The TempestStudy Guide

Act 1, Scene 1

  1. What is wrong and happening to the ship?
  1. How do you know? Find a quote to back up your response.
  1. Who is on board?
  1. How do you know? Find a quote to back up your response.

Scene 2

  1. Who caused the storm?
  1. How do you know? Find a quote to back up your response.
  1. Prospero uses indirect, riddling language to tell his daughter their history. The reader must make inferences to determine what information is being given. Reread the exchange between Prospero and Mirando in lines 37-59. What do you learn in these lines about Prospero and Miranda? Who are they?
  1. Why are they on the island?
  1. How do you know? Find a quote to back up your response.
  1. Characters in dramas may not always be reliable narrators of events. Look at Prospero’s account of Antonio’s treachery. What reasons may Prospero have for emphasizing Antonio’s guilt?
  1. Review Prospero’s explanation of events in lines 79-105. What can you infer about Prospero’s role in Antonios rise to power?
  1. How do you know? Find a quote to back up your response.
  1. Prospero sometimes says more than he means to express and allows the reader to infer something about Antonio’s point of view. What may Antonio’s reason(s) be for taking over Milan? Look for evidence of Antonio’s point of view and write one (1) piece of evidence down to support your idea.
  1. Who is Ariel? What do you know about him? What inferences can you make about his character? State your inferences and give evidence for each inference you make. Lines 189-215 may help you determine more about his character.
  1. Revenge is a popular theme among dramatists in Shakespeare’s day. What are Prospero’s motivations for revenge?
  1. Why did Prospero have Ariel create a storm? Use lines 217-241 to help you make inferences.
  1. What is the relationship between Prospero and Ariel?
  1. Who are Sycorax and Caliban? What does Caliban want? What is the relationship between Prospero and Caliban?
  1. What do you think Prospero is planning? Reread lines 422-425 to help you make inferences. Use evidence to back up your ideas.
  1. Now, reread lines 443-457. What new inferences can you make about Prospero’s plan? Why did Prospero have Ariel lead Ferdinand to them?
  1. What does Miranda think of Ferdinand?
  1. Look at Miranda’s reaction to Prospero’s threats against Ferdinand and Ferdinand’s response to Prospero’s threats in lines 471-473. Is her reaction to seeing a stranger draw a sword against her father reasonable? Why or why not? State how you came to your conclusion and cite one (1) piece of evidence to support your idea(s).
  1. Is Prospero pleased with the way his plan is progressing? How can you tell? Reread lines 486-500 for help in making your inference.

Act 2, Scene 1

  1. Why is the king, Alonso, sad? Make an inference.
  1. How are Gonzalo and Adrian’s views contrasted by Sebastian and Antonio’s views? What is your judge of their characters based on how they are acting and what they say?
  1. In this scene, the characters are making a lot of jokes. Is Gonzalo’s joke about ruling the island serious, or is he adding to the humor? Use one (1) piece of evidence to back up your opinion.
  1. What does Ariel do? Why are Alonso and Gonzalo sleepy, but Antonio and Sebastian wide awake?
  1. What idea does Antonio put into Sebastian’s head? Read lines 244-249. Is Sebastian seriously considering Antonio’s plan? Support your claim with one (1) piece of evidence from the text.
  1. When Prospero lost his Dukedom, Antonio made an alliance with the king of Naples (Alonso) in which the king made him Duke of Milan in exchange for tribute. What do you think Antonio’s possible motives are for wanting Sebastian to become King of Naples?
  1. Antonio and Sebastian draw their swords! What explanation do they give Gonzalo? Is their explanation truthful? Why did they really draw their swords?
  1. Before we watch the rest of the play, make three guesses as to what you think will happen next. Support each guess with evidence.