Hello everyone.

It's lovely to see you here today.

My name's Dr.

Clayton, and I'm here to guide you through your learning today.

Welcome to this lesson on understanding the plot of "The Tempest." What we're gonna do today is examine an overview of the plot in order to form the foundations for analysing the language and relationships between the characters.

As well as that, we're also going to look at a little bit of context for the play in order to help us better understand the key themes and relationships between the characters.

The key words that we'll be using or learning today are patronage, userp, spirit, freedom, and revenge.

The definitions for our keywords are appearing on your screen now.

These words will help you unlock the learning for today, and you'll see them throughout the slides themselves.

If you can, try to use them in your discussions and written work today.

So we have two learning cycles in our lesson today.

In the first learning cycle, we're going to look at the context around "The Tempest" as a play in order to lay the foundation for understanding some of the themes and consider why Shakespeare might present certain characters or themes in a certain light.

This will be very beneficial to any further studies of Shakespeare you may do, as will help you think about the social context behind Shakespeare's work.

Secondly, we're gonna talk through the plot summary and consider how we feel about certain characters' actions, as well as acting out certain scenes in order to think about how the relationships between the characters might have been portrayed on stage.

Now, many of you may have studied Shakespeare and his plays before.

He's one of the most well-known writers in the world and is a core part of the national curriculum.

What I'd like you to do is discuss what you already know about Shakespeare.

Pause the video and take a few moments to consider.

Amazing, heard some great ideas there.

Like Laura, you might have known that Shakespeare wrote at least 37 plays that we know of, and over 150 poems. Like Alex, you might know that for someone who is one of the most well-known writers in the world, we actually know relatively little about Shakespeare since we have none of his diaries and letters.

Normally for famous writers, people save their correspondence with them and their diaries are preserved, and through reading them, we get a sense of who the writers were and it helps us to understand their work.

For Shakespeare, we don't have these things, so we have to base our assumptions on the (indistinct) at the time and think about how Shakespeare might have been responding to certain aspects of society through his characters.

Shakespeare's work is largely considered universal and timeless.

This means that even people watching Shakespeare's plays now hundreds of years after he wrote them, can relate to the plays.

What I'd like you to do is think about why people might think that.

Think about what you know of Shakespeare's plays such as "Romeo and Juliet." Why might this still be culturally relevant today? Pause the video and take a few moments to consider.

Amazing, some fantastic ideas there.

Like Aisha, you might have thought that Shakespeare wrote about themes such as love, death, ambition, fate, power, and free will.

These are a central part of human psyche and we'll always experience them.

If we consider Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," the idea of two young lovers desperate to be together despite their families not approving, is an idea that could theoretically apply to any time in human history.

There will always be people who want to be together in the face of adversity.

Now for a quick check for understanding.

Which two of the following are true of Shakespeare's life and works? Is it A, Shakespeare only wrote plays? B, Shakespeare wrote plays and poetry.

C, Shakespeare only wrote about themes relevant for 16th century.

Or D, Shakespeare wrote about universal themes.

Pause the video and make your selections now.

The correct answers are B, Shakespeare wrote plays and poetry, and D, Shakespeare wrote about universal themes.

So very well done if you selected those answers.

Now let's focus our attention on "The Tempest" specifically.

It was written in 1611, so it's one the last plays that Shakespeare wrote.

It's also listed as one of Shakespeare's comedy plays in the first Folio edition published in 1623.

We generally divide Shakespeare's plays into comedies, tragedies, histories, and those we call problem plays because they don't fit neatly into one category.

What I'd like you to think about is what the overall mood and ending you think "The Tempest" will have if it's a comedy rather than a tragedy.

Pause the video and take a few moments to consider.

Amazing, I heard some great ideas there.

Like Laura, you might know that Shakespeare's comedies still deal with serious themes, such as ambition, love, and power, but they generally shy away from death and gore like some of the tragedies and histories.

Because it's a comedy, we know it'll have a happy ending and the problems of the play will be resolved, usually with a marriage.

