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Year 7

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.

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New
New
Year 7

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.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Caliban inhabited the island before Prospero and Miranda.
  2. Prospero treats Caliban cruelly by threatening him with physical violence.
  3. At the end of the play, Caliban is left alone on the island.
  4. The language around Caliban in ‘The Tempest’ creates a particularly violent and negative impression.

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.

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.

You could extend some of the discussions around 'savage' and 'thing' into thinking about Caliban as a representation of colonialism.
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.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Prospero calls Caliban a 'villain'. What does this suggest about Prospero's feelings towards Caliban?
He feels positively about him.
He feels indifferent to him.
Correct answer: He feels negatively about him.
Q2.
In Shakespearean times, witchcraft was illegal. What does this suggest about how people felt towards witches?
They felt positively towards witches.
Correct answer: They felt negatively towards witches.
They felt indifferent towards witches.
Q3.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Prospero calls Caliban his 'slave'. What does this suggest?
that he employs Caliban
Correct answer: that he owns Caliban
that Caliban owns Prospero
Q4.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Caliban says 'this island's mine' - what does this suggest?
that he's happy with Prospero ruling the island
that he wants Stephano to rule the island instead
that he thinks of the island as a beautiful place
Correct answer: that he thinks he should be the ruler of the island
Q5.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Caliban gives a speech telling the others 'be not afeared' of the island. What does this suggest?
that Caliban sees the island as a scary place
that Caliban sees the island as a terrifying place
that Caliban sees the island as a beautiful place
Correct answer: that Caliban doesn't see the island as a scary place
Q6.
In Shakesepeare's 'The Tempest', Caliban gives a speech where he says that he 'cried to dream again' when he woke up. What does this imply?
Correct answer: that Caliban is unhappy with his life
that Caliban is content with his life
that Caliban wants others to share his dream

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a the closest synonym for 'hag'?
a wizard
Correct answer: a witch
a monster
Q2.
What type of ruler is a tyrant?
a fair one
Correct answer: a cruel one
a judgemental one
Q3.
What is an inhabitant?
someone who owns land
someone who wants to own land
Correct answer: someone who lives in a particular place
Q4.
Starting with the first, place these plot points from Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' in chronological order.
1 - Caliban teaches Prospero and Miranda how to survive on the island.
2 - Caliban tries to hurt Miranda.
3 - Prospero forces Caliban to be his slave.
4 - Prospero frees Caliban.
Q5.
Match the word with the possible connotation.
Correct Answer:poisonous,deadly

deadly

Correct Answer:savage,uncontrollable

uncontrollable

Correct Answer:a thing,inhuman

inhuman

Q6.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Caliban is referred to as being ' -born'.
Correct Answer: hag