Get summaries, questions, answers, solutions, extra MCQs, PDF for William Shakespeare’s Othello: WBCHSE Class 11 English Literature textbook A Realm of English (B) Selection, which is part of the Semester I syllabus for students studying under WBBSE (West Bengal Board-Uccha Madhyamik). These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
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Summary
In Venice, a wealthy senator named Brabantio had a beautiful daughter, Desdemona. She fell in love with Othello, a brave general, who won her heart with stories of his travels and battles. They married in secret, which angered her father. Brabantio accused Othello of using witchcraft before the Duke of Venice. Othello explained that he only used his life stories to win her love, and Desdemona confirmed this. Her father accepted the marriage but warned Othello that a daughter who deceived her father might also deceive her husband.
Othello was sent to the island of Cyprus to command the army against the Turks. Desdemona went with him. A great storm destroyed the enemy’s ships, so there was no war to fight. However, a different kind of trouble was beginning. Othello had a trusted lieutenant named Cassio. He also had an older officer named Iago, who secretly hated both Othello and Cassio. Iago was angry that Cassio was promoted instead of him. He created a wicked plan to destroy them all by making Othello believe that Desdemona was in love with Cassio.
Iago’s plan began during a celebration. He encouraged Cassio, who was on guard duty, to drink too much wine. When Cassio was drunk, Iago started a fight. Othello was awakened by the noise and, seeing his officer misbehaving, he fired Cassio. Iago then pretended to be a good friend and advised Cassio to ask Desdemona for help. He knew Desdemona was kind and would plead for Cassio. When Othello saw his wife speaking earnestly with Cassio, Iago began to plant seeds of doubt in his mind.
Iago’s lies made Othello very disturbed. He told Othello that he saw Cassio with a special handkerchief that Othello had given to Desdemona. This handkerchief was Othello’s first gift to her. In reality, Iago had his wife, Emilia, steal the handkerchief and he planted it on Cassio. Othello became so consumed by jealousy that he felt he could never find peace again. He said that not even powerful sleeping plants like poppy or mandragora could bring him rest, a way of saying his mind was too troubled to be calmed. Believing Iago’s lies, Othello ordered him to kill Cassio and planned to kill Desdemona himself.
Othello went to Desdemona and accused her of being unfaithful. He called her a “weed that looked so fair,” a metaphor meaning that she appeared beautiful and pure but was truly evil inside. Desdemona was innocent and confused by his anger. Later that night, as she slept, Othello entered her room and smothered her with a pillow. Just then, a wounded Cassio was brought in. Iago’s attempt to have him killed had failed, and letters were found that exposed Iago’s entire evil plot.
Othello was struck with horror when he learned the truth. He realized Desdemona had been faithful and that he had been tricked into murdering his innocent wife. Overcome with grief and guilt, he killed himself with his own sword, falling next to her body. Iago was captured and faced a painful execution for his crimes. The people of Venice mourned the loss of their great general, who had loved his wife “not wisely, but too well”.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Who was Desdemona’s father?
A. The Duke of Venice
B. Brabantio
C. Montano
D. Iago
Answer: B. Brabantio
2. What was Othello’s rank in the Venetian army?
A. Lieutenant
B. Captain
C. Senator
D. General
Answer: D. General
3. What did Brabantio accuse Othello of using to win Desdemona’s affection?
A. Witchcraft and spells
B. Bribery and gifts
C. Threats against her family
D. Political promises
Answer: A. Witchcraft and spells
4. To which island were Othello and Desdemona sent to fight the Turks?
A. Sicily
B. Crete
C. Cyprus
D. Rhodes
Answer: C. Cyprus
5. What ultimately happened to the Turkish fleet that was sailing for Cyprus?
A. It was defeated by the Venetian navy
B. It was dispersed by a violent tempest
C. It surrendered without a fight
D. It changed its course and attacked Venice
Answer: B. It was dispersed by a violent tempest
6. Who warned Othello that Desdemona, having deceived her father, might also deceive him?
A. Brabantio
B. The Duke of Venice
C. Iago
D. Emilia
Answer: A. Brabantio
7. What military rank did Othello give to Cassio, which offended Iago?
A. Captain
B. Sergeant
C. Ensign
D. Lieutenant
Answer: D. Lieutenant
8. Iago hated Othello partly due to an unjust suspicion that Othello had been too fond of whom?
A. Bianca
B. Desdemona
C. Emilia
D. A Florentine lady
Answer: C. Emilia
9. How did Iago cause Cassio to be dismissed from his position?
A. By framing him for theft
B. By getting him drunk and involved in a brawl
C. By lying that Cassio had insulted Othello
D. By planting a treasonous letter on him
Answer: B. By getting him drunk and involved in a brawl
10. What did Iago advise the disgraced Cassio to do to regain his position?
A. Ask Desdemona to mediate for him
B. Apologize directly to Montano
C. Challenge Othello to a duel
D. Leave Cyprus and return to Venice
Answer: A. Ask Desdemona to mediate for him
57. (I) Othello, believing his wife to be unfaithful, was filled with anguish and killed her.
(II) The discovery of Iago’s treachery revealed that his wife was innocent and faithful.
A. I is the cause for II.
B. I is independent of II.
C. I is an example of II.
D. The tragic outcome in I is a result of the truth in II being revealed too late.
Answer: D. The tragic outcome in I is a result of the truth in II being revealed too late.
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