Shakespeare's The Tempest Summary
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Questions and Answers

Who brought the tempest upon the ship?

  • Caliban
  • Prospero
  • Miranda
  • Ariel (correct)

    • Why does Prospero chastise Ariel?

  • For making a mistake
  • For not performing tasks
  • For protesting (correct)
  • For being ungrateful

    • Who was Ariel imprisoned by before Prospero freed him?

  • Miranda
  • Caliban
  • Prospero
  • Sycorax (correct)

    • What is Ferdinand's relationship with Miranda?

    <p>Potential spouses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does Prospero charm Ferdinand?

    <p>To prevent a hasty marriage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who proposes killing Alonso and others when they are asleep?

    <p>Antonio</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Trinculo's initial reaction when he encounters Caliban under the cloak?

    <p>'Is this a spirit sent by Prospero?'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Stephano attempt to get Caliban to do?

    <p>&quot;Drink liquor&quot;</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'He then sends Ariel on another mysterious mission.' What does this reveal about Prospero?

    <p>'Prospero is secretive about his plans'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Caliban propose to Stephano and Trinculo?

    <p>To overthrow Prospero and set Stephano up as king of the island</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Ariel manipulate Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban?

    <p>By impersonating their voices and provoking them to fight with each other</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What sin does Ariel accuse Alonso, Gonzalo, Sebastian, and Antonio of committing?

    <p>Usurping Prospero's power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Prospero make a banquet disappear when it is set out for Alonso and his companions?

    <p>By having Ariel appear as a harpy and cause it to disappear</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Ariel lead Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban through, as part of a trap set by Prospero?

    <p>A field of thorns and briars</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What plan do Antonio and Sebastian secretly make concerning Alonso and Gonzalo?

    <p>To take advantage of their exhaustion and kill them in the evening</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Prospero ensure that Ferdinand and Miranda do not break her 'virgin-knot' prematurely?

    <p>By reminding Ferdinand sternly that they must wait until the marriage is solemnized</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Prospero now softens toward Ferdinand.' What prompted this change in Prospero's attitude?

    <p>'Ferdinand tells his father about his marriage'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What results from Prospero's trap set for Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban?

    <p>They are attacked by spirits in the shape of dogs and hounds</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What miracle does Alonso witness at the end of the play?

    <p>The resurrection of his son, Ferdinand</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who orchestrated the shipwreck in the text?

    <p>Prospero</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the reason behind Prospero's brother, Antonio, usurping his position as the Duke of Milan?

    <p>To gain more power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who left Prospero and Miranda supplies and his books when they were left to die on a raft at sea?

    <p>Gonzalo</p> Signup and view all the answers

    After the shipwreck, where do Miranda and Prospero stand?

    <p>On their island</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which character is described as 'unflappable' during the storm at sea?

    <p>Boatswain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does Prospero say it is time for Miranda to learn more about herself and her past?

    <p>Because she's now of age to know the truth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where was Prospero left to die after being kidnapped from Milan?

    <p>On a raft at sea</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the King of Naples that conspired with Antonio to usurp Prospero's position?

    <p>Alonso</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What literary technique does Shakespeare utilize by starting The Tempest 'in medias res'?

    <p>Prolepsis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which character assists Prospero in escaping after he is overthrown as the Duke of Milan?

    <p>Gonzalo</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What event marks the inciting incident of The Tempest?

    <p>The storm conjured by Prospero</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who conspired with Antonio to overthrow Prospero as the Duke of Milan?

    <p>Sebastian</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What led to Prospero using sorcery to create the tempest in The Tempest?

    <p>The need for revenge against his enemies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who were the key figures involved in the plot to assassinate Prospero and take over Milan?

    <p>Antonio and Sebastian</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main reason behind Prospero's desire to return to Milan?

    <p>'To reclaim his position as Duke'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Shakespeare introduce the character of Prospero in The Tempest?

    <p>'With the shipwreck scene'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'In medias res' is a Latin phrase that translates to:

    <p>'In the middle of things'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who helps Prospero create the storm that causes the shipwreck in The Tempest?

    <p>Ariel</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the primary themes that define the action of the play?

