Chapter 2 – Othello Solutions & Q&A

Content Structure

1. About the author – William Shakespeare
2. Summary of the Othello
- Act – I
- Act – II
- Act – III
- Act – IV
- Act – V
3. Word meanings
4. Additional Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

1. About the author – William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was a famous English playwright, poet and actor who was born on 23rd April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. He is known as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s best dramatist. He wrote 39 plays, 154 sonnets and two long narrative poems. His famous plays are Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and Julius Caesar. He writes about love, power, jealousy and fate. He died on 23rd April 1616.

2. Summary of the Othello

Act – I

A long time ago, in Venice, there lived a man named Brabantio who had a beautiful daughter named Desdemona. She judged people more by their hearts than by their skin or looks. Many men wanted to marry Desdemona, but she loved Othello. Othello was a brave, dark-skinned soldier who had fought courageously in wars against the Turks. One day, Othello and Desdemona ran away and got married, which shocked and angered Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, who then went to the Duke of Venice, claiming that Othello had used black magic on her. At the same time, the Duke received urgent news that the Turks were preparing to attack Cyprus and had sent a fleet. Othello was known as a brave and skilled general, so Venice sent him to protect Cyprus and also to answer Brabantio’s complaint. The old senator, Brabantio, was allowed to speak freely, and other senators also accused Othello of using magic to win Desdemona’s love. Othello asked Desdemona to tell the truth. At that moment, Desdemona clearly said that Othello had not used any magic, which disproved her father’s claim.

Act – II

Othello had many friends, but he was trusted very much. Cassio was a young, charming, and good-looking soldier from Florence. Othello had recently promoted Cassio to lieutenant, which is a crucial and trusted position, which made Iago hateful and jealous because he believed Cassio was not suitable for the post, so he hated both Cassio and Othello. He also doubted that Othello liked his wife, Emilia, which made Iago plan a cruel revenge that would destroy Cassio, Othello, and Desdemona together. Iago was clever and understood people’s minds well, so he believed that if he could make Othello jealous of Cassio, his revenge would be perfect, leading to the death of both Othello and Cassio. People were in a joyful mood when Othello and Desdemona arrived in Cyprus and won against the enemy fleet. Othello ordered Cassio, who was on guard duty that night, not to allow the soldiers to drink large amounts of alcohol, but Iago, pretending to be loyal, forced Cassio into drinking until he got drunk. He admired Desdemona and said, “She is a most exquisite lady,” and then became involved in a fight. Montano, a helpful officer, tried to stop the fight, but he was injured. Iago took advantage of the situation and rang the castle bell to raise the alarm, as if a serious fight had broken out. Othello, who valued discipline, removed Cassio from his position. Cassio felt ashamed and didn’t know how he could ask Othello for forgiveness, so Iago advised him to ask Desdemona for help in speaking to Othello on his behalf. He went to Desdemona and asked her to speak to Othello for him. Othello was still very upset with Cassio and didn’t want to forgive him, but Desdemona gently requested him to do so, and he agreed.

Act – III

Iago played a very tricky and bad-minded game and wanted to plant doubt in Othello’s mind about Desdemona and Cassio. He reminded Othello that Desdemona had rejected many suitable men from her own community and background in favor of him, suggesting that this was unusual and that she might later regret her choice when comparing Othello to the handsome, fair-skinned young men from her own country. Iago was secretly using Desdemona’s kindness to trap her. Othello became restless, couldn’t sleep peacefully, felt sick in his heart, and lost interest in his job as a soldier. He was confused. Sometimes he believed Desdemona was faithful, while other times he doubted her. Othello demanded proof from Iago that Desdemona was guilty. Iago pretended and asked Othello if he had ever seen Desdemona with a handkerchief that had strawberries on it. Othello confirmed it was his first gift to her. Iago then lied and said he had seen Cassio wiping his face with that same handkerchief. Othello was furious and wanted Cassio to be killed within three days, and he planned to kill Desdemona himself.

