othello essay gcse

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Othello: Essay Questions

A list of potential essay questions to form revision and speed planning practice:

Jealousy is at the core of all the tragic events that occur in Othello.’ In the light of this statement, explore the dramatic function of jealousy in Shakespeare’s play. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘Despite his suffering, Othello learns nothing.’ In the light of this statement, explore Shakespeare’s presentation of Othello in the play. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘Othello depicts a world riddled with corruption and prejudice’. In the light of this statement, explore Shakespeare’s presentation of the values of the world in which the play is set. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘Irony is a powerful device that Shakespeare uses to heighten the tragedy of Othello.’ In the light of this statement, discuss Shakespeare’s use of irony in the play. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors

‘Othello’s foolishness, as much as Iago’s cleverness, is responsible for the tragedy that unfolds.’ In the light of this statement, explore where responsibility for the tragedy might lie. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

‘The settings in Othello are not just times and places in which action happens: they are deeply symbolic and add greatly to the meaning of the play as a whole.’ In the light of this statement, explore Shakespeare’s use of settings in the play. In your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.

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Othello Knowledge Organiser

An Othello Knowledge Organiser, based on William Shakespeare’s seminal play, including key vocabulary and crucial literary allusions and comparisons. My knowledge organisers distill important information from the text in clear and manageable pieces of information for both students to revise from, and teachers planning new curriculum content.

The Knowledge Organiser is structured into three key areas: Critical Theory, Intertextuality and Context as well as Biblical Allusions. Whilst also incorporating key quotations for each character in short sharp, high utility phrases which can be used in a range of essays.

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Othello Exam Questions

First of all let’s look at the broad categories questions usually fall into:

You must be able to discuss the following when it comes to  characters :

• a tragic hero? (does he recognise his flaws and gain self-knowledge?)
• his nobility (is he a good man?) / strengths & weaknesses / virtues & flaws
• his relationship with Desdemona & treatment of her
• his manipulation by Iago and transformation into a jealous brute
• the extent to which he is responsible for the tragedy which occurs at the end of the play
• our level of sympathy for him
• the real ‘hero’ of the action?
• flaws and virtues?
• his motivation
• how he controls & manipulates all of the action/characters
• too good to be true or a believable character?
• dramatic function in the play?

Emilia / Bianca:

• Emilia’s dramatic function in the play
• foils to Desdemona – worldly and cynical rather than pure and innocent
• add variety to Shakespeare’s presentation of women & his exploration of their position in society
• symbol of goodness
• extent to which he contributes to the tragedy

All characters:

• contrast the extremes of good and evil presented in the characters in the play
• the play is very pessimistic about human nature
• the play is very pessimistic about human relationships

The major  themes  in the play are:

• Revenge / Power
• Good vs Evil
• Appearance vs Reality (Deception/Manipulation)
• Love & Hate / Loyalty & Betrayal
• Women’s position in society

For each theme – no matter what the wording – ask yourself

• WHO  does this theme apply to?
• HOW / WHY  does this character have to deal with this issue?
• Do they  CHANGE  over the course of the play?
• Are there any  SCENES  which highlight this theme specifically?
• What are our  FINAL IMPRESSIONS  of this issue?

OPEN QUESTIONS:

• Relevance to a modern audience
• Pessimistic play

STYLE QUESTIONS:

• Language & Imagery
• Dramatic Irony
• Compelling Drama – scene or scenes

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Othello & Iago:

 “ Othello’s foolishness, rather than Iago’s cleverness, leads to the tragedy of Shakespeare’s Othello ” (2008)

“ It is Othello’s egotism and lack of self-knowledge, and not Iago’s evil schemes, which ultimately bring about the tragedy at the end of the play “

“ Othello is arrogant, impulsive and violent. While Iago sets up the conditions for tragedy to occur, it is Othello, ultimately, who we must hold responsible for the tragic events which unfold “

“ A combination of Iago’s skill, Othello’s weakness and a measure of good luck, bring about the tragedy in Othello “

