Act 3 Sc. 2

Question 1

Summary - Murderous subplot

Answer 1

Comic duo & Caliban continue wandering on the isle. Ariel, invisible, enters the scene and imitates Trinculo’s voice which causes confusion as Caliban threatens him, as a result Caliban reveals his desire to seek revenge on Prospero and murder him. He plots to steal Prospero’s books and offers Miranda as bait to persuade the comic duo to join him. Stephano begins to assume newfound authority over the others.​

Question 2

Caliban: ‘Bite him to death….thou mayst knock a nail into his head….after a little time I’ll beat him too….with a log batter his skull….paunch him with a stake’

Answer 2

AO1/2: SF of extreme brutality & violence
AO3: Jacobean society’s view of the natives of the new world as ‘savages’ prone to violence.
AO5: From a postcol. prersp. this is Caliban’s corruption due to P’s abusive influence

Question 3

“Trinculo, if you trouble him any more…I will supplant some of your teeth.”

Answer 3

• ## threat of physical abuse/violence, Trinculo begins to assume the role of the underdog

Question 4

‘the isle is full of noises, sounds…sweet airs…twangling instruments’

Answer 4

AO1/2: sibilance - peaceful, tranquil idyllic scene of the natural world.
This speech reflects Caliban’s reverence of the natural world, reinforcing his intrinsic connection to and understanding of the physical world.