Act 1 Scene 1 Flashcards
How does the scene begin?
A tempestuous sound of thunder and lightning.
Enter a ship-master and a boatswain
The boatswain asks the ship-master how he’s doing - the shipmaster says “Good” - he doesn’t mean he’s in good cheer, instead, he means to say “Good you’re here”
He asks the boatswain to guide the mariners, otherwise, the entire ship gets wrecked.
What does the boatswain tell the sailors?
Come on, men! That’s the way to do it! Quickly!
Quickly! Take in the upper sail. Listen to the
master’s orders
What does the boatswain tell the storm?
Blow your heart out as long as we have enough room to avoid being wrecked.
Who are the members of the royalty that enter the scene?
Alonso - King of Naples
Sebastian - Younger brother to Alonso
Ferdinand - Alonso’s son
Antonio - Duke of Milan(usurped Prospero’s position)
Gonzalo - An old wise man, from Naples
Why do the members of the royalty enter the scene?
Since the ship is in a tempest, the members of the royalty want to make sure their men are doing all they can to keep the ship from being wrecked.
What does the boatswain request of the royalty?
Stay below the deck.
How does the boatswain respond when Gonzalo asks him to be patient?
I will be patient when the storm is patient. This tempest doesn’t care who is on board - royalty or lay men. Go to your cabins, do not trouble us.
How does the boatswain respond when Gonzalo tells him to keep in mind who he has on his ship?
None that I love more than myself. If you can command the elements of nature to be calm and patient, we will all put our ropes down and rest. If you cannot do so, go to your cabin and prepare yourself for death, if it comes to that.
How is Gonzalo comforted by the fact that the boatswain is in charge of the ship?
Gonzalo says the boatswain looks like a guy who could never die by being drowned. Instead, he looks like a man who was born to be hung. The ropes that hang him are more precious than the ropes on this ship since they assure that we survive.
How does Sebastian respond when the boatswain asks the royalty if they intend on sinking?
A pox o’ your throat, you bawling, blasphemous, uncharitable dog.
How does Antonio insult the boatswain when he asks the royalty to work?
Hang cur, you whoreson insolent noisemaker.
How does Gonzalo describe the ship that is in the tempest?
No stronger than a nutshell.
Leakier than an unstanched wench.
What does the phrase “must our mouths be cold” mean?
There are two meanings here -
1. Shall we die?
2. Why don’t we at least drink?
Why does Antonio feel cheated of his life?
He feels the boatswain is a drunkard - “must our mouths be cold?”
Therefore he thinks he’s been cheated of his life by drunkards on the ship(the other crew) especially the loud-mouthed boatswain who he wished would drown by the washing of ten tides.
How do we know Gonzalo still believes he can survive?
He says the boatswain is sure to die by hanging even if every drop of water seems to predict the contrary.
