New
New
Year 7

Consolidating our understanding of the plot of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'

I can confidently recall the plot of 'The Tempest' and link it to key themes.

New
New
Year 7

Consolidating our understanding of the plot of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'

I can confidently recall the plot of 'The Tempest' and link it to key themes.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Prospero is the most powerful character.
  2. Prospero exploits Caliban and Ariel and forces them to serve him.
  3. Prospero uses his power to create an unjust society on the island.
  4. Specifically, magic is used by Prospero to control others.

Common misconception

That people didn't believe in magic in Shakespeare's time.

In Shakespeare's time, most people believed in magic and thought it could bring ill luck and misfortune.

Keywords

  • Injustice - Injustice is a situation, or a law, or an action whereby people are treated unfairly.

  • Power - If you are able to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events, then you have power.

  • Exploitation - The act of using someone unfairly for your own advantage is called exploitation.

  • Inequality - Difference in status, wealth or opportunities are all forms of inequality.

  • Torment - Torment is going through great mental suffering and unhappiness or physical pain.

You could choose to extend the ideas around power to include the context of colonialism.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You may want a copy of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
The setting for Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' is...
a forest.
Correct answer: an island.
a city.
Q2.
Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' is thought to have been written in...
1911.
1711.
Correct answer: 1611.
1600.
Q3.
A spirit is a...
human.
Correct answer: supernatural being
type of animal
a witch
Q4.
Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' is a comedy play. Which of the following do we expect from a comedy?
Correct answer: Resolution at the end of the play.
Chaos at the end of the play.
Death at the end of the play.
Q5.
To usurp something is to...
give something away willingly.
inherit something beautiful and important.
Correct answer: take a position of power by by force.
Q6.
The support, encouragement, or financial aid that an organisation or individual gives to a writer is known as...
Correct Answer: patronage, Patronage, patronage., Patronage.

6 Questions

Q1.
Which character has the most power in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'?
Caliban
Ariel
Antonio
Correct answer: Prospero
Q2.
Which two characters are exploited by Prospero in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'?
Correct answer: Caliban
Stephano
Gonzalo
Correct answer: Ariel
Q3.
Being able to direct or influence the behaviour of others or the course of events is known as having...
Correct Answer: power., Power, power, Power.
Q4.
Torment is...
the feeling of anger and wish for revenge.
Correct answer: going through great mental suffering.
being jealous of somebody more powerful.
a feeling of peace and solidarity.
Q5.
Which monarch wrote a book on witchcraft called 'Daemonologie'?
King Charles II.
King Henry VIII.
Correct answer: King James I.
Q6.
How did people in Shakespeare's time feel about witchcraft?
They celebrated it.
Correct answer: They feared it.
They ignored it.