Act – IV

Desdemona was loyal; she had never given the handkerchief to Cassio. Iago asked his wife, Emilia, to steal the handkerchief under the excuse of copying its design, then he secretly hid it where Cassio would find it, making it seem like Desdemona had given it to him. Othello pretended he had a headache and asked Desdemona for the special handkerchief to place on his forehead, but she couldn’t find it. Othello said, “That’s a serious mistake because it was given to my mother by an Egyptian woman who could read minds. She told my mother that as long as she kept it, my father would love her deeply. But if she lost it or gave it away, he would stop loving her.” Desdemona was shocked and changed the subject to avoid discussing Cassio, but Othello lost his temper and rushed out of the room. Desdemona suspected that Othello was jealous of Cassio. Desdemona was deeply shocked by Othello’s false belief, which left her feeling very confused. While she slept, Othello entered the room with the plan to kill her. He kissed her for the last time and cried, calling them “cruel tears.” Othello accused her of giving Cassio the special handkerchief, but when she tried to explain, he refused to listen. He covered her face with the bedcovers and killed her. At the same time, Cassio entered the room, hurt and bleeding, to show a letter that proved Iago was the real villain and Cassio was innocent. Othello was shocked, and he realized Desdemona was truly loyal and faithful so full of guilt and pain, he took his sword and killed himself. After his death, people remembered his bravery and charitable works. Iago was punished and tortured, and the people of Venice deeply grieved the tragic loss of their admired General, Othello.

WB 11 all notes

3. Word meanings

Word	Meaning
Sought	Tried to find or get something
Keen	Very eager or excited about something
Perils	Dangers
Hair-breadth	A very small amount or narrow escape
Caverns	Large deep caves
Lofty	Tall or high
Cannibals	People who eat other people
Modesty	Humbleness
Solemnized	Celebrated
Seduce	To wrongly attract or convince someone
Competent	Capable
Invasion	Attack
Infuriated	Very angry
Outrageous	Very shocking or bad
Eloquence	Powerful speech
Conjurations	Magical or powerful words
Wooing	Trying to win someone’s love
Bound	Tied or Going
Tempest	A very violent storm
Dispersed	Spread in different directions
Amorous	Showing love or affection
Infidel	Someone who doesn’t believe in a certain religion
Amorous qualities	Loving nature or behavior
Frequented	Visited
Scorn	Disrespect
Provocations	Things that make someone angry
Afflictions	Suffering
Feasting	Eating a lot of food at a celebration
Swallowed	Taken in through the mouth
Provoked	Made someone angry
Artifice	A clever trick
Lamented	Cried or showed sadness about something
Insinuated	Hinted
Reconcilement	Making peace after a fight
Mischievously	In a naughty or playful way
Destruction	Complete damage
Indignation	Anger
Misinterpreted	Misunderstood
Shrewd	Smart and clever
Amiable	Friendly
Subdue	Control
Infidelity	Disloyalty
Thunderstroke	Shock
Wrought	Created
Valiant	Brave

