Starter quiz
- What happens to Cassio in Act 2 Scene 3 of 'Othello'?
- He proposes to Desdemona
- He dies in battle
- He gets stripped of his lieutenancy by Othello ✓
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- In 'Othello', what does Iago tell Cassio to do regarding getting his job back?
- Speak to Othello about it immediately
- Ask Desdemona to speak to Othello about it ✓
- Do not act upon it
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- In 'Othello', what is Iago's motive when he tells Cassio to speak to Desdemona about his job and not Othello directly?
- He will convince Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair ✓
- He thinks this is the best way to help Cassio
- He wants to orchestrate Cassio and Desdemona falling in love
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- ''Pour pestilence into his ear." What does this quote from 'Othello' show about Iago's intentions with Othello?
- He wants to give Othello good advice
- He wants to poison Othello's mind ✓
- He wants Cassio to manipulate Othello
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- What is dramatic irony?
- When something in a play is particularly comical.
- When the audience are aware of something that the characters are not. ✓
- When a character says something they do not mean.
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- Look at the quotes from 'Othello', which quotes shows Iago as diabolical?
- "And what's he then that says I play the villain?''
- ''For 'tis most easy The inclining Desdemona to subdue In any honest suit''
- ''When devils will the...sins put on'' ✓
- ''Divinity of hell'' ✓
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Exit quiz
- What does the setting in Act 3 Scene 3 of 'Othello' symbolise?
- tranquility
- love
- temptation ✓
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- How does Desdemona appear to be when she asks Othello to speak to Cassio about his job in Act 3 Scene 3 of 'Othello'?
- nonchalant
- angry
- persistent ✓
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- In Act 3 Scene 3 of 'Othello', how does Iago make Othello believe he has his best interests at heart?
- He says "Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady, Know of your love?"
- He says "I am not bound to that all slaves are free to."
- He says "It were not for…your good…To let you know my thoughts." ✓
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- How is dramatic irony shown in Act 3 Scene 3 of 'Othello'?
- The audience know that Desdemona truly loves Cassio but Othello does not.
- Othello believes he is indebted to Iago but the audience know Iago is dishonest. ✓
- Othello says "'Tis destiny unshunnable’’ and the audience know he will die. ✓
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- How can Act 3 Scene 3 of 'Othello' be viewed as the play's peripeteia?
- Othello's view of himself and his future greatly suffer in this scene. ✓
- Othello has complete trust of Iago in this scene. ✓
- Othello becomes increasingly aggressive in this scene. ✓
- Desdemona kisses Cassio.
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- Look at the quotes from 'Othello', what does Othello say that suggests he has internalised other people's prejudices?
- ''for I am black And have not those soft parts of conversation'' ✓
- ''I am abused; and my relief Must be to loathe her.''
- ''I had rather be a toad...than keep...the thing I love For others' uses''
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Act 3, Scene 3 can be seen as the moment of peripeteia in the tragedy.
- The fragmented structure of the scene highlights the increasingly disordered nature of the play.
- The symbolic setting of the garden alludes to the biblical temptation in that it mirrors Iago's satanic role.
- Dramatic irony heightens the tension in Act 3, Scene 3.
Common misconception
Othello's downfall is solely due to his own faults.
Shakespeare carefully crafts Iago as someone who plays a huge role in Othello's downfall - acting like the serpent in the Garden of Eden.
Keywords
Peripeteia - a pivotal action that changes the protagonist’s fate from secure to vulnerable
Symbolic setting - a setting that symbolises a key idea or theme
Dramatic irony - a tragic technique in which the significance of a character’s words are clear to the audience but unknown to the character
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