M12 Reading Assignment The Tempest Act I, Scene 1

Read the following pages in The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Shorter Fourth Edition, Volume 1 and The Tempest, which is available as a pdf in Module 12. Answer the questions below as you read. "Europe and the New World: "Humanism" 1476-77 "William Shakespeare: Life and Times" 1708-10 The Tempest Act I, Scene 1 In the essay on William Shakespeare, what did you learn about his early life? What was the profession of his father? Do you believe this profession was low, middle, or high class? What are the positions of Alonzo, Antonio, and Gonzalo? In the opening scene of The Tempest, how does the boatswain speak to these men? Why does the boatswain ask them “What cares these roarers for the name of King?” What is his concern at this moment? What do you think Gonzalo means when he says the following line? “I have great comfort from this fellow. Methinks he hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is perfect gallows.” What seems to happen at the end of the first scene? In Act I Scene 2, why is Miranda so upset at the beginning? What has she just witnessed? What does Prospero say to reassure her? How old was Miranda when they first came to this island, and how long have they been here? What is her age now? What title did Prospero hold in Milan? Who did Prospero let act in his position in Milan? To what type of vine does Prospero compare this man? Prospero’s brother “confederates,” or partners, with what royal person to usurp Prospero’s position? How did they attempt to murder Prospero and Miranda? In the circumstances in which those two were left, who do you think would have died first? Of what do you think they would have died? Who helped them so they were able to survive? What did this man give them? Why does Miranda fall asleep at the end of Prospero’s story of their past? What does Ariel announce he can do in his opening lines to Prospero? What does Ariel report he did on the ship? Who jumped into the ocean first? What makes Ariel moody? What does he want? From what torment did Prospero save Ariel? What is the name of the witch who imprisoned Ariel in this way? What is the name of the witch’s son? With what torture does Prospero threaten Ariel if Ariel complains again? What work does Prospero say Caliban does for him and Miranda? How do Prospero and Caliban speak to each other at the beginning of their dialogue? What torture does Prospero tell Caliban he will suffer this night? Why does Caliban claim the island belongs to him? What does he say about his early relationship with Prospero? For what attempted crime does Prospero say he started treating Caliban as a slave? Is Caliban repentant? What does he say he would have done if Prospero had not prevented him? What does Miranda say she taught Caliban? What profit does Caliban say he gained from her teaching? What does he mean? Why is Ferdinand sad? What does he think has happened? What do Miranda and Ferdinand think of each other when they first meet? Why does Ferdinand think he is the King of Naples? What does Ferdinand say he will do if Miranda is a virgin and her affection not gone forth? What does Prospero mean when he says “this swift business I must uneasy make, lest too light winning make the prize light”? Of what does Prospero accuse Ferdinand? What does he say he will do to Ferdinand? Ferdinand says that all of his difficulties will seem light to him if he can do what once a day?