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Year 7

Introducing the role and presentation of Ariel in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'

I can understand and describe the role and presentation of Ariel throughout ‘The Tempest’.

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New
New
Year 7

Introducing the role and presentation of Ariel in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'

I can understand and describe the role and presentation of Ariel throughout ‘The Tempest’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Ariel is magical and carries out Prospero’s work, such as creating the tempest.
  2. We know very little about how Ariel feels and what Ariel looks like.
  3. Ariel’s resolution comes at the end, when Prospero grants their freedom.

Common misconception

That Ariel is a female character.

There is no gender assigned to Ariel.

Keywords

  • Bidding - To do someone’s bidding is to carry out their request or order.

  • Hail - To hail someone means to greet them with enthusiastic approval.

  • Plotting - If someone is plotting then they are secretly planning to carry out a harmful or illegal act.

  • Resentment - Resentment is a feeling of anger and disappointment due to being treated unfairly.

  • Resolution - Resolution is where you find an answer or solution to a problem or answer.

You could ask the students to draw their own picture of what they think Ariel looks like and then show them the artist interpretation.
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).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
If you are imprisoned then you are...
free.
being chased.
Correct answer: being held in captivity.
being accused of a crime.
Q2.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Ariel and Prospero can perform magic. This makes us think that...
they are powerless characters.
Correct answer: they are powerful characters.
they are unfriendly characters.
they are friendly characters.
Q3.
If someone forces you to work for them, we would think that you feel about the situation.
peaceful
Correct answer: angry
jealous
Q4.
In this sentence, which part is the subordinate clause: 'Prospero, a powerful character, forces Ariel to carry out magical tasks.'?
Prospero
Correct answer: , a powerful character,
forces Ariel to carry out magical tasks.
Q5.
If someone has wronged you then they have...
Correct answer: treated you unfairly.
treated you kindly.
acted jealously towards you.
Q6.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Caliban is considered enslaved by Prospero because...
Prospero treats Caliban unfairly.
Correct answer: Prospero forces Caliban to work for him.
Prospero speaks unkindly to Caliban.
Caliban desires to overthrow Prospero.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Prospero tells Ariel what to do. What does this tell us about the characters?
They are friends.
They are equals.
Correct answer: Prospero is superior to Ariel.
Ariel is superior to Prospero.
Q2.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Prospero calls Ariel "my Ariel". What does this suggest?
That Prospero likes Ariel.
Correct answer: That Prospero feels he owns Ariel.
That Prospero doesn't like Ariel.
That Prospero feels jealous of Ariel.
Q3.
Feeling resentment towards someone means feeling...
positively towards them.
Correct answer: anger towards them.
jealously about them.
Q4.
Which of the following is the definition of 'bidding'?
Correct answer: To carry out someone's request.
To speak unkindly of someone.
To act angrily towards someone.
Q5.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Prospero calls Ariel "dainty". What does this tell us?
Prospero speaks angrily towards Ariel.
Prospero speaks unkindly towards Ariel.
Correct answer: Prospero speaks kindly towards Ariel.
Q6.
To greet someone by "hailing" them means to...
unenthusiastically greet them.
Correct answer: enthusiastically greet them.
ignore them.
speak over them.