We generally characterise the ending of a comedy as a return to the social order.

Everyone ends up where they're supposed to be.

Now for a quick check for understanding.

Which following are true of "The Tempest?" Is it A, it was one of the first plays Shakespeare wrote.

B, it was one of the last plays Shakespeare wrote.

C, it's a comedy play.

Or D, it's a tragedy play.

Pause the video and make your selections now.

The correct answers are B, it was one of the last plays Shakespeare wrote since it was written in 1611 and C, it's a comedy play.

The play ends with the restoration of social order with Prospero being returned to his rightful place as the Duke of Milan, and it also ends with the marriage of Miranda and Ferdinand, which is the defining feature of a comedy play.

You're all doing amazingly well, everyone.

We're onto our first task of the lesson.

Now, some of you may know that Shakespeare was part of a company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men.

It was founded in 1594 by Henry Carey, who was then the Lord Chamberlain and in charge of court entertainments.

It came under the patronage and protection of King James I in 1603 and was then known as the King's Men.

You might remember from the definition slide, the patronage means having financial and social support from someone.

So the king was financing the theatre company.

"The Tempest" was first performed in front of King James I in 1611.

What I'd like you to do is think about the fact that King James was financing and supporting the company, and think about what you think Shakespeare would want King James to think about the play.

Pause the video and take a few minutes to consider.

Amazing, had some great ideas there.

Like Sam, you might have thought that Shakespeare would want King James to like the play so that the king would continue to support the theatre company financially and having the king as a patron would likely mean more people would come and see your performances.

Like Sophia, you might have thought that Shakespeare definitely wouldn't want to offend the king, so he'd probably try and make the themes and characters appeal to the king.

This is an incredibly important point.

It would be really useful in any other studies you do of Shakespeare's work, particularly his later work when he is directly supported by the king rather than just the Lord Chamberlain.

Since it has to appeal to the king, you'd expect anyone who tries to defy the social order or tried to defy the crown, would be dealt with severely because that is the message the king would've wanted.

You are all doing amazingly well, everyone.

We're now moving on to our second learning cycle where we're gonna look at the plot of "The Tempest." Alonso, the King of Naples, is returning from his daughter's wedding in Tunis.

He's accompanied by his son Ferdinand, his brother Sebastian, and Antonio, the Duke of Milan.

An old Milanese courtier, Gonzalo, is also on board.

The ship is wrecked in a storm and all the passengers and crew are thrown into the furious sea.

Now what I'd like you to do is imagine you're caught in a shipwreck.

How do you think you'd act and feel? Act out the scene of the characters being thrown around the ship by the storm.

Pause the video and take a few minutes to have a go.

Amazing, I heard and saw some fantastic ideas there.

You might have thought that being caught in a storm would make you feel desperate and panicked, and I saw some great versions of that being shown with people running around and shouting out random instructions to mimic the chaos of the storm.

Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, and his 15 year old daughter, Miranda, are watching the shipwreck from an island.

He tells her for the first time how they came to be on the island.

12 years before when he had been the Duke of Milan, his brother Antonio had usurped him, but with Gonzalo's help, he'd escaped in a small boat with his baby daughter, Miranda, and his library of books about magic.

Now, what I'd like you to do is discuss what your initial thoughts about Prospero are at this point.

Do you feel sympathy for him? And by that I mean do you feel sorry for him? Pause the video and take a few moments to consider.

Amazing, had some great ideas there.

You might have thought that because Prospero had been betrayed by his brother and forced to flee with his infant daughter, that you do feel sorry for him at this point.

We'll consider later whether your feelings towards Prospero stay the same or whether they change as we reveal more of the plot.

Now for a quick check for understanding.

What I'd like you to do is take the information we just learned and use it to complete sentences.

Something of Milan.

However, he was overthrown by his something Antonio.

When he escaped, he took with him his books about something.

Pause the video and create your answers now.

The correct answers are Prospero used to be the Duke of Milan.

However, he was overthrown by his brother, Antonio.

When he escaped, he took with him books about magic.

So well done if you got those right.

