Early Modern Period

Question 1

What is the English Reformation? What events led to it?

Answer 1

Martin Luther; John Calvin -> rejected roman catholic church’s dogma
-> bible as highest authority, not Church, priest or pope
-> produced the Church of England/Anglican Church

Question 2

How did the changes to the church (proposed by Martin Luther; John Calvin) affect the world-view of people at the time?

Answer 2

• emphasis shifts from church’s authority to individual faith
• conflicts between Protestants and Catholics
• influenced literature and thought -> works that explored themes of faith, morality and individual conscience

Question 3

What does the diary of Thomas Platter reveal about the theatre of the city?

Answer 3

• very popular -> 2-3 daily, competing against each other
  > 1-3 pennies; men and women, commoners and wealthier
  –> entertainment

Question 4

What function does the theatre serve the English according to Platter

Answer 4

• Entertainment
• Education and information -> English don’t travel much -> learning about foreign lands
• Social gathering, mingling

Question 5

What was London like at the time when Platter wrote his diary?

Answer 5

• brutal justice nature; executions were common -> public spectacle
• bustling streets and markets
• bars filled (with women as well)

Question 6

What are the historical context Shakespeare writes “The Tempest” in? What are the characteristics of the time?

Answer 6

1610-11; composed for a performance at the court of King James I

Question 7

What are Aristotle’s unities? Do we see them in “The Tempest”?

Answer 7

Unity of place –> island
Unity of time –> one day
Unity of plot !-> many different characters with different storylines

Question 8

The opening scene of “The Tempest” allows for different interpretations. What happens in the scene and how does it relate to the play?

Answer 8

= storm at sea
* representing chaos and disorder
* disruption of political order
* spiritual cleansing (Ariel)

Question 9

What is the function of the island in “The Tempest”? Look at the different characters imaginations and give one concrete example

Answer 9

stage for personal and political transformations
human behaviour, relationship and power dynamics explored

Example: A vivid example of the island’s transformative power occurs in Act III, Scene ii, where Caliban describes the island’s auditory beauty:
“Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises,
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.”

This speech reveals Caliban’s deep connection to the island and contrasts his otherwise resentful attitude.

Question 10

Caliban in The Tempest is not a clear cut character. How is his portrayal complicated? What could this possibly mean?

Answer 10

• he plays victim most of the time but he also does terrible things (tries to rape Miranda); native of the island
• representing colonized indigenous people -> Prospero enslaved him

Question 11

Can we (21st cent.) sympathise with Caliban from The Tempest? What about the people during Shakespeare’s time?

Answer 11

21st: Yes, colonial oppression -> symbol of resistance against cultural erasure
Shakespearean time: Viewed exploration and conquest of new lands as justified

Question 12

What happens in the end of The Tempest? Who remains on the island and what is a possible reading regarding the historical context?

Answer 12

• Prospero gives up his magic and regains dukedom
• Miranda and Ferdinand establish a new dynasty
• Ariel will be free
• Caliban is wiser and gets island back

Question 13

Prospero’s relationship with Ariel and Caliban (in “The Tempest”) is not the same. Why could that be the case?

Answer 13

• Ariel serves freely -> is a spirit -> Prospero treats him kinder
• Caliban is a slave -> Prospero sees himself more dominant –> mistrust and punishment