Understanding Caliban's role and presentation in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'
I can understand the role and presentation of Caliban in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ throughout the play.
Understanding Caliban's role and presentation in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'
I can understand the role and presentation of Caliban in Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ throughout the play.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Caliban inhabited the island before Prospero and Miranda.
- Prospero treats Caliban cruelly by threatening him with physical violence.
- At the end of the play, Caliban is left alone on the island.
- The language around Caliban in ‘The Tempest’ creates a particularly violent and negative impression.
Keywords
Hag - In European folklore, a hag is an old woman who practices witchcraft and is often associated with the dead or the devil.
Tyrant - A tyrant is a cruel or oppressive ruler.
Slave - A slave is someone who is forced to work for and obey someone else and is considered to be their property.
Inhabitant - An inhabitant is a person or animal who lives in a particular place.
Common misconception
That Caliban and Prospero always have a negative relationship.
When Prospero first arrived, Caliban showed Prospero how to survive on the island so it began as a positive relationship.
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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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
deadly
uncontrollable
inhuman