Chracters
Venetian General who is tricked into believing his wife is unfaithful
Othello
The central setting shifts early in the play from Venice to the Mediterranean island
Cyprus
Oh, beware, my lord, of...
jealously; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on
Othello is repeatedly referred to by this racial/cultural label
Moor
Othello was written during this era
Jacobean
Othello's ensign, whose bitter jealousy drives the main tragedy
Iago
Iago gets Cassio demoted from lieutenant after provoking him to
Get drunk and fight Roderigo
I am not...
what I am
Desdemona sings this song about betrayal shortly before her death
The Willow Song
When a character speaks their inner thoughts aloud alone on stage
soliloquy
Othello's newly appointed lieutenant, who becomes the unwitting target of Iago's scheme
Cassio
The primary token of love that becomes the crucial piece of evidence Iago uses to frame Cassio
Handkerchief
Put out the light, and...
then I put out the light
Iago frequently uses this type of imagery to provoke anger in other characters (provide examples)
Animalistic imagery (old black ram, Barbary horse)
The audience knowing that Iago is evil while Othello calls him 'honest Iago' is an example of this literary device
dramatic irony
Iago's wife and Desdemona's loyal attendant, who ultimately reveals the truth
Emilia
Iago uses this wealthy Venetian Suitor to fund his plans and to do his dirty work
Roderigo
Reputation, reputation, reputation...
O, I have lost my reputation
Desdemona's father, Brabantio, accuses Othello of using this to win Desdemona's heart
Witchraft/magic
The term describes a tragic flaw in a hero's character that leads to their downfall
hamartia
The Venetian 'street walker' who is in love with Cassio and ends up with Desdemona's handkerchief
Bianca
The physical method Othello uses to kill Desdemona in her bed
smothering/suffocating her
I kissed thee ere I killed thee...
No way but this
Theme that contrasts what is real and what is fabricated by others
Appearance vs Reality
Othello's gradual psychological breakdown is marked by a shift in his speech patterns: he moves away from noble and measured speech to...
prose/fragmented speech