AP Literature Fall Final Exam Study Guide

Why does Swift choose to use words like “computed” and “breeders” in his essay?  What effect does this have on you as a reader?

This dehumanizes the Irish people making them seem like livestock and animals to make you have no empathy for them allowing for the Modest Proposal to seem reasonable through argument

Rewrite, in your own words, exactly what Jonathan Swift is proposing to do. Use the formula he gives to support your answer.

Jonathan Swift proposes that improverished Irish families should sell their children as food to the wealthy. He uses a formula for this.

1. Total Population of Ireland: 1.5 million

2. 200,000 couples have wives capable of breeding

3. Subtract 30,000 couples who are self-sufficent

4. Subtract 50,000 women for miscarriages or having children who die in 1 year

5. This leaves 120,000 who can have 1 child a year totaling to 120,000 children

6. 20,000 (1/4 male) will be reserved for breeding

7. 100,000 will be prepared for consumption at 1 year old

According to Swift, what else could the babies be used for other than food?

He says the skin could be used for fashion like jackets and gloves.

Why not use the young teenage boys and girls for food in a Modest Proposal?

He says that the flesh is too lean and that the girls will soon be able to become breeders so it would be a loss on a future investment

Why can’t Swift participate in his own plan?

His kid is already too old at 9-years old. His wife is past the child-bearing age.

In Act I, scene 1 why does Iago say he hates Othello?  What are all the charges he makes against the general?

He believes he deserves to be Othello’s lieutenant but Othello chose Cassio who is underqualified because Othello likes Cassio more. He sees this as a major loss to his career and pride, now destined to remain a flag-bearer. He charges that Othello plays favorites and insults him for being a Moor.

Why does Roderigo hate Othello?

Othello is married to the woman he wants: Desdemona

In Act I, scene 1, what is Iago’s master plot to annoy Othello and Desdemona?

He incites Desdemona’s dad, Brabantio, to anger by revealing Desdemona and Othello’s secret relationship using animalistic and racist imagery. This sows jealousy, suspicion, and anger against Othello.

What is Brabantio’s explanation of why his daughter has run off with Othello?

Othello cast a spell on her.

List all of the negative comments or words Brabantio uses to describe Othello.

thief, abuser, practicer of arts (witch), black thing

How does Desdemona argue that she should be allowed to accompany her husband to Cyprus?

As his wife, her duty and love are now to Othello

What assurances does Othello offer the Council that he will take care of business, even if his wife is with him?

He emphasizes his strong reputation as a level-headed and determined general and that this won’t be an exception to his established rule

How does Iago manipulate Roderigo?

He dangles the promise that he will break Othello and Desdemona apart making space for Roderigo to take what is rightfully his. He uses his unrequited love.

What is the “real reason” Iago hates Othello?

It is a mix of jealousy of his position and wife, racism, and the personal slight of Othello’s lieutant choice

Why is Cassio a particularly handy scapegoat for Iago’s plot?

Cassio is a very handsome man and a soldier making an affair not impossible

Describe how Cassio acts when he lands at Cyprus, especially when Desdemona comes ashore.

He acts very enthusiastic and generous, especially towards Desdemona, could be interpreted as him being flirty

Why does Iago verbally attack his wife?

He sees Cassio kiss his wife on the cheek and flirt which he uses to justify his dislike of Cassio. He also hates his wife

According to Iago what is all the most accomplished woman in the world is good for?

feed babies and clip coupons

How does Iago convince Roderigo that Cassio is in love with Desdemona? How does Roderigo respond?

their touching hands and that a woman as pretty as Desdemona would never stay with Othello; Roderigo provokes Cassio into a fight

In Act I, Scene 3 we hear how Othello's life story helped win the love of Desdemona.  In Act II, Scene 1, we learn Iago's reaction to the same story.  What is his reaction?

dismissla of Othello’s story believing the tales he told to be fake and Desdemona as a fool for listening

What is Iago trying to get Cassio to do at the beginning of this scene?  Why?

flirt with or have an affair with Desdemona to give himself proof to trick Othello

What is unattractive about Cassio's behavior as a drunk?

unprofessional, violent, clumsy

How does Iago manipulate the gentlemen of Cyprus to object to Cassio's behavior?

He tells them that Cassio has a drinking problem, then exaggerates and instigates the fight between Cassio and Roderigo

What new aspect of Othello's personality do we see in this scene?

he’s too trusting and easily manipulated by his love of Desdemona

Describe how Iago, while apparently defending his friend Cassio, actually encourages Othello to take action against him?

He tells an exaggerated story of violence while mixing in phrases that would make him sound sympathetic to Cassio

In Iago's explanation of his revenge plot, are there any new motives for his behavior?

He suspects Othello has slept with his wife, Emilia

What arrangements does Emilia make for Cassio?

She arranges for Cassio to meet with Desdemona to make his case for her to intercede

What does Desdemona promise Cassio?

She promises she won’t rest until Othello gives him his position back

What does Othello agree to do for Desdemona?

