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William Shakespeare’s

William Shakespeare’s. The Tempest. Columbus “discovers” the New World. 1492. 1607. First permanent English settlement: Jamestown. Plymouth is established… The Mayflower and Bradford. 1611. 1620. Shakespeare writes The Tempest , seen by many as a New World text. 1630.

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William Shakespeare’s

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  1. William Shakespeare’s The Tempest

  2. Columbus “discovers” the New World 1492 1607 First permanent English settlement: Jamestown Plymouth is established… The Mayflower and Bradford 1611 1620 Shakespeare writes The Tempest, seen by many as a New World text. 1630 Massachusetts Bay Colony is settled. John Winthrop and a fleet of 30 ships come to the New World to establish a “City of God”. 1649 James I is beheaded for treason. Cromwell and the Puritans in power. 1660 Puritan reign ends. Charles II takes over and ends Conservatism. 1692 Salem Witch Trials are held.

  3. A Tempest is another name for a storm. • Shakespeare probably heard an account of a shipwreck off the coast of what is now Bermuda before writing the play. • Most view Shakespeare’s The Tempest as a ‘New World’ Text, bringing into questions colonization, the construct of race, and the idea of ‘Eden’ or ‘utopia’

  4. Literary/Drama Terms • Monologue: a speech delivered by one speaker/character • Soliloquy: a speech delivered by a character alone on stage • Aside: comment that is not intended for all characters on stage • Pun: A play on words • Comic Relief: humorous moments that lighten the mood

  5. Literary Terms/Continued • Dramatic Irony: when the audience knows something that the character does not • Theme: the underlying message in a literary work • Motif: recurring images within a text

  6. Dramatis Personae • Prospero: Former Duke of Milan – now a magician on the Island • Miranda: Prospero’s beautiful but naïve daughter (she has never seen another human man besides her father) • Caliban: a Native Inhabitant of the Island and son of a witch named Sycorax. (Caliban was originally favored by Prospero; but is now Prospero’s slave) • Ariel: a spirit, Prospero’s servant

  7. Dramatis Personae • Ferdinand: young Prince of Naples, Alonso’s son • Alonso: Kind of Naples • Antonio: Duke of Milan, Prospero’s brother • Sebastian: Alonso’s brother • Gonzalo: councilor to Alonso – Friend of Prospero • Adrian & Franciso: courtiers in attendance on Alonso • Trinculo: servant to Alonso • Stephano: Alonso’s butler

  8. Themes: • Appearance versus Reality • Things are not always what they seem • Truths can be misperceived and misinterpreted • This theme also underscores issues of racial construction: What makes a ‘human’ human? (as opposed to beast, savage, etc)

  9. Themes, continued • Right to Rule ~ Colonization • Stories of Coup de tats (revolts) • Is there really such a thing as the Right to rule over others? • Does power corrupt absolutely?

  10. Motifs: • Magic • Journeys • Games & Mazes (chess – characters as ‘pawns’)

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