Name: ____________________________________________
World Literature Study Guide
Term 2 Test #2
Vocabulary Unit 8 & 9
Definitions Only!!!
The Tempest
1. What is one common theme that continues through the play?
2. What does the wedding masque function as in the play?
3. What is one thing that does not make the play a tragedy?
4. “I’ll break my staff, Bury it certain fathoms in the earth.” What is Prospero saying in Act V?
5. What best describes the main thematic conflict in The Tempest?
6. Give a description of the following characters from the play: Prospero, Miranda, Antonio,
Ariel, Caliban, Ferinand, Alonso, Sebastian, Gonzalo, Stefano, Trinculo, and
Francisco/Adrian.
7. What is the atmosphere created by Shakespeare in the play?
8. Explain Calibans personality after reading a passage he recites in the play.
All the infections that the sun sucks up
From bogs, fens, flats, on Prosper fall, and make him’
By inchmeal a disease! His spirits hear me,’
And yet I needs must curse. But they’ll nor pinch,
Fright me with urchin shows, pitch me i’ th’mire,
Nor lead me, like a firebrand in the dark
Out of my way, unless he bid’em. But
For every trifle are they set upon me;
Sometime like apes that mow and chatter me,
And after bite me…
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12.
Give an example of how Shakespeare follows a serious scene with a scene of comic relief.
Define subplot.
Give an example of a subplot in the play and how it goes along with the main plot.
What is the tone of the following passage given by Miranda? “O wonder! How many
goodly creatures are there here! How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world that has
such people in it!”
13. Explain how the following quote relates to the plot.
“Now my charms are all o’erthrown,/ And what strength I have’s mine own,/
Which is most faint. . . .Now I want/ Spirits to enforce, art to enchant;/ And my
ending is despair/ Unless I be relieved by prayer,/ Which pierces so that it
assaults/ Mercy itself and frees all faults.”
14. What is the deeper significance to the plays title “The Tempest”?