Allegory
An allegory is a narrative that has 2 meanings, one literal or surface meaning and the other metaphorical. The story of Othello is an allegory to the story of the Garden of Eden. Iago represents the snake, hence he receives the serpent's curse from Emilia, which represents the curse God put on the snake. With his manipulative actions, Iago doomed Desdemona and Othello just as the snake doomed Adam and Eve.
Allusion
An allusion is any reference, direct or indirect, to a person, place, event, or character in history, literature, mythology, etc.. Iago's reference to Janus, the Roman god of doorways, is an allusion as Shakespeare is bringing up Roman mythology.
Catastrophe
A catastrophe is the concluding action of a tragedy, where the principal character meets with death or other significant defeat. The catastrophe of this story is when Othello kills himself after realizing that Desdemona was innocent and Iago had fooled him.
Catharsis
Catharsis is defined as purgation or purification of the emotions of pity and fear from the viewing of a tragic drama. Othello provides catharsis to the audience because they see that even someone as powerful and normally respectable such as Othello can make a huge mistake.
Characters
Characters are the living beings in a work of fiction. The characters in this play include Othello, Iago, Desdemona, Cassio, Emilia, Roderigo, Brabantio, Bianca, Gratiano, Lodovico, Montano, and the clown, as well as a few more minor characters.
Comic Relief
Comic relief is a humorous scene, incident or speech in the course of a serious fiction or drama. An example of this in Othello is when the clown is joking around regarding the band and their instruments.
Conceit
Conceit is an ingenious and fanciful notion or conception through an elaborate analogy showing striking parallel between two dissimilar things. An example of this in Othello is when Iago says "Our bodies are gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners; so that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it with many, either to have it sterile with idleness or manured with industry; why, the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills" (Act 1, Scene 3). He is comparing our bodies to gardens, two completely unrelated things, based on how we take care of them.
Connotation
A connotation is a feeling invoked by a certain word in addition to its literal meaning. In Othello, the dual meaning of the word black contributes to Othello's insecurity. While the word refers to his skin color, being black-hearted or having a black soul means you are evil or not compassionate.
Context
The context is the setting or frame of reference in which an event takes place. The context of Othello is that it takes place in the 1500's in Venice and Cyprus.
Effect
The effect of a literary work is the impression it makes on a reader or society. Othello has had quite an effect on society, as operas, ballets, films, artwork, and graphic novels have been produced that draw elements from or a based on the play.
Hamartia
Hamartia is a tragic flaw or an error of judgement. Othello's tragic flaw is his jealousy over Desdemona. He also makes a massive error of judgement in trusting Iago so much without the input of any others.
Invocation
An invocation is an address to a god or muse whose aid is sought. An example of this in Othello is when Iago says "By Janus," which is an invocation of the Roman god of doors and passages, Janus.
Socratic Irony
Socratic irony is when one pretends to be ignorant, although they are in face being cautious or tentative. In Othello, a good example of this is how Iago is pretending to not really know what is going on with Desdemona and Cassio, when in reality he is engineering everything Othello believes about the two and is fully aware that they are not up to anything.
Verbal Irony
Verbal irony occurs when there is a stark contrast between what is stated and what is suggested. Shakespeare uses this technique in Othello quite frequently in regards to Iago. Iago is often referred to as "honest Iago," which is ridiculous because Iago is probably the least honest guy you could find and is actively lying as people are calling him this.
Mood
The mood is the atmosphere or emotional effect generated by the words, images, and situations in a literary work. Othello has a very serious mood which is somewhat alleviated by the use of comic relief in the form of the clown's jokes.
Plot
The plot is whatever happens throughout the course of a literary work. The basic plot of Othello tells the story of a general who is fooled into thinking his faithful wife is cheating on him and killing her by one of his own men.
Complication
Complications are smaller actions or events which confound and compound the original problem. An example of a complication is when Roderigo confronts Iago over Desdemona not even acknowledging his gifts and demands that she either send them back or that Iago compensates. Iago resolves this complication by murdering Roderigo.
Crisis
The crisis is the turning point for better or worse in a play. In Othello, the crisis occurs when Othello decides that he hates Desdemona for what he thinks she has done.
Climax
The climax is the highest point of emotional intensity in a work, often when the protagonist and antagonist clash for the last time. The climax of Othello occurs when Othello kills Desdemona.
Denouement
The denouement is the falling action, the conclusion of the plot, and the resolution. In Othello, this consists of Othello realizing that he has been manipulated by Iago due to what Emilia says, Iago killing Emilia, Othello stabbing Iago, Othello killing himself, and Iago being taken away to be tortured.
Recognition
Recognition is the moment at which a chief character recognizes the happy or awful truth. This happens to Othello once Emilia reveals Iago's plot. He realizes that Desdemona was innocent and he just killed her.
Reversal
Reversal is the thrilling change in luck for a character at the last moment. This happens to Iago once Emilia places the serpent's curse on him unknowingly.
Setting
The setting is a combination of the locale, historical period, season or hour, ethnic and cultural background. The settings in Othello are in Venice and in Cyprus in the late 1500's, after a war. The main character, Othello, is somewhat out of place in the setting as a Moor.
Simile
A simile is a figure of speech where two unrelated things are compared through use of the words "like" or "as." One example of this in Othello is when Othello says "Never, Iago. Like to the Pontic Sea, Whose icy current and compulsive course Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on To the Propontic and the Hellespont; Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace, Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love, Till that a capable and wide revenge Swallow them up." Othello is comparing his intentions to the unwavering currents of the ocean, saying that nothing will stop him until he accomplishes his goal.
Tone
The tone is the writer's or speaker's attitude toward his subject, audience, or himself. Shakespeare adopts a serious tone when writing Othello.
Tragedy
A tragedy is a serious fiction involving the downfall of a hero or heroine. Othello as a whole is an example of a tragedy.
Tragic Flaw
The tragic flaw is the defect in the hero their leads to their downfall in a tragedy. Othello's tragic flaw is his jealousy, which he kills Desdemona out of without really considering the situation or the consequences.
Tragic Irony
Tragic irony is when the most noble and deserving person, because of the very grounds of his or her excellence, dies in defeat. An example of this in Othello is Desdemona who, largely because of how innocent she was, ended up being killed by Othello as part of Iago's plot.