Exploring motifs in 'Othello' | English | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

What is a motif?
- recurring images that help to develop a story’s themes ✓
- an object that represents something else
- when a character says something they do not mean
Which character is introduced as diabolical in Shakespeare's 'Othello'?
- Othello
- Iago ✓
- Brabantio
- Desdemona
Which quote from 'Othello' shows Iago to be diabolical?
- "Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light" ✓
- "Our bodies are our gardens to which our wills are gardeners"
- "Poison his delights"
In 'Othello', what does Othello say at the end of the play that confirms Iago as a diabolical presence?
- "...green eyed monster. It is the monster that doth mock the meat it feed on''
- "Wash me in gulfs of liquid fire''
- "...that demi-devil...hath ensnared my soul and body'' ✓
In 'Othello', what could Iago be said to have planted metaphorically in Othello's mind?
- poisonous seeds ✓
- beautiful flowers
- exotic fruits
How does Iago expose his racism and prejudice against Othello in the play 'Othello'?
- plots his downfall
- says he is animalistic ✓
- helps Roderigo win over his wife
- tells him to strangle his wife

What is *not* a motif in the play 'Othello'?
- light and dark
- plants and gardening
- food and drink ✓
- hell, demons, monsters
''Not poppy, nor mandragora...shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep''. What motif is shown in this quote from 'Othello'?
- hell, demons, monsters
- light and dark
- animals
- plants and gardening ✓
Which motifs permeate Iago's character in the play 'Othello'?
- plants and gardening ✓
- animals
- hell, demons, monsters ✓
Which motif used in Shakespeare's 'Othello' subverts racist stereotypes of the Elizabethan era?
- animals
- plants and gardening; Iago
- light and dark ✓
Which motif is used in the play 'Othello' whenever morality is in question?
- plants and gardening
- sight and appearances
- hell, demons and monsters ✓
In 'Othello' Iago often operates at night, is duplicitious and delivers soliloquies, what motif is suggested by this?
- animals
- hell, demons, monsters
- sight and appearances ✓

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Motif analysis should address both the overall purpose of the motif and the meaning of individual examples.
The motif of plants and gardening surrounds Iago, suggesting that he is in control.
Many of Iago's quotes about plants are focused on poison, suggesting that he taints those around him.
The motif of animals and light and dark allows racist stereotypes to be exposed and subverted, respectively.
The motif of demons, hell and monsters is concerned with characters’ morality.

Motifs and symbols are the same.

A motif is a recurring image whereas a symbol is one thing that represents something else.