How Good are You?: The Tempest

Part 1: Just getting started 

1) Where is the setting of "The Tempest"? (1 mark)
2) Why was Italy a hot spot during Shakespeare's time? (2 marks)
3) Name three places in Italy where Shakespeare set his plays. (1.5 marks)
4) Why is the story called "The Tempest"? (2 marks)
5) Name two main characters in "The Tempest". (1 mark)
6) Who is the protagonist? (1 mark)
7) Who is the antagonist? (1 mark)
8) What were Prospero and Alonso's titles? (1 mark)
9) Who were Miranda, Antonio, Sebastian, and Ferdinand? (2 marks)
10) Who were Gonzalo, Ariel, and Caliban? (1.5 marks)

                                                      Part 2: Getting Harder
1) Why did Prospero shirk his responsibilities of Duke of Milan? (2 marks)
2) How did Antonio betray his brother? (3 marks)
3) What evidence is there to show that Antonio wanted to kill his brother? (2 marks)
4) What did the "kind old man among Alonso's noblemen" do? (2 mark)
5) The narrator said that Prospero "studied strange sciences and books of magic". What is another name for such a person? (1 mark)
6) What calmed the sea with Prospero and Miranda? (2 marks)
7)  How did Prospero find Ariel, the fairy? (2 marks)
8) Why was Ariel imprisoned? (2 marks)
9) Who was Syncorax ? (1 mark)
10) Describe Caliban (3 marks)

                                                     Part 3: Let's see how good you are

1) Identify the exposition and rising action. (4 marks)

2) How long did Miranda and Prospero live on the island? (1 mark)

3) Why had not Miranda seen another person before the "terrible storm"? (2 marks)

4) What happened during the terrible storm? (2 marks)

5) Why wasn't Prospero "greatly anxious" about the terrible storm? (2 marks)

6) Who were on the hired ship? (2 marks)

7) Who was the first person (besides her father) Miranda saw on the island? (1 mark)

8) What plan did Prospero have for Miranda and this man? (3 marks)

9) What did Prospero do to those who betrayed him? (2 marks)

10) Identify the climax and the resolution. (4 marks)
11) What is the theme of “The Tempest”? Why? (3 marks)

Character Sketch: The Tempest

A character sketch is a brief written description of a person's qualities.

Character sketch sample by Corzette J. Simon (Antigua Girls High School)

 Prospero 

Major flaw--Too trusting

Prospero, the Duke of Milan, is the main character in William Shakespeare's play, "The Tempest". Prospero is a good man but he has one major flaw; he is too trusting. Prospero has left his brother, Antonio, in charge of his "political affairs" while he studied "strange sciences and books of magic." He trusted his brother, but did not realise that Antonio was jealous of him. Antonio wanted to be Duke or "wanted the title for himself" so he and Alonso, the King of Naples, "made a wicked plan" to get rid of Prospero. Prospero had no clue what was taking place until he was taken prisoner and taken to the seashore.

This is not the entire sketch but I am looking forward to your critique. Also add your sample so I can critique. Remember to click on comments.

The Tempest: Intro

Now can you summarize the story or tale in your own words? (5 marks)

Why is the tale entitled The Tempest? (2 marks)

Where are The Merchant of Venice, The Tempest, and The Taming of the Shrew set? (3 marks)

Why do you believe Shakespeare set several of his plays or stories in Italy? (2 marks)

Symbolism

• In Shakespeare’s As you Like It, ‘stage’ symbolizes the world and ‘players’ symbolize men and women:

All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

they have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts,

What could 'exits' and 'entrances' symbolise? (2 marks)
How 'many parts' can a man play? (2 marks)

Literary Terms/Devices

1. Symbolism/Symbol: the use of one object or action to represent or suggest something else e.g a dove represents peace 

2. Simile: a figure of speech comparing two unlike things using like or as e.g. She is pretty like an angel.

3. Metaphor: a word or phrase that is used to compare two unlike objects, ideas, thoughts, or feelings, not using like or as e.g. Her eyes were fireflies.

4. Personification: when you give human qualities to an object or animal e.g. The wind howled in the night.

5. Onomatopoeia: a word that suggests the sound of the thing it describes

6. Alliteration: occurs when words close together have the same first consonant sound. For example, “She sells sea-shells down by the sea-shore.”

The Merchant of Venice & The Taming of the Shrew

Using the Venn diagram, find the similarities and differences between The Merchant of Venice and The Taming of the Shrew.

Objectives Accomplished