Act 2

Question 1

Summary Act 2 Scene 1.

Answer 1

• Turkish fleet destroyed by storm.
• Characters give respect to Othello.
• Cassio speaks highly of D. contrasts way Iago speaks!
• Iago convinces Roderigo to provoke Cassio to discredit him.

Question 2

Irony of Cyrpus setting

Answer 2

• Birthplace of Aphrodite (godess of love.)
• Tragic irony, place where D and Othello’s marriage = destroyed.

Question 3

Continued theme in Act 2:
Speaking highly of Othello.

In Act 1 Scene 3 : “valiant Moor”.

Answer 3

• “brave Othello”
• “noble Moor”
• “valiant general.”

Question 4

Act 2 Scene 2.

Answer 4

• Herald reads Othello’s proclomation of public holiday due to destruction of Turkish fleet.
• Ironic: juxtaposes dissorder that comes from celebrations ie. Cassio being provoked.

Question 5

Summary Act 2 Scene 3.

Answer 5

• Iago encourages Cassio to drink/ Roderigo to provoke Cassio whilst drunk.
• Othello dismisses Cassio as luitenant.
• Iago convinces Cassio to seek D’s help.
• Iago manages to ruin Othello’s: “cool-headed” rep AND Cassio role taken off him!

Question 6

Motif of linguistic control.

Answer 6

• Iago suggests Othello told D: “fantasical lies”
• Iago corrupting Othello’s mind: “pour pestilence into his ear.”
• Iago’s long soliloquies.
• Iago asking Q’s to manipulate audience/ characters ie. to Roderigo (ie “didst thou not mark that?”)
• Iago rhyming couplets “dream”/ “stream” (ship = metaphor for his plan) ~ Sc.3

Question 7

Appearance vs reality.

Answer 7

• “Honest Iago” throughout. Irony.
• Iago asides to Roderigo, directing chaos.
• Iago enterring/ leaving scene: planting seeds ie. isn’t there during chaos between Cassio/ R.

Question 8

Heaven/ religious imagery

Answer 8

• “O my soul’s joy” ~ Sc.1 when Othello sees D.
• “God forgive us our sins”/ “I hope to be saved” ~ Sc.3. Religiosity of Cassio.
• Iago puts on “heavenly shows” ~ Sc.3.
• Contrasted with Iago hellish imagery, good vs evil in play.

Question 9

Hell/ devilish imagery

Answer 9

• In Iago’s soliloquies:
• “Divinity of hell” ~ Sc.3. Paradoxical.
• “devil” ~ Sc 1/3 throughout!
• “I play the villain” ~ Sc.3.

Question 10

Significance of “storm” in Cyprus.

Answer 10

• Symbolic of chaos, uncivilised nature of Cyprus.
• Binary opposite of Venice civility.
• Foreshadows chaos that will ensue ie. Cassio brawling.

Question 11

Ship imagery.

Act 1: D= “land carrack.”

Answer 11

• Cassio: “riches of ship is come on shore!” (ref. to D) ~ Sc.1
• Metaphor for Iago plan: “my boat sails freely, both with wind and stream.” ~ Sc.3

Question 12

Auditory stage directions that add to chaos of Act 2.

Answer 12

• “A shout within: A sail, A sail, A sail!” ~ Sc.1
• “A shot heard within” ~ Sc.1
• “A cry of: Help Help within.” ~ Sc.3

Question 13

Cassio: “tis my breeding” ~ Sc.1

Cassio gallantry to D

Answer 13

• “Divide Desdemona.”/ “virtuous Desdemona.” Alliteration/ angelic/ religious imagery. ~ Sc.1
• “Our great Captain’s Captain.” Her influence over Othello. ~ Sc.1.
• “excels blazoning pens” –> flattering poem comparing physical features to jewels, popular in S’s time.
• “riches of ship come on shore!” ~Sc.1. Objectification, even if positive?

Question 14

Iago’s sexual language

Answer 14

• D = “sport for Jove”/ “full of game.”/ “act of sport.”
• “happiness to their sheets!”
• Provoking Cassio to speak like this?
• Wants to go “wife for wife” Allusion O slept with I’s wife. ~ Sc.1

Question 15

Iago calling D “sport for Jove” meaning?

Answer 15

• Roman king of Gods renowned for sexual adventures.

Question 16

Animalstic imagery: Iago.

Answer 16

• Ref to women: “wild-cats”/ “devils.” –> suggesting primitive nature?
• Ref to Cassio: “my young mistress’ dog”/ “offenceless dog”. Emasculating Cassio (link to Act 1) ~ Sc.3.

Question 17

Social status/ public image motif: Act 2.

Answer 17

• “Trumpets within” ~ Sc.1
• Personal trumpet for Othello as Captain, accentuating his soical status.
• Sc. 2 “public place in town” announcement of Othello’s greatness/ helping to defeat Turks.
• Cassio repetition: “Reputation!Reputation!” Exclamatories, desparation to maintain it!

Question 18

“Money in thy purse” motif throughout.

Answer 18

• Transactional relationships ie. tells R. to put money in thy purse.
• Form of manipulation ie. there will be reward for R’s actions –> no Desdemona!

Question 19

Jealousy allusions.

Answer 19

• “folly and green minds” ~Sc.1 –> “green-eyed monster” link.
• “monstrous” –> repetition, green-eyed monster.

Question 20

Physicality of Cassio/ Roderigo brawling.

Answer 20

• Stage directions: He strikes Roderigo/ they fight.
• Iago’s narrative to Othello on what happened: “clink and fall of swords”/ “blow.”

Question 21

Drinking/ hyper-masculine environment.

Answer 21

• Shakespeare celebratin English drinking habits. Pride?
• Singing: creates celebratory environment.
• Fighting/ physicality = hyper-masculine.

Question 22

Othello authority.

Answer 22

• “Give me answer” ~ Sc.3. Imperatives throughout. Exert control.
• “Are we turned Turks?” ~ Sc.3 Reprimanding others. Islamic chaos vs Christian civility.

Question 23

Embeddable quote for Iago’s plans.

Answer 23

• “And out of her goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all.”
• Wants to destroy O. in specific/ evil way.
• Audience complicit in his plans.

Question 24

Act 1/ Act 2 endings significance?

Answer 24

• End with Iago consolidating his plans, making audience complicit.

Question 25

Spider/ web imagery.

Answer 25

- "And out of their own goodness make the net that will enmesh them all." - Web of lies Iago makes.

Question 26

Change in Iago's speech alone vs around others?

Answer 26

- Others: prose. - Alone: blank verse = control.