“ Iago cannot be blamed for the deaths of Desdemona and Othello “

“ We cannot blame Othello for being fooled by Iago. Everyone else in the play, including Iago’s wife, believes that he  is honest and true “

“ Othello and Iago are both egotists, obsessed with proving how clever and capable they are, and hell bent on revenge when they feel they have been wronged “

“Othello is the principal agent of his own downfall” (1994)

“ Othello is essentially a noble character, flawed by insecurity & a nature that is naive & unsophisticated ” (1990)

“ Othello is a good man who is skilfully manipulated by Iago. For this reason, despite his credulousness, we continue to feel sorry for him “

“ Iago’s schemes succeed, not because Othello is weak, but because he is so noble “

“ Othello is a noble hero who loses, but ultimately regains our sympathy “

“ We do not approve of Othello’s behaviour, yet we nonetheless pity him “

“ Othello is not a tragic hero; he is a gullible fool “

“ Othello is not a tragic hero. He never really takes responsibility for his errors of character and judgement”

“ Despite his suffering, Othello learns little of himself or of human relationships “

To what extent do you agree with Othello’s assessment of himself as an “ honourable murderer ” who “ loved not wisely but too well “?

“ The collapse of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage is the real tragedy of this play “

“ Iago is the real hero of Shakespeare’s play Othello ”

“ Iago is a likable villain ”

“ Iago is motivated by jealousy of others good fortune and by a lust for power ”

“Iago is a charming villain, but it is difficult to understand his motivation”

“ Iago is an evil villain with no redeeming qualities “

“ While we are repulsed by Iago’s evil, we are fascinated by his ingenuity “

“ Iago is the most evil but also the most fascinating character in the play Othello”

“ Desdemona is not a credible character, she is an unrealistic saint who does nothing to try and prevent her fate ”

“ Desdemona is a woman, not an angel; she lives and loves with her whole person, both body and soul ”

“ Desdemona’s dramatic function in the play is to act as a symbol of purity, innocence and goodness but this means that her behaviour is not always entirely believable ”

“ Desdemona and Iago are at opposite poles in the play, Othello, the one representing pure love, the other hate incarnate “. (1986)

Emilia / Bianca: 

Discuss the importance of the character Emilia in the play as a whole. (1994)

“ Women are not presented in a very positive light in Shakespeare’s Othello “

“ Cassio may be a ‘proper man’ but he is also an honest fool whose weakness plays no small part in the tragic death of Desdemona ”

“ Shakespeare’s play Othello demonstrates the weakness of human judgement ” (2008)

“ Shakespeare’s Othello presents the very best and the very worst in human nature ”

“ Shakespeare’s Othello presents us with a dark and pessimistic view of human nature”

“Shakespeare’s Othello presents us with a dark and pessimistic view of human relationships”

“ In the play Othello, naive, innocent characters are no match for the evil machinations of the world weary Iago “

“ The destructive power of jealousy is dramatically presented in Shakespeare’s play Othello ”

“ Shakespeare’s Othello is concerned not so much with jealousy, as with misunderstanding ”

“ Shakespeare’s play Othello powerfully portrays a world dominated by jealousy and revenge”

“ Evil ultimately conquers good in Shakespeare’s play Othello ”

“In Shakespeare’s play Othello, we witness a profound inability to distinguish between appearances and reality”

“ Appearances do not mask a sinister reality in this play, yet Iago manages to convince every character that there is more going on than meets the eye”

“ Love and hate are presented as opposite sides of the same coin in Shakespeare’s play Othello ”

“ Shakespeare’s Othello initially questions, but then confirms racist stereotypes ”

“ The role and status of women is dramatically explored in Shakespeare’s Othello”

Open questions:

“Shakespeare’s Othello remains relevant for a modern audience”

“ Despite the striking portrayals of goodness and nobility, the play Othello leaves the audience with a sense of dismal despair ”

Style questions:

“ Image of animals, images of storm and images of heaven and hell predominate in Othello ” (1990)

 “ Irony is a powerful dramatic device used by Shakespeare to heighten the tragic dimension of his play Othello ” (1998)

Othello contains many scenes of compelling drama. Choose one scene which you found particularly compelling and discuss why you found it so.

