Plot Flashcards
1
Q
What happens in A1S1?
A
- Begins in media res
- Roderigo is unhappy with Iago for failing to promote his marriage to Desdemona and Iago is unhappy with Othello for not promoting him to lieutenant
- Roderigo and Iago inform Brabantio of Desdemona’s clandestine marriage to Othello
2
Q
What happens in A1S2?
A
- Othello is called to the Venetian council on urgent military business
- Iago’s first sign of deceit as he warns Othello that Brabantio knows of his marriage
- Brabantio accuses Othello of bewitching his daughter
- They all go to the Senate
3
Q
What happens in A1S3?
A
- The Senate discuss the war with the Turks
- Othello responds to Brabantio’s accusation and calls for Desdemona to speak
- Desdemona expresses her love Othello and asks to go to Cyprus with him
- Brabantio’s warning of D’s deceit
- Iago convinces Roderigo to come to Cyprus to plan his revenge against Othello
4
Q
What happens in A2S1?
A
- News comes that the Turkish fleet is destroyed by a storm
- Cassio greets Desdemona affectionately in Cyprus
- Othello arrives and is happy with Desdemona
- Iago involves Roderigo in his plan to discredit Cassio by claiming D is in love with him
5
Q
What happens in A2S2?
A
- Short scene to announce the festivities that will take place to celebrate both winning the war and Othello’s recent marriage
6
Q
What happens in A2S3?
A
- Iago convinces Cassio to get drunk
- Iago gets Roderigo to pick a fight with Cassio
- Montano tries to stop the fight and becomes wounded
- Othello arrives and angry and fires Cassio
- Cassio goes to Iago for support, who suggests going to Desdemona for help
- Iago reveals to audience his plan to suggest Desdemona having an affair to Othello
7
Q
What happens in A3S1?
A
- Cassio asks Emilia for help to speak with Desdemona alone
8
Q
What happens in A3S2?
A
- Plot device to set up next big scene
- Othello talks about state affairs with Iago
- O is absorbed by military affairs while his personal affairs are being steadily undermined
- Cassio will take this opportunity to see Desdemona, falling into Iago’s trap
9
Q
What happens in A3S3?
A
- Desdemona agrees to help Cassio regain Othello’s trust
- Iago stages this event to convince Othello that his wife is in love with Cassio
- Desdemona comes back to comfort Othello and drops her handkerchief
- Emilia picks it up, telling the audience Iago has been asking for it (he tells the audience he will plant it to use as proof of the affair)
- Othello demands ‘ocular proof’ from Iago who claims Cassio was talking about the affair in his sleep and that he has the handkerchief
- Othello is now fully convinced, asking Iago to kill Cassio and stating he shall kill Desdemona
10
Q
What happens in A3S4?
A
- Desdemona is upset about losing the handkerchief and Emilia pretends to know nothing about it
- Othello comes in asking about the handkerchief. We learn of its backstory (motif of storytelling)
- Bianca arrives to see Cassio and becomes angry when he asks her to copy the design of the handkerchief because she believes it is from someone else
11
Q
What happens in A4S1?
A
- Othello collapses in an epileptic fit
- Iago stages it so that Othello hears a conversation between him and Cassio about Bianca to convince him of the affair
- Othello plans to kill Desdemona by smothering her
- A letter comes from Venice whilst Desdemona tries to defend Cassio. Othello hits her in public
- Lodovico is shocked at Othello’s behaviour and Iago suggests that he’s become increasingly erratic
12
Q
What happens in A4S2?
A
- Othello questions Emilia about Desdemona, then speaks with D calling her a whore
- Emilia suspects a villain has turned Othello against his wife
- The women leave and Iago urges Roderigo to kill Cassio in order to keep Othello and Desdemona in Cyprus
13
Q
What happens in A4S3?
A
- Emilia helps Desdemona to get ready for bed (one of few intimate moments between the two women)
- D sings the Willow song
- She asks for her wedding sheets to be put on the bed
14
Q
What happens in A5S1?
A
- At night, Iago instructs Roderigo to ambush Cassio, but Cassio wounds Roderigo
- Iago stabs Cassio in the leg and runs away. Cassio cries murder.
- Thinking Iago has killed Cassio, Othello goes on with his plan to kill Desdemona
- Lodovico and Gratiano hear yelling and meet Iago who pretends to be horrified at Cassio’s injury.
- Iago secretly finds the injured Roderigo and kills him
15
Q
What happens in A5S2?
A
- Desdemona is asleep when Othello wakes her up, urging her to pray and confess about the handkerchief
- She denies the accusation and pleads for her life but Othello suffocates her
- Emilia comes in just as D dies and O admits to murder
- Emilia calls everyone in and Iago’s plans are revealed
- Iago stabs Emilia and tries to run away
- Othello stabs himself, kisses Desdemona and dies
- Order is restored, Cassio becomes governor and Iago is taken to prison
