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EAL Nexus resource
The Tempest Act 4
Scene summary
Subject:
Age range:
Topic:
English
12–14, 15–16
The Tempest
Licence information | This resource is free to use for educational purposes. ©British Council 2015
Source | This resource was originally developed by EAL Nexus. Images are from Self-Made Hero’s
Manga Shakespeare series.
The Tempest Act 4:
Scene summary
Scene 1
Outside Prospero’s cell
Prospero approves of Ferdinand and Miranda’s love for each other.
He tells Ferdinand that he must not take advantage of Miranda
before they are married.
Prospero then asks Ariel to arrange a masque to celebrate the
engagement. Ariel calls for Juno (queen of the gods), Iris (Juno’s
messenger and the goddess of the rainbow) and Ceres (goddess of
agriculture) to appear. They give the couple their blessing, and wish
them honour, riches and prosperity.
Just as some nymphs and reapers are about to start a country
dance, Prospero suddenly remembers the attempt on his life. He
stops the masque and sends the spirits away. He then tells Ferdinand
and Miranda that his abrupt actions are mainly due to his age and
that he needs to have a walk.
When Prospero and Ariel are on their own, Ariel updates Prospero
with his would-be assassins’ plan. Ariel also tells Prospero that he
used his music to lead the three men through pricking gorse and
thorns, and into a filthy pool.
Prospero and Ariel set a trap. They hang some nice clothes on a line
in Prospero’s cell. When Stephano and Trinculo see the fine clothes,
they want to steal them because they are wet from the pool. Even
©British Council 2015
though Caliban wants to stick to their plan to steal the magic books
and kill Prospero, the other two ignore him. When they touch the
clothes, some spirits disguised as hounds chase the conspirators out.
Key words or phrases with pictures
Ceres
a country dance
Iris
the hounds
Juno
the pricking gorse
a pool
the rainbow
Prospero’s cell
some spirits
fine clothes
Key words to translate
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
a masque
to approve
to take advantage
of
to celebrate
the engagement
agriculture
a blessing
an honour
©British Council 2015
Word or phrase
Translation
Meaning
prosperity
some nymphs
some reapers
his abrupt actions
due to
to update
his would-be
assassins
a filthy pool
to ignore
to disguise
to chase
the conspirators
©British Council 2015