1.1.3

Key Words 3

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The Tempest - Key Words

Here are six key words that will be useful for interpreting The Tempest:

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Dramatic irony

  • A dramatic technique in which the audience knows something the characters on stage do not.
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Exploit

  • To take advantage of.
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Exposition

  • A device used in literature to give the audience background information on characters, themes or settings.
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Treachery

  • Betrayal of trust.
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Usurpation

  • Taking someone’s power or property by force.
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Utopian

  • Modelled on or aiming for a state in which everything is perfect (idealistic).

The Tempest - Key Words

Here are six key words that will be useful for interpreting The Tempest:

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Forgiveness

  • The process of forgiving or pardoning somebody for any wrongdoing.
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Groundlings

  • The part of the audience who stand in the pit, just in front of the stage. The cheapest tickets in the theatre and usually for the lower classes.
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Hypocrisy

  • Claiming to have higher standards or more noble beliefs than is the case.
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Illusion

  • A deceptive impression or appearance.
Illustrative background for Justice Illustrative background for Justice ?? "content

Justice

  • Fairness.
Illustrative background for Legitimate Illustrative background for Legitimate ?? "content

Legitimate

  • Conforming to laws or rules.

Jump to other topics

1Key Words

1.1Key Words

1.1.1Key Words 1

1.1.2Key Words 2

1.1.3Key Words 3

1.1.4Key Words 4

2Context & Overview

2.1Context & Overview

2.1.1Overview

2.1.2Context

3Act 1

3.1Act 1 Analysis

3.1.1Overview

3.1.2Scene 1

3.1.3Scene 2

4Act 2

4.1Act 2 Analysis

4.1.1Overview

4.1.2Scene 1

4.1.3Scene 2

5Act 3

5.1Act 3 Analysis

5.1.1Overview

5.1.2Scene 1

5.1.3Scene 2

5.1.4Scene 3

6Act 4

6.1Act 4 Analysis

6.1.1Overview

6.1.2Scene 1

7Act 5

7.1Act 5 Analysis

7.1.1Overview

7.1.2Scene 1

7.1.3The Epilogue

8Key Characters

8.1Major Characters

8.1.1Prospero

8.1.2Miranda

8.1.3Caliban

8.1.4Ariel

8.1.5Ferdinand

8.1.6Alonso

8.2Minor Characters

8.2.1Antonio

8.2.2Stephano

8.2.3Sebastian

8.2.4Gonzalo

8.2.5Trinculo

9Themes

9.1Major Themes

9.1.1Power

9.1.2Magic

9.1.3Status, Race & Pronouns

9.1.4Comedy

9.1.5Freedom vs Servitude

9.1.6Revenge

10Authorial Method

10.1Authorial Method

10.1.1Genre & Time

10.1.2Music & Illusion

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