Exam (elaborations)
Shakespeare's Othello - a collection of exam questions iGCSE board
Shakespeare's Othello - a bank of exam questions for English Literature GCSE with a couple of extracts from examiners reports
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Othello a tragic hero? (does he recognise his flaws and gain self-knowledge?)
his nobility (is he a good man?) / strengths & weaknesses / virtues & flaws
his relationship with Desdemona & treatment of her
his manipulation by Iago and transformation into a jealous brute
the extent to which he is responsible for the tragedy which occurs at the
end of the play
our level of sympathy for him
Iago:
the real ‘hero’ of the action?
flaws and virtues?
his motivation
how he controls & manipulates all of the action/characters
Desdemona:
too good to be true or a believable character?
dramatic function in the play?
Emilia / Bianca:
Emilia’s dramatic function in the play
foils to Desdemona – worldly and cynical rather than pure and innocent
add variety to Shakespeare’s presentation of women & his exploration of
their position in society
Cassio:
symbol of goodness
extent to which he contributes to the tragedy
All characters:
contrast the extremes of good and evil presented in the characters in the
play
the play is very pessimistic about human nature
the play is very pessimistic about human relationships
THEMES:
The major themes in the play are:
Jealousy
Revenge / Power
Good vs Evil
Appearance vs Reality (Deception/Manipulation)
Love & Hate / Loyalty & Betrayal
Racism
Women’s position in society
Jealousy is at the core of all the tragic events that occur in Othello.’ In the
light of this statement, explore the dramatic function of jealousy in
Shakespeare’s play. In your answer, you must consider relevant
contextual factors.
, ‘Despite his suffering, Othello learns nothing.’ In the light of this
statement, explore Shakespeare’s presentation of Othello in the play. In
your answer, you must consider relevant contextual factors.
Write about Desdemona and how she is presented at different points in the play.
Indicative content Responses may include:
An overview of Desdemona’s character and behaviour in the play
Her relationship with Othello and romantic view of him
Her innocence and loyalty towards her husband, in stark contrast with the view of her created
by Iago and believed by Othello
How she is objectified and / or abused by male characters in the play (e.g. Brabantio, Roderigo,
Iago and Othello)
How she is viewed by others (e.g. Cassio, Brabantio, Iago, Emilia)
Her assertiveness (e.g. in choosing to marry Othello against her father’s wishes, attempting to
persuade Othello to reinstate Cassio) and her submissiveness (e.g. towards Othello and her
fate)
Comments on Shakespeare’s use of language in the presentation of Desdemona
Imagery typically associated with Desdemona and what it shows about how she is viewed by
others, e.g. treasure, religion, prostitution
Her polite but assertive language in Act 1 Scene 3
Desdemona’s frequent use of questions as Othello’s behaviour towards her changes
Comments on her ambiguous final words and apparent forgiveness of Othello
An appreciation of structure through the identification of key moments and turning points in
Shakespeare’s presentation of Desdemona
Examiner’s Report:
Candidates responded well to this clear, straightforward question.
As a result, responses were engaged and often thorough, with candidates feeling sure of their ground.
Knowledge of the character and the play were generally secure, and candidates saw Desdemona in
various ways: independent, strong, fatalistic, a tragic victim and weak. Her defence of Othello and
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