Shakespeare's Othello Quiz and Answer Key Bundle for High School

Evaluate general reading comprehension and eliminate assessment planning responsibilities with this set of plot-based quizzes covering the entirety of William Shakespeare's Othello. These assessments may double as guided reading handouts to facilitate active reading experiences. Answer keys are provided. (Alternatively, a self-grading Google Drive bundle is available.) Information on each assessment follows.

Act 1 Quiz. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:

• Roderigo's affections for Desdemona

• Iago's fury toward Othello

• Brabantio

• The Turks' plan to attack Cyprus

• Othello and Desdemona's relationship

• Desdemona's internal conflict

• Othello's departure

• Desdemona's arrangement to stay with Iago

• Brabantio's warning to Othello

• Iago's manipulation of Roderigo

Act 2 Quiz. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:

• The end of the war with the Turks

• Iago's emphasis on Cassio's friendliness toward Desdemona

• Cassio's weakness

• Iago's taking advantage of Cassio's weakness

• The consequences of Cassio's actions

• Othello's ironic perspective on Iago's character

• Cassio seeking advice from one he considers his closest friend

• Iago's next manipulative move involving Desdemona

Act 3 Quiz. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:

• Cassio's verbal exchange with Desdemona

• Iago encouraging Othello's suspicions toward Desdemona

• Desdemona's requests for Othello to forgive Cassio

• Othello's insistence that Iago tell him everything he knows

• Iago's underhanded behaviors and statements

• Othello's statements on marital trust and jealousy

• The retrieval of Desdemona's handkerchief

• Othello's mounting suspicions

• Othello's ultimatum to Iago

• Desdemona's frustrations

Act 4 Quiz. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:

• Othello's rage-fueled trance

• Iago's conspiracy to make Othello think Cassio loves Desdemona

• Iago's barbarous suggestion regarding Desdemona's fate

• The letter from Venice

• Lodovico's witnessing Othello's abusive behavior

• Emilia's verbal exchange with Othello

• Othello's confrontation with Desdemona

• Desdemona turning to Iago for help

• Roderigo's frustration with Iago

• The arrangement Iago makes for Roderigo

• Desdemona's foreshadowing fear

Act 5 Quiz. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:

• Iago's concern that Roderigo could expose him

• Iago's irrational jealousy of Cassio

• Cassio's injury

• Fatal wounds

• The arrest of Bianca

• Othello's verbal exchange with Desdemona

• The subsequent killing

• Emilia's news

• The brief revival of a character

• The ensuing stabbings, one fatal

• Othello's subsequent perception of himself

• The fatal flaw of the hero

Materials are available for teaching a variety of Shakespeare’s plays:

• Hamlet - Google and printable

• Julius Caesar - Google and printable

• King Lear - Google and printable

• Macbeth - Google and printable

• Much Ado About Nothing - Google and printable

• Othello - Google and printable

• Romeo and Juliet - Google and printable

• The Merchant of Venice - Google and printable

• The Taming of the Shrew - Google and printable

• The Tempest - Google and printable

• Twelfth Night - Google and printable