    <p>Isolation and reconciliation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Prospero manipulate his enemies using Ariel?

    <p>To confuse and disorient them further</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What purpose does separating the shipwrecked crew into different groups serve in the play?

    <p>To make them experience sorrow and confusion similar to Prospero's</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Prospero's emotional manipulation impact Alonso and his company?

    <p>It deepens their bond with Prospero</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the ultimate outcome of Prospero's designs in confronting his enemies?

    <p>Reunion and reconciliation with them</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What event triggers Alonso's deep feelings for Prospero's loss?

    <p>The revelation of Ferdinand's survival</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do separation and eventual reunion play in the character development of Prospero?

    <p>They facilitate his growth towards forgiveness and reconciliation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does Prospero orchestrating the shipwreck have on the characters' relationships and emotions?

    <p>It causes fear and distrust to emerge among them</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant transformation occurs in Alonso's emotions towards Prospero as the play progresses?

    <p>He moves from bitterness over past betrayals to deep empathy for Prospero's losses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the final emotional tone of the play brought about by Prospero's actions?

    <p>A sense of serenity and joyfulness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Miranda believe she disobeys when pursuing romance with Ferdinand?

    <p>Her father's wishes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who does Prospero consider disobedient when asking for freedom in the play?

    <p>Ariel</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one way in which Ariel is different from Miranda in the play?

    <p>Ariel desires freedom</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which character's name means both 'wonderful' and 'admirable' in Latin?

    <p>Miranda</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In The Tempest, what does wonder sometimes imply about the island's occurrences?

    <p>Confusion and manipulation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Trinculo first identify Caliban as upon laying eyes on him?

    <p>A fishy-looking freak</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What theme of The Tempest is associated mainly with the ugly and hateful Caliban?

    <p>Monstrosity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Illusion of Justice

    • The Tempest tells a story of an unjust act, Prospero's brother usurping his throne, and Prospero's quest to restore justice by reclaiming power.
    • Prospero's idea of justice is subjective and one-sided, prioritizing his own interests.
    • Despite his claims of victimhood, Prospero enslaves Ariel and Caliban, demonstrating hypocrisy.
    • The play lacks a higher order of justice, leaving moral ambiguity.
    • Prospero's role as a creator/author mirrors Shakespeare's own, making his sense of justice more sympathetic.
    • Prospero's methods of achieving justice, using magic and tricks, echo the special effects of theater.

    The Difficulty of Distinguishing "Men" from "Monsters"

    • Miranda and Prospero view Caliban as both human and brutish, with contradictory views on his nature.
    • Caliban claims kindness to Prospero, while Prospero accuses Caliban of attempted rape.
    • The audience's perception of Caliban depends on whether they see him as inherently brutish or made brutish by oppression.
    • Caliban's eloquent speeches are balanced with degrading behavior, blurring the line between men and monsters.
    • Trinculo's speech highlights the cruelty of capturing and displaying exotic beings for entertainment.

    The Allure of Ruling a Colony

    • The island represents infinite possibility to characters, including Prospero, Sycorax, Caliban, and Gonzalo.
    • Many characters envision the island as a space of freedom and unrealized potential.
    • The tone of the play is vexed towards the hopes of would-be colonizers, with Gonzalo's utopian vision being undercut by Sebastian and Antonio.
    • The colonized have only one representative, Caliban, who is torn between seeking freedom and seeking a new ruler.

    Prospero's Threats

    • Prospero issues many threats, demonstrating his innate violence and cruelty.
    • Most threats are directed at his servants, including Caliban and Ariel.
    • Threats often contain elements of magic, such as torture and imprisonment.
    • Prospero's threats link him to other tyrannical figures, like Sycorax.

    Obedience and Disobedience

    • Prospero stands at the top of the island's hierarchy of power, demanding obedience from all subjects.
    • Each of Prospero's subjects, including Caliban, Ariel, and Miranda, disobeys him at some point.
    • Caliban's disobedience involves swearing allegiance to Stephano, attempting to topple the island's hierarchy.

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    Test your knowledge of Shakespeare's play 'The Tempest' with this quiz. Explore the characters and events in the stormy tale of shipwrecks, magic, and revenge.

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