One response to “ Othello Exam Questions ”

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Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on William Shakespeare's Othello . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

Othello: Introduction

Othello: plot summary, othello: detailed summary & analysis, othello: themes, othello: quotes, othello: characters, othello: symbols, othello: literary devices, othello: quizzes, othello: theme wheel, brief biography of william shakespeare.

Historical Context of Othello

Other books related to othello.

• Full Title: The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice
• When Written: c. 1603
• Where Written: England
• When Published: 1622
• Literary Period: The Renaissance
• Genre: Tragedy
• Setting: Venice and Cyprus
• Climax: The murder of Desdemona, by Othello
• Antagonist: Iago

Extra Credit for Othello

Moor or less? In Elizabethan England, the term "Moor" could be used to refer to a wide range of non-European persons, including black Africans, North Africans, Arabs, and even Indians. References to Othello's origins throughout the play are contradictory and ambiguous Iago calls Othello a "Barbary horse" (1.1.110); Barbary was an area in Africa between Egypt and the Atlantic Ocean. Roderigo , however, calls him "thick-lips" (1.1.65-6), suggesting that he may come from further south on the African continent. Brabantio calls him "sooty" (1.2.70); Othello, along with numerous other characters, refers to himself as "black." It is impossible to know now exactly what Shakespeare or his audience would have thought a "Moor" is.

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Othello: Study Guide for GCSE English Literature

With key themes of love, loyalty, jealousy and power, Othello: The Moor of Venice , is about as close as Shakespeare gets to classical tragedy and its twisting intrigue will have your students gripped. Unpick every startling scene with this comprehensive resource offering targeted, detailed notes and analysis to lead students through the play.

• Walkthrough – Build understanding of the chosen text with insightful and relevant commentary and analysis. All scenes are concisely summarised, then examined in detail.
• Whole-text Analysis – Explores: Characterisation • Relationships • Setting • Themes • Ideas and Messages • Language • Form • Structure • Context
• Student-friendly plot summary
• Key term glossary
• Further reading
• Original illustrations

Woven into the analysis throughout you will find:

• Discussion prompts to encourage debate and individual interpretation
• Active learning tasks to deepen understanding
• Essay tips and questions for excellent exam practice
• Key term definitions to ensure students grasp difficult concepts

Suggested answers are provided for questions and activities.

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What do teachers say about this resource (11309).

A well organised resource that does what it says on the tin: it gives a good overview of the play which would help any pupil make sense of what happens in the play as a whole and also understand some of the overarching framework such as themes, relationships, context and form and structure... I liked the regular questions, discussion prompts and debate bubbles at the end of each scene. These gave regular checking points to help pupils consolidate their understanding of the text... I thought the summary, analysis and information given on the play was well pitched at the correct level to support GCSE pupils... The educational value of this resource lies in the support that it would give to pupils. It would be a perfect companion to studying Othello in the classroom. Pupils could use it to check their understanding of any sections they were unclear of; equally, teachers could use the resource and set certain sections as homework for pupils to read ahead or cover a scene that they were not able to look at in the classroom... A very thorough resource which would be perfect to support GCSE pupils. It would greatly help pupils by giving them a good reference resource they could access to help consolidate their knowledge of the text as they studied it in the classroom. J Hathaway, Head of English & Peer Reviewer

• GCSE WJEC English Literature (3720)
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by William Shakespeare

Othello quotes and analysis.

