2.1.1

Overview

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Summary of The Tempest

Shakespeare’s The Tempest was written 1610-1611. It was first performed before King James I on ‘Hallowmas nyght’.

A final Shakespearean play

A final Shakespearean play

  • The Tempest is one of Shakespeare’s final plays and is reflective of Jacobean England.
  • It addresses contextual issues such as patriarchy (system of government lead by men) and colonisation (the process of European nations settling in and enforcing control over foreign lands).
  • Shakespeare was eager to satisfy the monarch and key patron King James I, who was very superstitious. So this explains why the supernatural is such a key theme.
Witchcraft

Witchcraft

  • James I strongly disliked witchcraft. This is clearly an influence on Shakespeare’s writing of The Tempest.
    • For example, Shakespeare negatively portrays the protagonist, Prospero's, use of magic to gain power.
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1

Key Words

1.1

Key Words

1.1.1Key Words 11.1.2Key Words 21.1.3Key Words 31.1.4Key Words 4
2

Context & Overview

2.1

Context & Overview

2.1.1Overview2.1.2Context
3

Act 1

3.1

Act 1 Analysis

3.1.1Overview3.1.2Scene 13.1.3Scene 2
4

Act 2

4.1

Act 2 Analysis

4.1.1Overview4.1.2Scene 14.1.3Scene 2
5

Act 3

5.1

Act 3 Analysis

5.1.1Overview5.1.2Scene 15.1.3Scene 25.1.4Scene 3
6

Act 4

6.1

Act 4 Analysis

6.1.1Overview6.1.2Scene 1
7

Act 5

7.1

Act 5 Analysis

7.1.1Overview7.1.2Scene 17.1.3The Epilogue
8

Key Characters

8.1

Major Characters

8.1.1Prospero8.1.2Miranda8.1.3Caliban8.1.4Ariel8.1.5Ferdinand8.1.6Alonso
8.2

Minor Characters

8.2.1Antonio8.2.2Stephano8.2.3Sebastian8.2.4Gonzalo8.2.5Trinculo
9

Themes

9.1

Major Themes

9.1.1Power9.1.2Magic9.1.3Status, Race & Pronouns9.1.4Comedy9.1.5Freedom vs Servitude9.1.6Revenge
10

Authorial Method

10.1

Authorial Method

10.1.1Genre & Time10.1.2Music & Illusion
11

Recap: Main Quotes

11.1

Characters Quotes

11.1.1Prospero - Quotes11.1.2Miranda - Quotes11.1.3Caliban - Quotes11.1.4Ariel - Quotes11.1.5Ferdinand - Quotes11.1.6Alonso - Quotes11.1.7Antonio - Quotes11.1.8Stephano - Quotes11.1.9Sebastian - Quotes11.1.10Gonzalo - Quotes11.1.11Trinculo - Quotes
11.2

Text Structure - Quotes

11.2.1Power - Quotes11.2.2Magic - Quotes11.2.3Race & Pronouns - Quotes11.2.4Comedy - Quotes11.2.5Servitude - Quotes11.2.6Reconciliation & Revenge - Quotes

Practice questions on Overview

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  1. 1
    Who was the monarch when _The Tempest_ was written? Multiple choice
  2. 2
    When was The Tempest written?Multiple choice
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Key Words 4

Context