WB 11 all notes

4. Additional Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

A. Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

1. The play Othello is set in —
(a) Illyria
(b) Venice
(c) Scotland
(d) Ephesus

Ans: (b) Venice

2. Othello was a/an-
(a) Indian
(b) Moor
(c) Canadian
(d) Arabian

Ans: (b) Moor

3. Brabantio was a-
(a) wealthy merchant
(b) rich peasant
(c) rich senator
(d) poor senetor

Ans: (c) rich senator

4. The Turks were planning to attack —
(a) Cyprus
(b) Venice
(c) France
(d) Africa

Ans: (a) Cyprus

5. What was Othello’s profession?
(a) Merchant
(b) Soldier
(c) Poet
(d) Farmer

Ans: (b) Soldier

6. Whom did Desdemona fall in love with?
(a) Cassio
(b) Montano
(c) Brabantio
(d) Othello

Ans: (d) Othello

7. What quality did Desdemona value most in a man?
(a) Wealth
(b) Appearance
(c) Heart
(d) Title

Ans: (c) Heart

8. What did Brabantio accuse Othello of?
(a) Theft
(b) Witchcraft
(c) Treason
(d) Murder

Ans: (b) Witchcraft

9. Who was injured in the drunken scuffle?
(a) Iago
(b) Cassio
(c) Montano
(d) Brabantio

Ans: (c) Montano

10. What did Iago plan to use against Othello?
(a) Greed
(b) Jealousy
(c) Ambition
(d) Anger

Ans: (b) Jealousy

11. What made Othello suspicious?
(a) A letter
(b) A handkerchief
(c) A rumor
(d) A necklace

Ans: (b) A handkerchief

12. Who exposed Iago’s plot?
(a) Othello
(b) Emilia
(c) Cassio
(d) Montano

Ans: (b) Emilia

13. Who planted the handkerchief?
(a) Desdemona
(b) Othello
(c) Iago
(d) Emilia

Ans: (c) Iago

14. Who referred to Iago as a “just man”?
(a) Brabantio
(b) Othello
(c) Montano
(d) Cassio

Ans: (b) Othello

15. Who said, “Reputation, reputation, reputation!”?
(a) Iago
(b) Montano
(c) Cassio
(d) Othello

Ans: (c) Cassio

16. What emotion dominated Othello’s downfall?
(a) Pride
(b) Fear
(c) Jealousy
(d) Laziness

Ans: (c) Jealousy

17. Othello’ is a-
(a) tragedy
(b) comedy
(c) tragicomedy
(d) farce

Ans: (a) tragedy

18. Brabantio was a-
(a) king of Venice
(b) senator of Cyprus
(c) Senator of Venice
(d) King of Cyprus

Ans: (c) Senator of Venice

19. Brabantio’s daughter was—
(a) Desdemona
(b) Olivia
(c) Celia
(d) Emilia

Ans: (a) Desdemona

20. Brabantio was the father of –
(a) Ganymede
(b) Desdemona
(c) Rosalind
(d) Celia

Ans: (b) Desdemona

21. Desdemona was-
(a) cruel and unkind
(b) beautiful but cruel
(c) gentle and beautiful
(d) proud and unfaithful

Ans: (c) gentle and beautiful

22. Othello, the Moor, was—
(a) timid soldier
(b) a brave sailor
(c) a timid sailor
(d) a brave soldier

Ans: (d) a brave soldier

23. The person who often invited Othello to his house was—
(a) Cassio
(b) Desdemona
(c) Brabantio
(d) Iago

Ans: (c) Brabantio

24. Desdemona married-
(a) Macbeth
(b) Orlando
(c) Othello
(d) Cassio

Ans: (c) Othello

25. The Turks planned to attack—
(a) Cyprus
(b) Africa
(c) France
(d) Venice

Ans: (a) Cyprus

26. Othello was called to court because of the complaint by—
(a) lago
(b) Orlando
(c) Montano
(d) Brabantio

Ans: (d) Brabantio

27. Brabantio accused Othello of—
(a) artless eloquence
(b) arrogance
(c) outrageous manner
(d) specious guile

Ans: (d) specious guile

28. Othello’s speech in court was supported by—
(a) lago
(b) Desdemona
(c) Brabantio
(d) Cassio

Ans: (b) Desdemona

29. Othello’s love story impressed—
(a) the Duke
(b) Brabantio
(c) Emilia
(d) Cassio

Ans: (a) the Duke

30. Anthropophagi lived in—
(a) America
(b) Africa
(c) Cyprus
(d) West Indies

Ans: (b) Africa

31. Othello and Desdemona went for war to—
(a) Arden
(b) Cyprus
(c) Venice
(d) France

Ans: (b) Cyprus

32. The Turkish ships were destroyed by—
(a) violent flood
(b) another enemy
(c) violent tempest
(d) violent attack by Othello

Ans: (c) violent tempest

33. Othello’s favourite friend was—
(a) Cassio
(b) Montano
(c) lago
(d) Brabantio

Ans: (a) Cassio

34. Cassio was—
(a) a Florentine soldier
(b) an amorous man
(c) handsome and eloquent
(d) all of these

Ans: (d) all of these

35. Cassio’s promotion angered—
(a) Emilia
(b) Montano
(c) Desdemona
(d) lago

Ans: (d) Iago

36. lago was-
(a) a soldier
(b) an elder nobleman
(c) a lieutenant
(d) a minister

Ans: (a) a soldier

37. Iago claimed he saw Cassio holding Desdemona’s—
(a) chain
(b) handkerchief
(c) letter
(d) hat

Ans: (b) handkerchief

38. Othello’s first gift to Desdemona was—
(a) a gold chain
(b) a strawberry
(c) a ring
(d) a handkerchief

Ans: (d) a handkerchief

39. Iago used __ to steal the handkerchief.
(a) Emilia
(b) Brabantio
(c) Desdemona
(d) Cassio

Ans: (a) Emilia

40. Othello said Cassio would be killed in —
(a) seven days
(b) one day
(c) three days
(d) five days

Ans: (b) one day

41. The name of Iago’s wife was —
(a) Emilia
(b) Aliena
(c) Montano
(d) Celia

Ans: (a) Emilia

42. Iago’s plan for revenge could cause the death of —
(a) Cassio
(b) Iago
(c) both of them
(d) None of them

Ans: (a) Cassio

43. The person who tempted Cassio to drink was —
(a) Othello
(b) lago
(c) Montano
(d) Orsino

Ans: (b) Iago

44. Cassio got involved in a —
(a) scuffle
(b) quarrel
(c) crime
(d) love-affair

Ans: (a) scuffle

45. The person who rang the castle bell was —
(a) lago
(b) Montano
(c) Cassio
(d) Othello

Ans: (b) Montano

46. Iago’s crime was finally revealed by —
(a) a letter
(b) the hired assassin
(c) Emilia
(d) lago’s confession

Ans: (c) Emilia

47. The letters found in Cassio’s pocket proved the guilt of —
(a) Cassio
(b) lago
(c) Desdemona
(d) Emilia