I follow to serve my turn upon him: We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly follow'd Iago - Act I, Scene i

Bitter about being passed up for Cassio's post, Iago reveals he serves Othello only to serve himself. He points out to Roderigo that men cannot follow leaders if they want to lead themselves. Also, referring to Othello, Iago says that not all men are fit to lead and not all leaders should be followed. This statement is one of the few moments of honesty between Iago and another character. It also is the first seed planted in his game of deception. His suggestion is a subtle mutiny aimed at Roderigo. Iago is enlisting Roderigo in helping him "serve [his] turn" against Othello.

For when my outward action doth demonstrate The native act and figure of my heart In compliment extern, ’tis not long after But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at: I am not what I am. Iago - Act I, Scene i

In pursuit of his revenge Iago will become duplicitous, never showing his true emotion to the outside world. The irony of this statement is that he is telling the truth about his dishonesty. Iago knows that if the rest of the characters knew what lurked in his heart, he would be destroyed. Othello and his loyal men would tear him apart, like birds. The idiom "wear my heart on my sleeve" comes from this line in Othello .

And, noble signior, If virtue no delighted beauty lack, Your son-in-law is far more fair than black. The Duke of Venice - Act I, Scene iii

Here, black has a dual meaning - referring to Othello's race and also, according to usage of the time, meaning "ugly". At face value, the Duke says that if virtue can be beautiful, then Othello is indeed "fair", or beautiful, as he possesses goodness. However, because Othello is black, this can be interpreted as a backhanded compliment; Othello is more fair (just, gentlemanly) than those of his race. Race is a pervasive theme in the play, as prejudice is pervasive in Venice. Othello is able to rise above the stereotypes, but he is never able to forget what others may feel about him.

I am not merry; but I do beguile The thing I am, by seeming otherwise. Desdemona - Act II, Scene i

While speaking to Iago Desdemona says that, though she pretends to be happy, she is really worried about Othello's safety. This passage shows the care she has for her husband, and also that she is capable of hiding her emotion. In this conversation with Desdemona, Iago reveals how little he thinks of women, and that they use their beauty or wit to manipulate men.

Reputation, reputation, reputation! Oh I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. Cassio - Act II, Scene iii

After a drunken brawl with Roderigo, Cassio is stripped of his position. Without his rank, he feels like he is nothing. This sentiment is echoed by Othello, who is motivated to kill Desdemona because her affair has besmirched the reputation that he has worked so hard to craft. Both Cassio and Othello believe a man is nothing more than "bestial" without his good name.

Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ. Iago - Act III, Scene iii

In one of Iago's soliloquies, he observes that things that may otherwise seem insignificant are given outsized importance when they confirm an already held belief. In this way Iago, by planting Desdemona's handkerchief, will throw fuel on Othello's already burning jealousy.

O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on. Iago - Act III, Scene iii

Iago warns Othello in order to incite his jealousy, while at the same time seeming to have his best interests at heart. The idiom "green-eyed monster" comes from this line in Othello , and Iago characterizes the emotion as one that consumes the man who revels in it.

It makes us or it mars us. Iago - Act V, Scene i

Having persuaded Roderigo to kill Cassio, Iago makes it clear to him that this act will be chief to their success or lead to their demise.

Yet I’ll not shed her blood; Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow, And smooth as monumental alabaster. Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men. Put out the light, and then put out the light: If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, I can again thy former light restore Othello - Act V, Scene ii

Trying to bring himself to kill Desdemona, Othello acknowledges the finality of what he is about to do. However, though he will kill her, he will not mar her beauty in doing so, as Desdemona's beauty/whiteness/light is a symbol of her goodness. Othello believes that murder will maintain her purity, stopping her from betraying others like she has betrayed him.

I have done the state some service, and they know't. No more of that. I pray you, in your letters, When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice. Then, must you speak Of one that loved not wisely but too well Othello - Act 5, Scene ii

Addressing his horrified countrymen, Othello takes responsibility for what he has done and tells them that any good he has done in the past should not pardon him for this foolish act of passion. Othello wants Venice to remember him as honorable in spite of his actions. Like Cassio, Othello believes a man's reputation is "immortal", and he hopes his name will not be sullied by this final chapter of his life.

