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Year 7

Exploring Prospero and Caliban's relationship in Act 1 Scene 2 of 'The Tempest'

I can explore how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Prospero and Caliban at the beginning of the play.

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Year 7

Exploring Prospero and Caliban's relationship in Act 1 Scene 2 of 'The Tempest'

I can explore how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Prospero and Caliban at the beginning of the play.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The staging of a performance can influence our interpretation of the scene and the characters.
  2. The language used by Prospero and Caliban shows a mutual animosity.
  3. Prospero uses imperative language to show his superiority to Caliban.

Keywords

  • Subservient - To be subservient is to be less important.

  • Superior - To be superior is to be higher in rank, status or quality.

  • Imperative - To use imperative language means to give orders or commands.

  • Animosity - To feel animosity towards someone is to feel a strong dislike.

  • Wicked - To be wicked is to be morally bad or wrong.

Common misconception

That it's obvious how a character should be interpreted by the audience.

The staging of a performance from body language to costuming can make a huge difference in how different audiences interpret a character.

You could have the students act out the scene and consider how they would portray Caliban as either aggressive or a sympathetic character.
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
  • Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
If something is 'wicked' then it is .
Correct answer: something bad
something good
something hopeful
something jealous
Q2.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Prospero describes Caliban as 'wicked'. What do you think their relationship is?
They are friends.
They don't know each other.
Correct answer: They are enemies.
They are rivals.
Q3.
What does it mean to be superior?
Correct answer: To be higher in status than someone
To be lower in status than someone
To be the same rank as someone
Q4.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Prospero is Caliban's master. What does this mean about their relationship?
Correct answer: Prospero is superior to Caliban.
Prospero is inferior to Caliban.
They are the same rank.
Q5.
Match the stage costume with the impression of the character.
Correct Answer:Formal suit,Someone professional and respected

Someone professional and respected

Correct Answer:Dirty, ripped clothes,Someone not doing very well in their life

Someone not doing very well in their life

Correct Answer:A walking stick,Someone elderly

Someone elderly

Q6.
If someone describes an emotion or sensation to you in detail, what two things does this imply?
Correct answer: They really want you to imagine the sensation
Correct answer: They want you to understand the emotion
They want you to repeat it back to them
They want you to respond with your own story

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Several theatrical productions of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' show Caliban wearing chains. What does this indicate?
Correct answer: that Caliban is a slave
that Caliban is a servant
that Caliban is free
Q2.
In one theatrical performance of 'The Tempest', Prospero is pictured with a hand on the hilt of his sword when speaking to Caliban. What does this indicate?
Correct answer: That he expects violence from Caliban.
That he's happy to see Caliban.
That he respects Caliban.
That Prospero is jealous of Caliban.
Q3.
To be subservient means to be?
More important
Correct answer: Less important
Equally important
Q4.
In one theatrical performance of 'The Tempest', Caliban begins by speaking from below the stage floor. What does this suggest?
That he's an important character
Correct answer: That he's not an important character
That his role in the scene hasn't started yet
Q5.
To have animosity towards someone means .
Correct answer: to have a strong dislike for them
to have great respect for them
to be jealous of them
to be angry at them
Q6.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Prospero uses a lot of imperative language when talking to Caliban. What does this suggest?
Correct answer: That he is in control of Caliban.
That he's asking Caliban a lot of questions.
That he is angry with Caliban.
That he is very emotional when speaking to Caliban.