The Tempest by William Shakespeare

ENG 273: World Literature

William Shakespeare

Approx. 1564-1616 Born in Stratford-upon-Avon in

England

Perhaps the most well-known and influential English poet and playwright Most well-known plays written

1589-1613

Tragedies, Comedies, Histories

Globe Theater in London

The Play

Written between 1610 and 1611

Published in 1623

Believed to be the last play written by Shakespeare

Complexity of themes, characterizations, and stage directions shows the full range of Shakespeare’s talents

Key Characters

On the island

Prospero – sorcerer

Miranda – Prospero’s daughter

Ariel - spirit

Caliban – slave (son of Sycorax)

From the Shipwreck

From Naples

Alonso – the king

Sebastian – the king’s brother

Ferdinand – the king’s son

Trinculo – the king’s jester

Stephano – the king’s steward

From Milan

Antonio – Prospero’s brother

Gonzalo

The Plot

Prospero and his daughter Miranda are exiled to an isolated island

A great storm shipwrecks a group of men on the island

Three plots: Rebellion by Caliban,

Trinculo, and Stephano

Romance between Miranda and Ferdinand

Revenge by Prospero against his brother and the other conspirators

From Stage to Screen

1. Does changing “Prospero” to “Prospera” impact the story? Why or why not?

2. How did costuming influence your understanding of the characters?

3. Was the film able to convey the story in the same way as a staged play? What was different?

4. Did the special effects improve the “magic” of the story or did they seem distracting?

5. Is the adaptation successful? Why or why not?

Key Themes

Nature versus Nurture

Different Types of Magic

Learned and Wondrous

Prospero

Untamed and Horrific

Sycorax

Otherworldly

Ariel

Slavery/Imprisonment versus Freedom

Betrayal versus Loyalty

Punishment versus Mercy

Colonialism

Power of Language