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Year 7

Understanding the characters of 'The Tempest'

I can confidently describe the roles of each of the main characters.

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New
New
Year 7

Understanding the characters of 'The Tempest'

I can confidently describe the roles of each of the main characters.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Prospero, Caliban and Ariel are the key characters in the text
  2. Ariel was freed from his imprisonment in a tree by Prospero
  3. At times, both Caliban and Ariel feel wronged by Prospero
  4. A character profile includes all the key information about a character, such as family and relationships.

Common misconception

That our feelings towards characters must be consistent.

Our feelings towards characters can change depending on what is happening during the plot.

Keywords

  • Master - A master is someone who has control over others.

  • Wronged - If you have been wronged by someone then they have treated you in an unfair or unacceptable way.

  • Slave - A slave is someone who is owned by another person and forced to work for them and obey them.

  • Imprisonment - If you are imprisoned then you are being held in captivity.

  • Ambition - An ambition is a strong wish to achieve something.

You could also create character profiles for the secondary characters as a useful revision tool.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' is a...
Correct answer: comedy.
tragedy.
history.
problem play.
Q2.
A society where there is a lack of fair treatment in the distribution of wealth and resources is considered an example of...
fairness.
justice.
Correct answer: inequality.
prejudice.
Q3.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Caliban is enslaved by Prospero - which of the following would we say about their relationship?
Prospero celebrates Caliban.
Correct answer: Prospero torments Caliban.
Caliban likes Prospero.
Prospero is jealous of Caliban.
Q4.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Prospero and Ariel can both use magic; however, Prospero is the master of Ariel and Caliban. Put the characters in order of who has the most power.
1 - Prospero
2 - Ariel
3 - Caliban
Q5.
What does it mean to exploit someone?
To treat them fairly.
Correct answer: To use them for your advantage.
To wish them well.
To dislike them.
Q6.
Shakespeare's work is largely considered timeless because...
he wrote in a language everyone can understand.
he referenced future events.
Correct answer: he wrote about universal themes such as ambition and love.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does it mean to be ambitious?
Correct answer: To have a strong wish to achieve something.
To feel indifferent towards something.
To dislike something.
Q2.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Ariel is controlled by Prospero because...
Correct answer: Prospero released them from imprisonment.
Prospero threatened them.
Prospero created them.
Q3.
A master is someone who...
Correct answer: controls others.
treats others kindly.
treats others cruelly.
helps others.
Q4.
A slave is someone who is...
Correct answer: forced to work and obey someone else.
paid to work.
free to seek work elsewhere.
Q5.
Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
Prospero, finds Caliban on the island.
Prospero finds Caliban on, the island.
Correct answer: Prospero finds Caliban on the island.
Q6.
Which two of the characters from Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' can we considered as wronged?
Ferdinand
Gonzalo
Correct answer: Caliban
Correct answer: Prospero