The Tempest

The Tempest

The characters all develop the plot. Prospero develops the plot by causing the tempest and by splitting up everybody. Ariel develops the plot by continually thwarting attempts on lives. The other characters develop the plot as they are walking around on the island.

Figures of Speech

Meanings of Shakespeares Words

"Your Tale, Sir, Would cure deafness"

Shakespeare was known to have lots of made up words in his plays. The tempest is no exception.

This is an example of a Hyperbole, it is and extreme exageration

Iambic Pentameter

"Good; speak to th' mariners; fall to't, yarely, or we run ourselves aground" Yarely: briskly, nimby

"Whats past is Prologue"

"The sky it seems would pur down stinking pitch, But that the sea, mounting to th'welkin's cheek, Dashes the fire out." Welkin: sky

Iambic Pentameter is a form of verse. It is a ten syllable line with the accent on every other syllable.

This is a paradox. If it is in the past, it cant be the beginning.

"Open you chaps again" Chaps: mouth

"Full Fathom Five thy Fathers Lie."

Shakespeares words make us think and interest us. How much fun would Shakespeare be if we understood it all?

"As if you were dismay'd; be cheerful, sir.

This is an example of Alliteration. A lot of the words start with the same sound

As you can see, Shakespeare was not afraid to take vowels out to make sure it fit with iambic pentameter. The result of this is that this play has an uninterrupted rhythm to it.

Metaphors

"The winds did sing it to me, and the thunder, That deep and dreadful organ-pipe, pronounce'd The name of Prosper;it did base my trespass

This is a great example of a metaphor in this play. Alonso is comparing thunder to an organ-pipe.

Personification

"This music crept by me upon the waters, Allaying both their fury and my passion."

This is a perfect example of personification.

Ferdinand describes the music as creeping.

This is a human trait applied to a non living thing

Summary

Prospero, a sorcerer and the rightful Duke of Milan, is stranded on an island with his daughter Miranda and 2 slaves, A spirit and a deformed giant. He was stranded by his brother and the king in a conspiracy for the throne. Prospero discovers the they are sailing by in a ship. He causes a tempest to wreck the ship. The survivor make it to shore and are split up by Prospero's magic.

The Setting

The Tempest takes place on an island in the middle of the ocean and the water surrounding it. There are some references that hint that the island could be in the Caribbean.

Developing the plot

Characters

By: Coby Koehler

and Chris Clinker

• Prospero (Main Character)
• Miranda (Prospero's Daughter)
• Ariel (Mischievous Spirit/Prospero's Slave)
• Sycorax (deceased sorceress/mother of Caliban)
• Caliban (Deformed son of Sycorax)
• Alonso (King Of Naples)
• Sebastian (Alonso's treacherous Brother)
• Antonio (Prospero's Brother)
• Ferdinand (Alonso's Son)
• Gonzalo (Neapolitan courtier who provided for Miranda and Prospero)
• Trinculo (Kings Jester)
• Stephano (Kings Drunken Steward)
• Iris, Ceres, and Juno (Spirits and Goddesses)

Background

The Tempest is a play written by William Shakespeare in 1610-1611. It is believed to be the last play wrote on his own. It is one of Shakespeare's best known plays. This play did not gain much popularity before the closing of the theaters in 1642 and only gained popularity after the Restoration.

Similes

Now Antonia, Alonso, Sebastian, and Gonzalo wander in search of Ferdinand. Antonio and Sebastian plot to kill Alonso but are thwarted by Ariel. Elsewhere Stephano and Trinculo plot to kill Prospero but are again thwarted by Ariel. Prospero continues his torture of Antonio and Alonso and punishes Caliban. After deciding that they had all suffered enough for the past, Prospero Finally confronts His brother and Alonso and demands the throne back. He gets it back and frees his slaves and heads back to Naples

"Then all afire with me, the King's son, Ferdinand, With hair up-staring (The like reeds, not hair),"

In this line, Ariel compares Ferdinand's hair to reeds.

Figurative Language

Shakespeare uses a load of figurative language as he speaks with metaphors, similes, and personification. If we don't recognizing when he is using figurative language, than we don't understand a lot of the play.

A metaphor is the application of a word or phrase to something that is not literal but just to compare

A simile draws comparison between different things using like or as.

Personification is when human attributes are applied to objects of abstract notions.