Desdemona assures Cassio that she will do everything possible to regain favor with Othello. He soon enters, and Cassio departs as he is too nervous to argue his case suitably. Iago declares that Cassio would not act akin to one who is guilty, while Desdemona once more argues Cassio’s case, which causes Othello to agree to meet with him at an unspecified time. Desdemona criticizes such procrastination but he assures her he will do anything she wishes, and that he wishes to be left alone. Left alone, Iago suggests that Cassio and Desdemona had an affair while Cassio acted as... (More)

Alliteration

Definition: The repetition of the beginning consonant sounds of neighboring words within a line.

Example: “Some Song Sung” or “Heap” and “Recent”.

Assonance

Definition: The relatively close use of the same or similar vowel sounds but with different end consonants.

Example: “White and Shining” or “Heap and Recent”.

Consonance

Definition: The close repetition of the same end consonants, but with differing vowel sounds coming before.

Example: “Downtown and Unbound”.

Enjambment

Definition: The continuation of the sense of a sentence of phrase beyond the end of a line.

End Rhyme

Definition: A... (More)

The play opens at night, with Roderigo and Iago arguing in a Venetian street; Roderigo has been paying Iago regularly to help him begin a relationship with Desdemona, but he has learnt that she has recently married Othello, Iago’s commander. Iago however reveals that he hates Othello, as his commander recently overlooked him for the position of lieutenant, instead choosing Cassio despite the latter’s lack of experience and recommendations of Iago for the post from the ‘three great ones’ of the city. As a result Iago is only feigning loyalty to Othello, until circumstances allow him to further his own... (More)