Prospero and Miranda ended up on the island and Prospero turned the only inhabitant, Caliban, a deformed and savage creature, into his slave.

There are also spirits on the island.

One of them, Ariel, had been imprisoned in a tree by Caliban's mother, the witch, Sycorax, who had then died.

Prospero uses magic abilities to free Ariel and then made the spirit swear to serve him.

What I'd like you to do is make a quick note about how you feel about Prospero now.

Do you think it's fair to take away Caliban and Ariel's freedom? Pause the video and take a few moments to make a note.

Amazing, you might have thought that you don't feel as sympathetic for Prospero now because it feels if he's using his power to enslave Caliban and Ariel, which is a very unfair thing to do.

Now for a quick check for understanding.

Which two of the following are true in "The Tempest?" Is it A, Caliban arrives on the island at the same time as Prospero.

B, Caliban was on the island before Prospero.

C, Prospero makes Ariel and Caliban serve him, or D, Prospero only makes Caliban serve him.

Pause the video and make your selections now.

The correct answers are B, Caliban was on the island before Prospero and C, Prospero makes Ariel and Caliban serve him.

So very well done if you got those right.

The ship's passengers are cast up on the island unharmed and even their clothes are not wet or damaged.

Alonzo believes his son to be dead, but Ferdinand has landed on another part of the island.

He encounters Miranda, and they fall in love at first sight.

He's the first man, apart from her father and Caliban, she has ever seen.

Prospero puts Ferdinand to work, controlling all his movements with magic.

Ariel pesters Prospero for their freedom and Prospero promises it once they have done some things for him regarding the newcomers.

Now what I'd like you to do is act out the moment of Ariel asking for their freedom and Prospero refusing.

How do you think their voices and body language would be? Pause the video and have a go now.

Amazing, I saw some fantastic things there.

I really like how their performances are considered.

That Ariel might have their hands together in a pleading pose and how it would almost be begging Prospero, but how he might turn away from Ariel and have an exasperated look on his face.

Now for a quick check for understanding.

Which two of the following are true in "The Tempest?" Is it A, Ariel wants to be free from Prospero.

B, Ariel is happy serving Prospero, and doesn't want to be free.

C, Prospero happily accepts Ferdinand and Miranda's love.

Or D, Prospero doesn't happily accept Ferdinand and Miranda's love.

Pause the video and make your selections now.

The correct answers are A, Ariel wants to be free from Prospero and D, Prospero doesn't happily accept Ferdinand and Miranda's love.

So very well done if you selected those ones.

Ariel leads the party towards Prospero's house.

During this journey, Antonio and Sebastian plan to kill Alonso so that Sebastian can be king.

Two other members of the party, Trinculo, the court jester, and Stephano, a boisterous butler, are also wandering about on the island.

Caliban recruits him to help him overthrow Prospero.

They all get drunk and set off for Prospero's house.

Ariel reports the plot to Prospero.

What I'd like you to think about now is whether you can blame Caliban for wanting to overthrow Prospero.

Consider the fact that Prospero has enslaved Caliban and threatened him with physical violence.

But does that justify Caliban's planned violence in return? Pause the video and take a few moments to consider.

Amazing, some great ideas there.

I really like ideas about how even if we don't agree with Caliban's actions, it's hard to blame him for wanting to overthrow Prospero since he's treated so poorly by him.

Prospero releases Ferdinand, and gives his blessing to the marriage of the two young people.

When Trinculo, Stephano, and Caliban arrive at his house, they're distracted by some brightly coloured clothes that have been hung out for them.

Then they're chased away by a band of spirits who have taken the form of dogs.

What I'd like you to think about is the fact that Prospero used his magic to scare Caliban away but didn't harm him.

Did you expect Prospero to take a harsher revenge on Caliban? Pause the video and take a few moments to consider.

Amazing, some great ideas there.

I really like the discussions I heard about how people were slightly surprised since Prospero has threatened Caliban physically in the past.

So perhaps it suggests Prospero is growing as a person.

Ariel brings the other group to Prospero's house.

