Allegory
A narrative that has 2 meanings one literal or surface meaning and the other metaphorical (the characters and settings represent abstract ideas or moral qualities
"And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,
Plague him with flies:" -Iago
Here Iago talks about a fertile climate, such as the good life Brabantio lives, and plaguing him with flies, bothering him with bothersome pests. While Iago is not really setting flies on Brabantio, he will use words and phrases that will rile the senator up to a boiling point.
Allusion
Any reference, direct or indirect, to a person, place, event, or character in history, literature, mythology, etc.
"You see this fellow that is gone before;
He is a soldier fit to stand by Caesar
And give direction: and do but see his vice;"-Iago
Iago here references Caesar to show what a good soldier Cassio is, that he is so good Caesar would have been blessed to have him in his army. Caesar, as a great military mind himself, is the utmost compliment.
Catastrophe
The concluding action of a tragedy, where the principal character meets with death or other significant defeat.
"That death's unnatural that kills for loving.
Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?"-Desdemona
Desdemona, here, is speaking of the unnatural killing that is about to occur. She will die, not the first of the act, nor the last, but between herself and Emilia, the protagonist of the story is killed and Iago's work is done.
Catharsis
Purgation or purification of the emotions of pity and fear from the viewing of a tragic drama
"Demand me nothing: what you know, you know:
From this time forth I never will speak word."-Iago
Iago doesn't care for any of his 'friends', purged from emotions and stony in the face of the tragedy before him. Everyone but Iago is moved, feels for the death of Desdemona.
Characters
Living beings in a work of fiction
Desdemona, Othello, Emilia, Roderigo, Iago, and Cassio are the main characters in Othello, and each is their own layered and individual person. Desdemona is the perfect woman, Emilia the spurned wife, Iago the manipulator, Othello the warrior victim, Roderigo the fool, and Cassio the perfect soldier.
Comic Relief
A humorous scene, incident or speech in the course of a serious fiction or drama
Act III, scene one, is a scene full of comic relief with a clown that jokes around and speaks riddles. He is a bright kind of guy that brings some relief to a depressing play.
Conceit
An ingenious and fanciful notion or conception through an elaborate analogy showing striking parallel between two dissimilar things.
"Put out the light, and then put out the light:
If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,
I can again thy former light restore,
Should I repent me: but once put out thy light,
Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,
I know not where is that Promethean heat
That can thy light relume. "-Othello
Othello is comparing a flame and Desdemona's life here, things that are not truly alike, but he draws the parallel with Promethean flame.
Connotation
The suggested or emotional meaning of a word as compared with its dictionary definition
When Iago uses think, he shows insecurity, that he is unsure. Rather than the literal meaning of think, to imagine or believe, or to be under the impression. Rather than the positive, that Iago believes Cassio honest, he uses it so that he only believes, and is unsure.
Context
The setting or frame of reference in which an event takes place
The setting is the fourteen hundreds, during what was meant to be a war with the Turks, on the Italian's side. In context, Othello takes military power of Cyprus' government, Cassio as his right hand man and successor, Iago as his ancient, or right hand man.
Effect
The impression made by a literary work on a reader or society
The effect of Othello comes up in every anti-hero, or story in which the villain is actually the protagonist and the hero the antagonist. Many earlier stories are black and white, and this is much more grey from the protagonist perspective.
Hamartia
The tragic flaw or error of judgment
Othello's insecurities are his hamartia, the tragic flaw that will lead to his downfall and cause all other character deaths. There is also a large error of judgement on everyone's parts to trust Iago.
Invocation
An address to a god or muse whose aid is sought
Iago invokes Janus, and others merely invoke God and more often, the devil, and hell.
Socratic Irony
Pretending to be ignorant when in fact the character is being cautious or tentative
When Cassio quarrels with Montano, Iago pretends to be very cautious and indecisive to make it seem as though he is attempting to avoid ratting out Cassio. In all reality, he wants nothing more than to sell out Cassio and make him lose his job.
Verbal Irony
Contrast between what is stated and what is suggested
When Iago states that he thinks Cassio an honest man, he says as much, that he thinks Cassio to be honest, while implying that the man may not be at all honest, and sleeping with Othello's wife.
Mood
The atmosphere or emotional effect generated by the words images situations in a literary work
The atmosphere of Othello is almost mystery of sometimes, a drama in which Iago whispers in everyone's ear and they believe him implicitly. The overall mood is one of building tension.
Plot
The action – that which happens – in a literary work
The plot of Othello is that Othello gets married to Desdemona, goes off to war with his jealous ancient Iago and new Lieutenant Cassio. The war ends before it begins, Iago gets Cassio fired and Cassio asks Desdemona for his job back. Just as she convinces Othello to give Cassio his job back, Iago says that Casiso has been sleeping with Desdemona. The suspicion eats Othello alive, and he and Iago make a pact to kill Cassio and Desdemona. Iago doesn't kill Cassio, but Othello kills Desdemona, and Iago's wife Emilia discovers the plot just before being killed by Iago. Othello commits suicide.
Complication
smaller actions or events which confound and compound the original problem
Cassio and Desdemona's continuous bothering of Othello for Cassio's job back compound the problem, Bianca's own jealousy only complicating it further.
Crisis
The turning point for better or worse in a play
When Othello and Iago make a pact to kill Cassio and Desdemona, they are on the road of no return and can no longer truly undo what has been done. They will carry out the plot to its completion and see it through to the deaths of the other characters.
Climax
A point of high emotional intensity often the protagonist and antagonist clash for the last time
If Emilia is to be considered the antagonist, she and Iago clash for the last time in the bedroom and Iago stabs her for saying too much.
Denouement
Falling action, the conclusion of a plot, the resolution
Iago runs, is captured, and Othello kills himself. Iago is left to Cassio's mercy.
Recognition
The moment at which a chief character recognizes the happy or awful truth.
Emilia realizes everything that has occurred and understands that Iago has committed this atrocity. Othello realizes just a bit later, but Emilia figures it all out and tries to out Iago.
Reversal
The thrilling change of luck for the protagonist at the last moment
Iago's reversal is negative, and his luck changes for the antagonists to win, his wife figuring out his plot, getting caught after running and being brought to trial by Cassio.
Setting
A combination of locale, historical period, season or hour, and spiritual, ethnic and cultural background
Italy, Venice, and the Island of Cyprus during the fourteen hundreds.
Tone
The writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward his subject, audience, or himself
The writer's tone is almost informative, giving a warning of sorts to the audience, while portraying the action as non-biased as possible.
Tragedy
A serious fiction involving the downfall of a hero or heroine
Othello is a tragedy due to the deaths of any and all characters who could be considered heroes or heroines, and shows Othello's downfall in agonizing detail.
Tragic Flaw
In a tragedy, the defect in the hero that leads to a downfall
Othello's tragic flaw is of confidence in himself and his marriage. He believes himself not to be the best Desdemona could have, and Iago preys on Othello's weakness and flaw to his eventual downfall and death.
Tragic Irony
the most noble and most deserving person, because of the very grounds of his or her excellence, dies in defeat.
Desdemona, being the most virtuous of the characters, the most noble and deserving of good, will die defeated, killed by Othello because she was so kind and noble and willing to help her friend Cassio.