Othello Act 1 Study Guide
Scenes 1, 2 & 3
Three Angry Men: Act 1, Scene 1
Directions: Use the following questions to understand the opening scene of Othello.
1.How does Shakespeare get the audience's immediate attention?
The play opens with an _____________________, so the audience is interested in discovering what is happening.
2.Why is Roderigo angry and frustrated?
Roderigo has been unsuccessful in his efforts to win Desdemona in ___________________. Iago was supposed to help him, but hasn't had success.
3.Why does Iago resent Othello?
Othello gave the position Iago wanted to _________________, a younger man with less practical experience.
4.What seems to be Brabantio’s attitude toward Roderigo?
Brabantio (disapproved or approved) of Roderigo as a suitor for Desdemona and told him to __________ from their house.
5.Why is Brabantio angry at the end of the scene?
Brabantio finds that his daughter has___________ with Othello, who is not Venetian, but Moorish.
6.How do we know what time it is during this scene?
Brabantio has been ________ from sleep; he knows Roderigo only by his voice and calls for ________. When he descends to the street he is in his night clothes and the servants are carrying torches. Roderigo indicates it is about midnight.
7.Notice that, with one exception, the scene is written in blank verse. Identify the section. Why did Shakespeare write it in prose?
Roderigo
8.So far we have met three characters. Give a few words to describe the personality of each.
Iago
Brabantio