Shakespeare
Name: ____________________________
The Tempest – Major Themes
Themes – the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.
1) JUSTICE – or The ILLUSION of JUSTICE (Revenge?)
Central plot: Prospero has been wronged. Is the JUSTICE he seeks in
The Tempest objective justice in fairness to all? Or is it subjective
manipulation and personal revenge?
Sub-plot: Caliban’s pursuit of justice.
2) DISTINGUISING MEN from MONSTERS
Central plot: Caliban is viewed as ‘sub-human’ by Prospero and Miranda.
Is he a MAN? Or a MONSTER? Whatever there is about him that is
‘monstrous’, is it due to NATURE or NURTURE?
Sub-plots: 1) The ‘monstrous’/evil acts and intents of many of the men.
2) Trinculo’s speech (Act II) about “any strange beast” who can “make a
man.”
3) GREED, POWER – Colonization & the desire to rule
Central and sub-plot: MANY of the characters view the island as a great
potential kingdom, and envision the possibilities of themselves ruling
over it. Compare & Contrast: Which characters are most motivated by
their greed and lust for power? Which characters are, to any degree,
successful in gaining power? Toward what end?
Motifs – recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to develop
and inform the text’s major themes.
1) Masters & Servants
2) Water (the Sea, the Tempest, and Drowning)
3) Mysterious Noises & Music
Additional significant, often symbolic concepts, worth noting
• Magic – the tempest, music
• Chess – a game where the pieces/players are pawns
– the object is to capture the king
• Books – as a symbol of magic, power, isolation
The Tempest – Characters
Prospero – right Duke of Milan, current ‘lord’ of the island
Miranda – Prospero’s daughter
Ariel – a spirit; servant of Prospero
Caliban – a savage; slave of Prospero (Caliban canibal)
(Sycorax – Caliban’s mother)
spirits – Iris, Ceres, Juno, nymphs, reapers
Antonio – Prospero’s brother, usurping Duke of Milan
Alonso – King of Naples; helped Antonio unseat Prospero
Ferdinand – son of Alonso
Sebastian – Alonso’s brother
Gonzalo – old, honest lord; helped Prospero and Miranda escape
Adrian – a lord
Francisco – a lord
Trinculo – jester
Stefano – drunken butler
Boatswain, Master and mariners
Shakespeare
Name: ____________________________
The Tempest – Major Themes
Themes – the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.
1) ________________________________________
Central plot: Prospero has been wronged. Is the ________ he seeks in
The Tempest ________ justice in fairness to all? Or is it __________
manipulation and ____________________?
Sub-plot: ____________ pursuit of justice.
2) ________________________________________
Central plot: Caliban is viewed as _________ by Prospero and Miranda.
Is he a MAN? Or a ___________? Whatever there is about him that is
‘monstrous’, is it due to ___________ or ____________?
Sub-plot: 1) The ______________ acts and intents of many of the men.
2) Trinculo’s speech (Act II) about “______________” who can
“____________.”
3) _________________________________________
Central and sub-plot: MANY of the characters view the island as a great
______________, and envision the possibilities of themselves _______
over it. Compare & Contrast: Which characters are most motivated by
their ________ and lust for ________? Which characters are, to any
degree, successful in gaining power? ___________________?
Motifs – recurring structures, contrasts, and literary devices that can help to develop
and inform the text’s major themes.
1)
2)
3)
___________ & _____________
__________ (the Sea, the Tempest, and __________)
Mysterious __________ & __________
Additional significant, often symbolic concepts, worth noting
• _________ – the tempest, music
• _________ – a game where the pieces/players are pawns
– the object is to capture the king
• _________ – as a symbol of magic, power, isolation
The Tempest – Characters
Prospero – right ____________, current ‘____’ of the island
Miranda – ____________________
Ariel – a spirit; __________ of Prospero
Caliban – a _________; slave of Prospero (Caliban canibal)
(Sycorax – Caliban’s mother)
spirits – Iris, Ceres, Juno, nymphs, reapers
Antonio – Prospero’s __________, usurping Duke of Milan
Alonso – ______________; helped Antonio unseat Prospero
Ferdinand – ____________________
Sebastian – Alonso’s ____________
Gonzalo – _____________; helped Prospero and Miranda escape
Adrian – a lord
Francisco – a lord
Trinculo – ___________
Stefano – _____________
Boatswain, Master and mariners