Exploring the treatment of Caliban in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'
I can describe how different characters treat Caliban.
Exploring the treatment of Caliban in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'
I can describe how different characters treat Caliban.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Trinculo and Stephano’s first impressions of Caliban suggest that they see him as unnatural and inhuman.
- Trinculo’s repeated use of ‘monster’ to describe Caliban suggests that he sees him as an abomination.
- Stephano’s use of imperative language implies he sees himself as superior to Caliban.
- Caliban’s language may show that he sees himself as inferior and is desperate to prove his worth.
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.
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.
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).
Lesson video
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