New
New
Year 7

Exploring the treatment of Caliban in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'

I can describe how different characters treat Caliban.

New
New
Year 7

Exploring the treatment of Caliban in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'

I can describe how different characters treat Caliban.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Trinculo and Stephano’s first impressions of Caliban suggest that they see him as unnatural and inhuman.
  2. Trinculo’s repeated use of ‘monster’ to describe Caliban suggests that he sees him as an abomination.
  3. Stephano’s use of imperative language implies he sees himself as superior to Caliban.
  4. Caliban’s language may show that he sees himself as inferior and is desperate to prove his worth.

Common misconception

That calling someone a 'monster' means that you find them terrifying.

While calling someone a 'monster' can mean you find them terrifying, it can also be a way of ridiculing someone and showing your dislike.

Keywords

  • Perfidious - If someone is perfidious then they are untrustworthy and deceitful.

  • Abominable - Something abominable is something very bad or unpleasant.

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

  • Inferior - To be inferior means to be lower in rank, status or quality.

  • Imperative - Imperative language means commanding language.

You could ask the students to act out the scenes to help them consider how the characters might use body language to show their reactions to Caliban.
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.
A first impression of someone is what you think they're like having met them for the .
Correct answer: first time
second time
third time
last time
Q2.
If someone's first response after meeting you is to ask a question, what might this suggest?
Correct answer: They aren't sure about something.
They feel convinced about something.
They feel really strongly about you.
Q3.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', how is Caliban treated by Prospero?
Correct answer: cruelly
kindly
like an equal
Q4.
Which of the following are connotations of 'monster'?
Correct answer: something scary
something shy
Correct answer: something cruel
something jealous
Q5.
Using commands is known as language.
Correct Answer: imperative, Imperative
Q6.
If you repeatedly use imperative language when talking to someone then it suggests you feel .
Correct answer: superior to them
inferior to them
indifferent towards them
equal to them

6 Questions

Q1.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', when Trinculo first sees Caliban he says 'what have we here, a man or a fish?' - which emotions might this suggest?
Correct answer: nervousness
joy
Correct answer: curiosity
jealousy
Q2.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Caliban offers to kiss Stephano's feet - what does this suggest?
He feels superior to Stephano
Correct answer: He feels inferior to Stephano
He feels equal to Stephano
Q3.
What does abominable mean?
Correct answer: Something very bad and unpleasant.
Something very good and pleasant.
Something higher in status, rank or quality.
Q4.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' which of the following does Caliban offer to do for Stephano to show respect?
Overthrow Prospero
Correct answer: Kiss his feet
Correct answer: Show him the island
Give him alcohol
Q5.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Stephano says 'lead the way without any more talking' to Caliban - what does this suggest?
That he respects Caliban
Correct answer: That he feels superior to Caliban
That he feels inferior to Caliban
Q6.
What does 'perfidious' mean?
Someone trustworthy
Someone cruel
Correct answer: Someone untrustworthy