Prospero gives up his magic and reveals himself.

Prospero confronts Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian with their treachery, but tells them that he forgives them.

Alonso then tells him that he lost his son Ferdinand in the tempest.

Prospero then draws aside a curtain to reveal Ferdinand and Miranda.

Alonso and his companions are amazed by the miracle of Ferdinand's survival.

And Miranda is stunned by the sight of people, unlike any she has seen before.

Ferdinand tells his father about his marriage to Miranda and they all celebrate.

Sailors arrive and announce the ship hasn't been wrecked after all and is safely anchored off the island.

Ariel is set free.

Caliban and the drunken servants are also forgiven.

There is a final celebration of their union.

What I'd like you to do is make notes on the ending of the play.

What happened to each character? Do you think the audience will be satisfied with the ending? Pause the video and take a few minutes to make your notes.

Amazing, had some great ideas there.

I particularly like the ideas around how the ending is satisfying in some respects since Ariel and Caliban have their freedom and Prospero leaves the island to return to his home.

However, we don't see Prospero apologise for his treatment of Caliban and perhaps that would've made the ending really satisfying.

Now for a quick check for understanding.

Is it true or false that "The Tempest" has a traditional comedy play ending? Pause the video and make your selection now.

The correct answer is true.

Now I'd like you to justify your answer.

Which of the following is the reason why it has a traditional comedy play ending? Is it A, Miranda and Ferdinand get married? Or B, all the characters are forgiven? Pause the video and make your selection now.

The correct answer is A, Miranda and Ferdinand get married.

Traditionally, comedies end in marriage because it signals the return to social order.

You've all done really well today, everyone.

Onto our final task of the lesson.

What I'd like you to do is complete the timeline to show the main events.

The first one's been done for you.

So the first thing that happens is that Prospero causes a storm to shipwreck his enemies.

Pause the video and complete the timeline now.

Amazing, fantastic work everyone.

You might have said "The Tempest" opens with a storm that shipwrecks a boat carrying King Alonso and his companions, which includes Antonio, Duke of Milan, and Alonso's son Ferdinand.

This storm was caused by Prospero who asked his servant, Ariel, to create the storm.

Prospero and his daughter Miranda are watching this and subsequent shipwreck from the island.

Here, Prospero tells Miranda their history for the first time when Prospero used to be the Duke of Milan until his brother, Antonio, usurped him and took control, banishing Prospero and his infant daughter in the process.

The shipwrecked passengers are scattered across the island, which is all part of Prospero's plan because there's different plans for each of them.

One of those plans includes Alonso's son, Ferdinand.

Prospero causes the meeting between Ferdinand and Miranda and they fall in love at first sight.

Of King Alonso's companions, he ends up in a party with Antonio, Duke of Milan, Sebastian, Alonso's brother, and Gonzalo, an advisor.

Ariel puts all of the party to sleep except for Antonio and Sebastian.

They then plot to kill Alonzo, since Sebastian can then take his place on the throne.

Shakespeare likely did this to confirm to the audience that Antonio is a bad character after already stealing Prospero's dukedom.

Before Antonio and Sebastian kill Alonso, Ariel wakes up Gonzalo and the plot is stopped.

Two other characters from the ship are Stephano and Trinculo.

They find Caliban and Caliban decides he'd rather serve Stephano than Prospero.

So the three of them plot to kill Prospero.

Ariel overhears the plan and it's thwarted before they can carry it out.

Finally, Prospero gathers all the characters together so he can say he forgives his enemies.

Miranda and Ferdinand get married.

Prospero frees Ariel and gives up his magic before returning to Milan.

You all did amazingly well today, everyone.

Here's a summary of what we covered.

Shakespeare would've wanted James I to approve of "The Tempest." "The Tempest" is a comedy.

Prospero uses magic throughout the play to get what he wants.

Caliban and Ariel serve Prospero.

Prospero eventually forgives his brother for usurping him, and the play ends happily.

I really hope you enjoyed today's lesson.

Goodbye, everyone.