Question

1. reread the excerpt from pages 23-25 (1.2.60-63).

iago: faith, he tonight hath boarded a land carrack.
if it prove lawful prize, hes made forever.
cassio: i do not understand.
iago: hes married.
what does the phrase \made forever\ imply about the significance of marriage for othello?
a. it will bring a demotion in military engagements.
b. it will bring a demotion in status.
c. it will bring an elevation in class.
d. it will bring an elevation in religious faith.

1. reread the following passage from 1.3.65-68:

\take hold of me, for my particular grief / is of so floodgate and oerbearing nature / that it engiuts and swallows other sorrows / and it is still itself.\
what does brabantios use of the word \floodgate\ suggest about the impact of desdemonas actions?
a. he is overwhelmed by her choice to marry outside her class.
b. he is annoyed that he was disturbed from his slumber.
c. he is understanding of her right to do as she pleases.
d. he is struggling to understand what has occurred.

Explanation:

For Question 3:

Iago frames Othello's marriage as a "lawful prize" that makes him "made forever." In the context of Othello, marrying Desdemona (a high-status Venetian noblewoman) elevates Othello's social class, as he is a Moorish outsider. The other options do not align: there is no mention of military demotion, status demotion, or religious elevation here.

For Question 4:

Brabantio uses "floodgate" to describe his grief, implying it is an overwhelming, unstoppable force. His grief stems from Desdemona marrying Othello, a man outside her social class. The metaphor of a floodgate conveys that this sorrow consumes him, matching the idea of being overwhelmed. The other options are incorrect: his distress is not about being disturbed, understanding her choice, or confusion about what happened.

Answer:

1. C. It will bring an elevation in class.
2. A. He is overwhelmed by her choice to marry outside her class.