He agrees to restore Cassio’s position

After Desdemona leaves, how does Iago start again to raise Othello’s suspicions about Cassio? 

he fakes being hesitant to speak and plants seeds of doubt about different parts of their relationship from the past to the present

When Iago raises the issue of jealousy, what does Othello say? How does Iago respond?

Othello resists but Iago’s insistent sows doubt, and he says “Why did I marry?” Iago tells Othello to not worry about it and surely Desdemona isn’t cheating

After Iago finally departs, what does Othello’s soliloquy show about his suspicions?

He is fully suspicious of Desdemona now believing she cheated. In this soliloquy, he is almost mourning. He says it was his destiny to be betrayed no matter his status or actions.

What does Emilia do after Othello and Desdemona depart?  What does her brief soliloquy reveal about Iago?

She takes Desdemona’s handkerchief to copy. She knows Iago is an evil man who manipulates others to his stubborn whims.

What does Iago then reveal in his brief soliloquy? What object becomes central to Iago’s plot to deceive Othello?

He will leave the stolen handkerchief at Cassio’s house and arrange for Othello to find it as proof of Desdemona cheating. He will manipulate Othello’s jealousy into rage.

How does Othello then threaten Iago?   How does Iago respond?

His full rage will be on Iago if he doesn’t receive proof or a certain answer. Iago responds by saying he will get him proof.

What are two specific pieces of evidence that Iago cites to cast suspicion on Cassio?

He says Iago talked about Desdemona in his sleep and the handkerchief

What does Othello command Iago to do at the end of Scene 3?

He commands Iago to kill Cassio or make sure he’s dead

Why does Othello insist that Desdemona present the handkerchief?

Because her loosing/not having it is a sign of her cheating

Who is Bianca?  How is she important to the plot?

She is a prostitute who is manipulated by Cassio. She gets mad at Cassio for the handkerchief which leads Othello to figure out Cassio has the handkerchief

Explain the irony of Emilia and Desdemona’s conversation.

It mirrors Othello and Iago’s conversation earlier about men and women with both sides villianizing the opposing gender

What important information is revealed in Cassio and Bianca’s conversation that ends Scene 4?

Cassio wants Bianca to copy the handkerchief, confirms Cassio has the handkerchief

What does Iago try to convince Othello of at the beginning of this scene?

Desdemona and Cassio had sex

What does Othello believe about the content of the conversation between Iago and Cassio?

It confirms Desdemona’s affair with Cassio and that she gave Cassio the handkerchief as a token of her love

What does Othello resolve to do after Cassio departs?  How will he do so?

He will kill Desdemona by choking her

What does the letter delivered by Lodovico command Othello to do?

Order Othello to go home to Venice and appoint Cassio as governor of Cyprus

What shocks Lodovico about Othello’s behavior?

He is acting like a mad man and hitting his wife despite her pristine repuation

What does Iago tell Lodovico about Othello’s behavior?

Othello always acts this crazy and erratic

How does Iago justify the deaths of Roderigo and Cassio?

He has to kill them to save himself

What happens when Roderigo attacks Cassio? Who actually wounds Cassio? What does Othello assume has happened? Is he correct?

Roderigo hits Cassio’s armor under his cloak. Cassio then stabs Roderigo. Iago then comes from behind and stabs Cassio in the leg. Othello assumes Iago has finally killed Cassio. He is partially correct.

Why does Iago appear in his shirt on page 3? How does he solve his "Roderigo" problem? 

He appears like he just woke up to make sure he isn’t a suspect. He solves it by framing Roderigo as the murderer

After Bianca appears, what new part of his plot does Iago begin? Who will get the blame for the attack on Cassio if Iago has his way?

He begins his plot to put the blame on Bianca for Cassio’s assault and planting further jealousy from Othello

What tone and justification does Othello try to give the murder of Desdemona in the beginning of Scene II?

He says he had to do it to prevent Desdemona from ruining other men

Othello makes two false statements during this scene. What are they? 

Desdemona cheated and that he is just

How does Othello kill Desdemona? What interruption occurs while he is doing it? What does he do with the bedcurtains immediately following the murder? 

He chokes Desdemona while she’s sleeping. Emilia comes in to tell Othello about the chaos outside. He closes the curtains

How does Othello almost give himself away? What finally gives the murder away?

He almost admits he was a part of a murder. Emilia opens the curtains

Whom does Desdemona blame for her death? Does Emilia believe her?

She blames herself. No, she doesn’t believe.

What happens when Othello confesses to murdering Desdemona? 

Emilia confronts him and then calls Murder to get help

What does Emilia reveal to Othello just before she dies?

Iago created this mess through his plotting

List all the people who die in Act V and who kills them.

Roderigo - stabbed by Iago
Desdemona - choked by Othello
Emilia - stabbed by Iago
Othello - stabs himself

What happens to Iago after all is said and done? Who gets to decide his fate?

Iago is wounded and arrested to be left at the hands of Cassio