| comedy | Reverses or downplays most of the elements of tragedy-instead of ending with death or downfall of protagonist, ends with marriage that unites two likable characters |
| soliloquies or asides | characters reveal their thoughts to the audience, while alone on stage, or tell the audience something the other character supposedly don’t hear. |
| Sources of the Tempest | -has no identifiable source-uses Montaigne’s essay “of cannibals” for Gonzalo’s speech about the ideal common wealth-influence of Italian commedia dell’arte |
| commedia | improvisational comedy-actors had scenarios, no dialogue |
| Prospero | Duke of Milan (former), magical sorcerer, dethroned by his own brother, forced to flee Milan, stranded on island for 12 years. |
| Gonzalo | friend of Prosperoold honest Lordhelps Prospero as he’s fleeing Milan by giving him his books and food. |
| Ariel | -Prospero’s supernatural helper-stuck in a tree by a witch named Syccrax-freed by Prospero-indebted to Prospero-can change shape |
| Caliban | -servant to Prospero-son of the witch, Syccrax-tries to rape Miranda-hates Prospero |
| Miranda | -daughter of Prospero-sweet and innocent-been on island since she was little-has never seen another man other than her father |
| Antonio | -brother of Prospero-greedy power hungry-dethrone his brother |
| Alonso | -friend of Antonio-King of Naples-helped Antonio dethrone Prospero |
| Ferdinand | -son of Alonso-heir to the Naples thrown-“we love him” |
| Sebastian | -friend of Antonio-brother of Alonso-greedy, arrogant, and power hungry |
| Trinculo | a jesterprovides “comic relief” |
| Stephano | a butlerprovides “comic relief” |
| Which two nobles behave the least admirably during Scene 1? | Antonio and Sebastian. They are more worried about themselves than the rest of the people dying. |
| Who or what caused and controlled the shipwreck? | Prospero sent Ariel who changed shape into a storm |
| what is the only thing Caliban has gained from learning Prospero and Miranda’s language | he knows how to curse |
| How many men has Miranda seen before Ferdinand? | 2, Prospero and Caliban |
| Why does Prospero out obstacles in the lovers path? | Ferdinand has to work for Miranda’s love |
| How does Gonzalo try to comfort Alonso in the beginning of Act 2? | he tries to comfort him by telling him how they should be happy they didn’t die. |
| What does Gonzalo notice when got on the island? | that their garments were unharmed by the sea and look even better than before |
| Where had the nobles been before the shipwreck? | in Africa, at the wedding of Alonso’s daughter |
| Who does Sebastian blame for Ferdinand’s apparent death? Why? | Alonso, because he had his daughter wed to an African instead of a European. If it had been a European they wouldn’t have had to travel and gotten in the shipwreck. |
| Who suggests the murder of Alonso? | Antonio |
| What does Trinculo want to do with Caliban? | wants to put him on parade in England |
| What does Stephano want to do with Caliban? | he wants to bring him as a prize to Naples |
| What does Caliban think of Stephano? and what does he volunteer to do? | -thinks Stephano is a god after he tries his liquor -swore to be his servant and volunteers to show him the island |
| What do Miranda and Ferdinand agree to in Act 3 scene 1? | agree to marry each other |
| What are the similarities between Caliban’s and Stephano’s plot to kill Prospero and Antonio and Sebastian’s plot to kill Alonso? | they both want to kill the person in their sleep |
| What is the first thing Caliban advises Stephano to do in order to murder Prospero? why? | take Prospero’s spell booksis a fool without his spell books |
| Which of the three nobles is most affected by the harpy’s speech? | Alonso |
| What amusement has Prospero arranged to celebrate the engagement? | has spirits perform a masque |
| Why does Prospero end the masque? | because it’s time for Caliban’s plot |
| “the globe” | Shakespeare’s theater |
| Why does Prospero give his speech about life and death? | he thinks his death is near |
| What does Prospero and Ariel set out as a distraction? Who is the least taken? | a showy finery, Caliban |
| How has Prospero’s charm affected the nobles? | makes them feel guilty |
| Why does Gonzalo weep? | he feels bad for everyone around him |
| Why does Prospero release the nobles from his charm? | because Ariel said he would feel compassion for them if he was human and Prospero is human and has more feeling than Ariel so he feels worst for them. |
| What is the main thing Prospero resolves to do in his soliloquy? Why? | to get rid of his magicbecause he is overcome with guiltso he won’t do bad things |
| Has Caliban gained any wisdom by the end? | yes. he realizes that he was foolish for worshipping Stephano (a drunk) as god. He says he will be more wise and seek grace. |
| What does Prospero give Ariel as Act 5 scene 1 ends? | his freedom |
| In the epilogue who does Prospero ask to set him free, and how can they grant his request? | the audience, by clapping |
The Tempest
July 30, 2019