society because of his:

a)

military prowess

b)

aristocratic heritage

c)

social manners

d)

ethnic origins

6.

Othello referring to Iago as “honest Iago” is an example of:

a)

a pun

b)

a simile

c)

a metaphor

d)

dramatic irony

7.

Iago uses animal imagery to describe Othello in order to:

a)

highlight Othello’s physical strength

b)

indicate Othello’s fondness for animals

c)

dehumanize Othello and make him seem savage and beneath others

d)

call into question Othello’s status in the Venetian military

8.

When Iago shouts to Brabantio that “an old black ram/ Is tupping your white ewe,” the black/white color symbolism represents the idea that:

a)

Brabantio is unconcerned with racial matters

b)

Iago believes the relationship would be okay if Othello were white

c)

Othello is corrupting the innocent Desdemona

d)

Desdemona is equally complicit in the “crime” of being with Othello

9.

Brabantio’s anger about Desdemona’s marriage to Othello is caused by all of the following EXCEPT:

a)

his belief that Desdemona has been disobedient to him

b)

his distaste for interracial marriage

c)

his fear that Othello may be physically abusive

d)

his suspicion that Othello used magic to win her affection

10.

The fact that Desdemona disobeyed her father develops the plot in all of the following ways EXCEPT:

a)

it proves to the audience that Desdemona's motives aren't always pure

b)

it later encourages Othello to think that she has deceived him also

c)

it establishes the Renaissance view of women as property

d)

it shows that Desdemona, in some ways, is not the “ideal” obedient woman

11.

Throughout Act 3, what is the effect of Iago telling Othello not to think too much about the possibility that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair?

a)

it calms Othello so that he is relieved of worry

b)

it causes Othello to actually think about it even more

c)

it convinces Othello to directly speak to Desdemona about his feelings

d)

it makes Othello believe that Iago is entirely deceptive

12.

How does Shakespeare use Othello’s language to communicate his psychological decline?

a)

Othello refuses to speak to anyone but Iago

b)

Othello makes increasingly misogynistic comments and is less eloquent

c)

Othello begins speaking in riddles that no one can comprehend

d)

Othello forgets his thoughts mid-sentence and stutters

13.

Why does Othello tell Desdemona to cherish the handkerchief?

a)

it is worth a lot of money because of how it was made

b)

it has magical properties for curing broken hearts

c)

it was given to him by his mother

d)

it was given to him by his father

14.

How does Iago “create” a conversation with Cassio that convinces Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him?

a)

Iago asks Cassio about Bianca, but Othello can’t hear anything

b)

Iago asks Cassio about Bianca, but Othello thinks Cassio speaks of Desdemona

c)

Iago asks Cassio about Desdemona, but Othello can’t hear anything

d)

Iago asks Cassio about Desdemona, but Othello thinks Cassio speaks of Bianca

15.

The “green-eyed monster” to which Iago refers is a symbolic representation of:

a)

infidelity

b)

envy

c)

jealousy

d)

wrath

16.

Iago’s psychological manipulations of Othello are successful for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

a)

Iago and Othello share a soldiers’ bond that causes Othello to trust Iago absolutely

b)

Iago’s suggestions are only a slightly exaggerated version of true events

c)

Othello is tricked into ruminating about the things that Iago tells him not to think about

d)

Othello is insecure about his age, race, and background

17.

How does Cassio obtain Desdemona’s handkerchief?

a)

Iago planted it in his room after Emilia gave it to him

b)

he found it on the ground and kept it

c)

Emilia planted it on Cassio because Iago asked her to

d)

Emilia gave it to him by mistake

18.

In Act 3 when Othello becomes angry with Iago for making him aware of Desdemona’s “infidelity,” Iago does all of the following to win Othello back to his side EXCEPT:

a)

using ethos fabricating a story about Cassio talking in his sleep about being with Desdemona

b)

using pathos by saying that being an honest friend is a thankless task

c)

using pathos by mentioning that he has seen Cassio stain the handkerchief with beard sweat

d)

using ethos by telling Othello that Emilia has seen Desdemona and Cassio sneaking off together

19.

In Act IV, scene 1, what prompts Lodovico to make the following comment? “Is this the noble Moor whom our full Senate Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature Whom passion could not shake?”

a)

Othello abusing Desdemona

b)

Othello insulting Desdemona

c)

Othello insulting him (Lodovico)

d)

Othello becoming angry at Cassio’s promotion to governor

20.

Why does Othello dismiss Emilia’s testimony in which she swears that she never saw Cassio and Desdemona together, and that Desdemona is faithful and honest?

a)

he believes Emilia and Cassio are conspiring against him

b)

he figured out that she was the one who took the handkerchief in the first place

c)

he dismisses her as a liar because he has come to distrust all women

d)

he knows Emilia is lying to keep him happy because she secretly loves Desdemona

21.

Emilia’s speech about fidelity in marriage reveals her views that:

a)

only men and women who are purely evil are unfaithful

b)

men will always cheat, but women should always remain faithful

c)

women are more likely to cheat in secret, but men parade their infidelity around

d)

men and women are equally likely to cheat, especially if they are treated poorly

22.

In Act 4, scene 2, what is significant about the following quote from Emilia? “I will be hanged if some eternal villain, Some busy and insinuating rogue, Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office, Have not devised this slander. I will be hanged else.”

a)

Emilia is unknowingly speaking about Iago

b)

Emilia is unknowingly helping Iago

c)

Iago manipulates her into defending him

d)

Iago manipulates her into seeking vengeance for Desdemona

23.