Othello Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Othello is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

what attributers of the green eyed monster jealousy are made painful apparent as the scene progresses

Jealousy is the green-eyed monster in this scene. In Act 3 scene 3 Othello pretty much displays his jealousy,

desdemonas speech here confirms the masterly nature of iagos plot with what words does she assure cassio that she will do her best to get him reinstated

What is your question here?

why does othello ignore the cries for help?

Othello is hurdling towards self-destruction: sadly, by the deaths of people closest to him. Like tragic heroes such as Macbeth, Othello's senses are dull to tragedy and screams of terror. Roderigo and Cassio fight, and both are injured; Othello...

Study Guide for Othello

Othello study guide contains a biography of William Shakespeare, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Othello
• Othello Summary
• Othello Video
• Character List

Essays for Othello

Othello essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Othello by William Shakespeare.

• Iago and Edmund: The Silence and Complexity of Evil
• Unity in Shakespeare's Tragedies
• Inevitability and the Nature of Shakespeare's Tragedies
• Witchy Women: Female Magic and Otherness in Western Literature
• Racism in Othello

Lesson Plan for Othello

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Othello
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Othello Bibliography

E-Text of Othello

Othello e-text contains the full text of Othello by William Shakespeare.

• List of Characters

Wikipedia Entries for Othello

• Introduction

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Last updated

25 June 2024

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Resources included (19)

Shakespeare

Othello Desdemona

Othello Brabantio

Othello Introduction

Othello Scheme of Work

Othello Escape Room

Othello Essay

Othello Homework

Othello The End

Othello Act 5

Othello Act 4 Desdemona

Othello Act 4

Othello Changes in Act 3

Othello Act 3

Othello Iago's Plans

Othello Dramatic Irony

Othello Iago Soliloquy

Othello Language and Characters

Shakespeare Tragedy

Othello complete scheme of work that includes 15 lesson packs, a six week homework pack with differentiated activities, an escape room for revision and an assessment and planning resource.

Perfect for KS3 English study but easily adaptable for other age groups. Includes differentiated activities, engaging resources and extensive teacher and student notes.

• Shakespeare Introduction (Comedy, History, Tragedy)
• Othello Introduction (Act 1 Scene 1)
• Brabantio, Iago and Roderigo language and context
• Desdemona lesson on first meeting her
• Language analysis and analytical paragraphs
• Iago’s soliloquy analysis and context
• Dramatic irony lesson
• Iago’s soliloquies and plans
• Act 3 lesson exploring language
• Act 3 Scene 3 lesson looking at how Othello is manipulated
• Act 4 lesson exploring character
• Desdemona lesson on Act 4 Scene 3
• Act 4 and 5 lesson exploring foreshadowing and imagery
• Ending lesson focusing on the end of the play and tragedy as a genre
• Writing your own Shakespearean tragedy lesson
• Six week homework pack
• Assessment and planning resource
• Escape room for recapping plot, characters, context and themes
• Scheme of work document

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Othello Essay: Jealousy.

Othello Essay:

        William Shakespeare has written many prominent plays that were centered on a specific emotion that propelled the play forward and moved the story along. From Romeo and Juliet ’s love, to Hamlet ’s bitter anger and hate, Shakespeare and proven to be one of the greatest story writers of his time, and many times using his ability to play with emotions. Shakespeare’s 1603-04 play Othello  drove on the passion of jealousy; this emotion was the essence of the entire story, and is largely based on it. It initially placed the readers into a specific atmosphere, built character, unveiling the true side to various people in the script, and created the conflict of the entire play.

