READING QUESTIONS FOR ACT I OF THE TEMPEST
Scene 1: Note differences in attitude toward the Boatswain--Alonso and Gonzalo exhibit one
attitude, Sebastian and Antonio a different one. Note Boatswain's attitude toward his
royal passengers. How do people come by authority in this scene (that is, by what right
do
they assume authority over others)?
Scene 2: What kind of person is Miranda, based on her first speech (p. 6)?
How and why has Prospero caused the tempest?
Who is Prospero really? How have he and Miranda come to be on the island? What is their
relation to the people on the ship? (Note Gonzalo's special role in Prospero's exile.)
What's the meaning of Prospero's speech (p. 13): "By accident most strange . . .
"
Who is Ariel? What has been his role in the tempest? Why (p. 16) does he request his
"liberty?"
Who are Sycorax and Caliban? What is Caliban's position relative to Prospero? What do we
learn about Caliban's previous interaction with Miranda?
What kind of person is Ferdinand, Alonso's son? How does Miranda react to him? What does
Prospero mean (pp. 24-25): ". . . this swift business / I must uneasy
make, lest too light winning / Make the prize light"?
READING QUESTIONS FOR ACT TWO OF THE TEMPEST
Scene 1:
At the scenes opening, note contrasting attitudes of Gonzalo, Alonso, and
Antonio/Sebastian toward their situation.
Note information about why these Italian royals were at sea in the first
place--Alonso’s daughter’s marriage to the King of Tunis. Where’s Tunis? Note
Sebastian’s nastiness to Alonso.
Any similarities here between Alonso and Prospero?
Read carefully Gonzalos "I the commonwealth" speech, p. 33. Listen
for echoes of Montaigne and note allusion to Ovids Golden Age.
After all but Antonio and Sebastian fall asleep, the talk is about usurping the throne.
Note Antonios caginess in presenting the idea to Sebastian.
Scene 2:
Look for humor here: Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo are of a different class from the
characters in Scene 1. Stephano is drunk. Note his attitude toward Caliban, p.43
("This is some monster of the isle" speech).
Calibans speech p. 45 ("These be fine things...") is often read as a sign
of his ignorance, justifying Prosperos treatment of him. What do you think?
What does the end of the scene suggest about relations between Europeans and the
inhabitants of the New World?
Notice the balance of this acts two scenes: both are about attempted takeovers of
power, but of widely differing kinds and with differing levels of seriousness.