Iago convinces Roderigo to try to kill Cassio for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

a)

Iago needs Cassio dead so that Cassio can’t deny his involvement with Desdemona

b)

Iago still wants to rise up the military ranks, which will be easier with Cassio gone

c)

Iago plans to have Roderigo found guilty of murder so that he will be imprisoned

d)

Iago believes Roderigo may also die in his attempt to kill Cassio

24.

How and why is Roderigo killed?

a)

he is stabbed by Iago, then Cassio, and dies trying to expose Iago’s lies

b)

he is stabbed by Iago, then Cassio, and dies trying to clear Bianca’s name

c)

he is stabbed by Cassio, then Iago, and dies trying to clear Bianca’s name

d)

he is stabbed by Cassio, then Iago, and dies trying to expose Iago’s lies

25.

How and why is Emilia killed?

a)

she kills herself because she is overwhelmingly grieved by Desdemona’s death

b)

she is stabbed by Iago by accident when she tries to stop him from escaping

c)

she is stabbed by Iago when she tries to expose him

d)

she is stabbed by Othello and Iago for interfering and challenging them

26.

What becomes of Iago during the final confrontation after all is revealed?

a)

he hangs himself to save himself from torture from Cassio

b)

he is taken to be tortured by Cassio until he divulges his motive

c)

he is taken to be tortured by Cassio for his crimes

d)

he hangs himself in order to preserve his secret motives

27.

Othello compares his own fatal self-stabbing to:

a)

the time when Brabantio must have felt equally similarly betrayed by Desdemona

b)

the time when he saw a soldier commit suicide to avoid to atone for his sins

c)

the time when he murdered a villainous, treasonous man

d)

the time when he murdered someone he had once considered a friend

28.

Identify the rhetorical appeal being used in the following scenario: Iago citing Desdemona’s past lies to her father as evidence that she would lie to Othello.

a)

logos

b)

ethos

c)

pathos

29.

Identify the rhetorical appeal being used in the following scenario: Iago joking and gossiping with Cassio in order to get him to drink.

a)

logos

b)

ethos

c)

pathos

30.

Identify the rhetorical appeal being used in the following scenario: Iago telling Othello that he overheard Cassio confessing to a secret affair with Desdemona in his sleep.

a)

logos

b)

ethos

c)

pathos

31.

Identify the rhetorical appeal being used in the following scenario: Iago convincing Cassio to ask Desdemona for help because she’s more compassionate than Othello.

a)

logos

b)

ethos

c)

pathos

32.

Identify the rhetorical appeal being used in the following scenario: Iago convincing Roderigo to kill Cassio to keep Desdemona around longer.

a)

logos

b)

ethos

c)

pathos

33.

Identify the rhetorical appeal being used in the following scenario: Iago using reverse psychology on Othello to make him think about Cassio and Desdemona even more.

a)

logos

b)

ethos

c)

pathos

34.

Identify the rhetorical appeal being used in the following scenario: Iago telling Roderigo that he himself has license to criticize and hate Othello because of how long they have worked together.

a)

logos

b)

ethos

c)

pathos

35.

Identify the rhetorical appeal being used in the following scenario: Iago convincing Othello to kill Desdemona in a more brutal way for cheating on him.

a)

logos

b)

ethos

c)

pathos

36.

Was introduced as a hero but becomes villainous.

a)

Iago

b)

Othello

c)

Cassio

d)

Desdemona

37.

Was stabbed by Cassio in a drunken brawl.

a)

Lodovico

b)

Roderigo

c)

Montano

d)

Iago

38.

Was trusted by every character to some extent.

a)

Iago

b)

Brabantio

c)

Othello

d)

Cassio

39.

Threw the first punch in the drunken brawl.

a)

Montano

b)

Cassio

c)

The Duke

d)

Roderigo

40.

Arrived to call Othello back to Venice.

a)

Brabantio

b)

Lodovico

c)

Montano

d)

The Duke

41.

Requested Othello’s help in defeating the Turks.

a)

The Duke

b)

Montano

c)

Emilia

d)

Iago

42.

Believed magic was used on Desdemona.

a)

Roderigo

b)

Cassio

c)

Iago

d)

Brabantio

43.

Exposed Iago’s treachery and villainous deeds.

a)

Roderigo

b)

Emilia

c)

Othello

d)

Cassio

44.

His own good looks and polite manners were used against him.

a)

Roderigo

b)

Lodovico

c)

Othello

d)

Cassio

45.

Was forgiving and loyal to a fault.

a)

Emilia

b)

Desdemona

c)

Othello

d)

Cassio

46.

Othello was reluctant to go to Cyprus because he didn’t want to desert Desdemona.

a)

True

b)

False

47.

Brabantio died regretting how he had treated his daughter.

a)

True

b)

False

48.

Emilia took Desdemona’s handkerchief so that Iago would be kinder to her.

a)

True

b)

False

49.

Roderigo stabs Cassio in the leg, causing him to need an amputation.

a)

True

b)

False

50.

Othello compares killing Desdemona to extinguishing a candle’s flame.

a)

True

b)

False

51.

Othello strips Cassio of his lieutenant position because he suspected him of sleeping with Desdemona.

a)

True

b)

False

52.

Bianca tolerates Cassio’s treatment of her.

a)

True

b)

False

53.

Cassio kills Roderigo in self defense.

a)

True

b)

False

54.

Emilia advises Desdemona to not lose faith in Othello.

a)

True

b)

False

55.

Othello stabs Emilia in order to silence her.

a)

True

b)

False

56.

Four characters die by the end of the play.

a)

True

b)

False

57.

Desdemona was warned of her own death.

a)

True

b)

False

58.

Even in the end, Othello was never as brutal towards Desdemona as Iago wanted him to be.

a)

True

b)

False