THE TEMPEST ACT1 SCENE2

Study Questions
1. Why does Miranda ask her father to calm the storm at sea?

2. How does Prospero comfort Miranda’s fears about the suffering people on the ship?

3. Does Miranda remember anything about her life before she came to the island?

4. How old was Miranda when they arrived on the island?

5. In what way did Antonio dispose of Prospero and Miranda after he had usurped his dukedom?

6. Why did Antonio spare the lives of Prospero and Miranda?

7. Why did Antonio put Prospero and Miranda on an old boat without a sail?

8. Where did Prospero and Miranda get their supplies for the island?

9. Why did Prospero raise the storm at sea with his magic?

10. How long had Prospero and Miranda lived on the island?

LINES 189-320

Study Questions
1. What three elements of nature does Ariel represent in this scene?

2. How does Ariel “burn in many places” during the tempest?

3. What did the passengers of the ship do when they were afraid of dying?

4. What did Ariel do with the passengers?

5. What did Ariel do with the mariners?

6. Where did he leave the ship? Was it damaged from the storm?

7. What does Ariel expect to get for all of his labors?

8. Why is Prospero angry at Ariel for requesting his freedom?

9. Where did the “foul witch Sycorax” imprison Ariel?

10. Why was Ariel left imprisoned for 12 years?

LINES 321-374

Study Questions
1. Who were the parents of Caliban?

2. What did Prospero do for Caliban when he first came to the island?

3. How did Caliban respond to Prospero’s treatment of him?

4. Why does Caliban feel that he owns the island?

5. What happened when Prospero took Caliban into his own lodging?

6. What does Prospero do to punish Caliban for his behavior?

7. How has Caliban benefited from learning a language?

8. How is Caliban described in the “Names of the Actors”?

9. What does Prospero threaten to do to Caliban if he does not obey him?

10. Why does Caliban finally decide to obey Prospero?

LINES 375-504

Study Questions
1. Who sings the two songs in this part of the play?

2. Who helps Ariel with the dance in “Come Unto These Yellow Sands”?

3. From where does Ferdinand think the music is coming from?

4. According to the song, what has happened to Ferdinand’s father?

5. What is Miranda’s first impression of Ferdinand?

6. What is Ferdinand’s first impression of Miranda?

7. What is Prospero’s false accusation of Ferdinand?

8. Why does Prospero accuse Ferdinand falsely?

9. What is Alonso’s sea-change?

10. Name one way in which music assists the dramatic action of the play?