        Firstly, the atmosphere of the play is created due to this emotion of jealousy. This aspect of stories is important because it places the readers (or viewers of the play) in a direct relationship with the events unfolding. Since atmosphere is in a parallel with the emotions felt by the characters, it is only natural that the centre emotion felt by most of the people in the story, jealousy, is a main contributor to this atmosphere. Readers and viewers of Othello  feel a mood of suspicion, bitterness, and forced to feel surrounded by cloud of hate. “I hate the Moor / And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets” . The character, Iago, is quoted here claiming his hatred for Othello because he suspects that he had been sleeping with his wife, in the first act. The atmosphere fails to ever change throughout the entire play. It begins with Iago going through a jealous rage that General Othello did not give him the position of lieutenant, where in fact, he believes he deserved the spot. It sets the tone for the entire play, causing the viewers and readers to feel at an uncomfortable state, and this atmosphere never lets down. This atmosphere, however, is quite fitting for the plot of the play. A man engulfed in such rage that he cannot tame, forces him to irrationally and eventually hurts those he loves. The purpose of Othello  is to portray a tragedy, and the atmosphere parallels this purpose, driven by the emotion of jealousy introduced in this story.

This is a preview of the whole essay

Secondly, the jealousy truly built characterization in this script and unveiled the true personalities of each individual character undergoing this emotion. In certain cases such as Iago and Roderigo, jealousy was a part of who they were and this was evident from the beginning of the play. However, jealousy also unveiled the type of person a specific character was, when the audience believed they had the character all figured out. Othello was initially viewed as a generous, often mistaken Moor, who only truly had love for his wife, despite the disbelief others had in judgment of him. Iago’s plan was to entertain thoughts of doubt against Othello towards his wife and causing him to believe that she was having an affair with his lieutenant, Michael Cassio. Othello, being naïve and trusting in Iago, faces an uncontrollable jealousy rage that leads him to lose all common sense and judgment. Othello eventually kills his wife, unable to control this “Green-eyed monster” in jealousy, and ultimately regrets his actions. What it evident throughout his entire jealous rage, however, is that Othello was not the calm, gentle, loving person he appeared to be. But rather that he had always lived with this “beast” inside of him, only calmed down due to his status in Venice. This is clear because when he goes on to kill Desdemona, he once again appears to be the sweet, gentle, loving man, not engulfed in jealousy, but still murders his wife. Iago was able to unleash this beast within Othello to go ahead with his evil deeds. This jealousy shows that Othello was only a wild, destructive man, living in a world where he was forced to tame himself.

        Lastly, jealousy was what really opened up the different areas of conflict within the play. Every stories need conflict; it creates action and draws the audience into the story, rather than repel them away. In the case of Othello , jealousy brought about conflict, it created the situation and also presented the action that this story required. Jealousy brought conflict upon even minor characters such as Roderigo. His jealousy of Othello, that this Moor had been married to the beautiful Desdemona, whom he loved, caused him to act foolishly and without correct judgment. He gave his up control of his own life and threw it into the hands of Iago, one who was only plotting evil. Throughout the entire first act, it is evident that Roderigo has placed his trust in Iago to make sure that Desdemona would surely fall in love with him. But it is also clear that Iago has other plans for Roderigo, and decides to manipulate him into doing his own selfish deeds. In the final act, the first scene, due to Iago’s twisted plans, Roderigo goes ahead and fights Cassio. As both of them fall, Iago takes advantage of this situation and kills Roderigo to make it appear as if he was murdered for the purpose to silence him. His plan fell through perfectly, in which the purpose was to act on his hatred for Michael Cassio. It is evident that jealousy even brought about conflict to minor characters, such as Roderigo, whom the audience does not learn too much about. Other than this, jealousy creates other conflicts such as Othello fighting with himself and trying to contain his jealousy, Othello with Desdemona, and Iago against Othello.

        Overall, it is evident that in the play of Othello , jealousy is a vital element that William Shakespeare uses to propel the play and move it along forward. Single-handedly, it creates the atmosphere, characterization, conflict, and therefore, action and different situations. To a large extent, this play depends on this emotion to move the story along and create the situations that this story plays off of to make a widely successful tragedy.

Document Details

• Word Count 1010
• Page Count 2
• Subject English

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