Genre & Time
English Lit: AQA GCSE The Tempest, topic 10.1.1
Genre
Here is an overview of how Shakespeare plays with genre in _The Tempest:
A narrative of reconciliation
- Shakespeare structures the play so the movement of the narrative shows how former wrongs are righted.
- The structure also shows how the protagonist learns lessons on his way to reconciliation.
Comedy
- A common feature of the comedic genre is the idea of characters' gaining of self-knowledge. This can be seen in Prospero’s desire to be reconciled with his brother.
- By including a happy union (that of Ferdinand and Miranda) Shakespeare echoes the conventional ending of comedy.
- The play may be seen as a comedy because it contains low humour and because the potential disaster and darkness of the past is overcome.
Time
Here is an overview of how Shakespeare uses time in The Tempest:
Aristotle’s dramatic unities
- Shakespeare uses the theory of Aristotle’s dramatic unities in The Tempest.
- This means there must be one single action driving the plot forward (unity of action - revenge on the “three men of sin”), happening in one place (unity of place - the island) and within the course of a day (unity of time).
- This means the audience needs to hear the necessary background information rather than see it acted.
Suspending disbelief
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge (a famous Romantic poet) suggested we 'willingly suspend our disbelief' when watching theatre - something audiences must do to enjoy The Tempest.
- In The Epilogue, Prospero refers to the audience’s 'indulgence', which is needed if the events in the play are to be willingly believed!
Unrealistic Timeline
The Tempest does not follow a realistic time frame. We are forced to believe that the following happens in the space of one day:
Days' events
- The tempest, shipwreck and washing up on shore of the royal party.
- Ferdinand and Miranda fall in love.
- Ferdinand convinces Prospero that his love for Miranda is true.
- Antonio and Sebastian plot regicide.
- Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano plot the murder of Prospero.
- Alonso repents for his crime against Prospero.
- A marriage is arranged.
- The plotters are forgiven.
- Ariel is freed. Caliban is left to control his island.
- The ship is found to be seaworthy and the party prepares to leave for Milan.
Test yourself on Genre & Time
Which famous poet suggested that we 'willingly suspend our disbelief' when we watch theatre?
In which part of the play does Prospero refer to the audience's 'indulgence'?
What theory does Shakespeare use in The Tempest?
Days' Events in The Tempest
Which of these events take place in The Tempest?