Plot and Action
Plot summary: What happens in The Tempest?
Act I – Prospero’s storm, Act II – Coming ashore, Act III – The plan continues, Act IV – A celebration, Act V and Epilogue – The end of the magicAct I Scene 1: A storm at sea
Summary, Why is this scene important?, Key language: High drama, Key characters: First impressions, Key theme: PowerAct I Scene 2 (lines 1–241): Prospero tells Miranda his story
Summary, Why is this scene important?, Key structure: Prospero’s story, Key character: Bookish Prospero, Exam focus: Writing about characterAct I Scene 2 (lines 242–501): A spirit, a slave and a scheme
Summary, Why is this scene important?, Key theme: Freedom and servitude, Key theme: Magic, Key character: Caliban, Aiming high: Characters’ perspectivesAct II Scene 1 (lines 1–182): Coming ashore
Summary, Why is this scene important?, Key context: Imagining utopia, Aiming high: Analysing a character’s use of languageAct II Scene 1 (lines 183–327): A plot to kill the King
Summary, Why is this scene important?, Key characters: Two pairs of brothers, Key language: Metaphor, Exam focus: Writing about persuasive languageAct II Scene 2: Caliban, Trinculo and Stephano find each other
Summary, Why is this scene important?, Key structure: Parallels and contrasts, Aiming high: An upside-down world, Key quotation: An imagined inheritance, Revision focus: ComedyAct III Scene 1: Ferdinand and Miranda declare their love
Summary, Why is this scene important?, Top tip: Writing about love and marriage, Exam focus: Writing about relationshipsAct III Scene 2: A plot to kill Prospero
Summary, Why is this scene important?, Key language: Insults, threats and curses, Key context: Shakespeare’s stage skills, Top tip: Writing about speechAct III Scene 3: Prospero’s revenge
Summary, Why is this scene important?, Top tip: Writing about Ariel, Key context: Fate and judgement, Key quotation: The effects of guilt, Revision focus: Changes of fortuneAct IV Scene 1 (lines 1–145): A theatrical celebration
Summary, Why is this scene important?, Key context: Classical goddesses, Key form: MasqueAct IV Scene 1 (lines 146–265): The plot against Prospero is foiled
Summary, Why is this scene important?, Top tip: Writing about performance, Key quotation: The end of the illusion, Exam focus: Writing about ProsperoAct V Scene 1 (lines 1–134): Prospero renounces magic
Summary, Why is this scene important?, Reconciliation, Top tip: Writing about Prospero’s powers, Revision focus: The power of musicAct V Scene 1 (lines 134–319): Reunion and return
Summary, Why is this scene important?, Top tip: Metaphors, Key quotation: Miranda’s new world, Aiming high: WonderCharacters
Prospero
Prospero’s role in the play, Prospero’s importance to the play as a whole, Aiming high: Magic and alchemy, Exam focus: Writing about Prospero, Revision focus: Writing about ProsperoMiranda
Miranda’s role in the play, Exam focus: Writing about Miranda, Top tip: Fertility and successionCaliban
Caliban’s role in the play, Exam focus: Writing about Caliban, Key quotation: ‘King’ CalibanAntonio
Antonio’s role in the play, Exam focus: Writing about Antonio, Key quotation: Prospero’s viewAlonso
Alonso’s role in the play, Exam focus: Writing about Alonso, Top tip: Writing about Alonso’s languageFerdinand
Ferdinand’s role in the play, Exam focus: Writing about Ferdinand, Top tip: The effects of enchantmentSebastian
Sebastian’s role in the play, Exam focus: Writing about Sebastian, Aiming high: Criticising the KingGonzalo
Gonzalo’s role in the play, Exam focus: Writing about Gonzalo, Top tip: Writing about GonzaloStephano and Trinculo
Stephano and Trinculo’s roles in the play, Exam focus: Writing about Stephano and Trinculo, Aiming high: Everyday EnglishThemes, Contexts and Settings
Themes
Political power, Aiming high: Shakespeare and the cycle of power, Key quotation: Fair and foul, Revenge and forgiveness, Revision focus: Caliban, Magic, Freedom and servitude, Theatre and spectacle, Learning and education, Revision focus: LoveForm, Structure and Language
Progress Booster
Planning your answer
Plan quickly and efficiently, Stage 1: Generate ideas quickly, Stage 2: Jot down useful quotations (or key events), Stage 3: Plan for paragraphs