Module A: Hag-Seed and Tempest (quotes)

Question 1

what are the main ideas of paragraph 1 and what character is that shown through(2)

Answer 1

• The Tempest: Jacobean value of Christian forgiveness and redemption (Prospero)
• Hag-Seed: transactional forgiveness, relying on terms and conditions relating to his strategic aims (Felix)

Question 2

What is the 1st Hag-Seed quote in paragraph 1

Answer 2

Atwood recycles Shakespeare’s motif of clothing, as the reflection of power, Felix’s internal dialogue “his…garment take it or throw it out? On a whim he packs it…”

Question 3

What is the explanation of the 1st Hag-Seed quote paragraph 1

Answer 3

displaying the transactional nature of his forgiveness; being one where he retains his power allowing him to free himself from his obsession with revenge.

Question 4

what is the 1st Tempest quote in paragraph one

Answer 4

Prospero fully renounces his power stating “I’ll break my staff. Bury it certain fathoms in the earth.”

Question 5

What is the explanation of the 1st Tempest quote paragraph 1

Answer 5

Revealing the Christian humanist ideas of freedom through forgiveness, and redemption by relinquishment of sin.

Question 6

What is the 2nd Hag-Seed quote in paragraph 1 part 1

Answer 6

Felix’s realisation “he’s been about his Tempest, wrong…his obsession wasn’t to bring Miranda back to life.” This is later affirmed through the motif of the picture frame“…the silver-framed photo of Miranda …happily on her swing…lost in the past…trapped with him…she’s fading,”

Question 7

What is the explanation of the 2nd Hag-Seed quote paragraph one 1 part 1

Answer 7

symbolising the psychological prison, created by his grief and guilt.

Question 8

What is the 2nd Hag-Seed quote in paragraph 1 part 2

Answer 8

he is finally able to understands the terms of his forgiveness; by giving “what she truly wants, and what he owes her. “To the elements be free,” …And, finally she is.”

Question 9

What is the explanation of the 2nd Hag-Seed quote paragraph one 1 part 2

Answer 9

Allowing him to forgive and accept the responsibility for not being there when she needed him, releasing Felix from his self-inflicted prison.

Question 10

what is the 2nd Tempest quote in paragraph 1

Answer 10

Prospero’s realisation “Hast thou, which art but air, a touch a feeling…shall not myself, one of their kind…The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance.”

Question 11

What is the explanation of the 2nd Tempest quote paragraph 1

Answer 11

reflects the Jacobean belief that only clemency and vindication can bring true freedom from his grief and vengeance.

Question 12

what are the main ideas of paragraph 2 and what character is that shown through(2)

Answer 12

• The Tempest: Renaissance, Racial Paradigms and colonial attitudes (Caliban)
• Hag-Seed: Marginalisation of prisoners, freedom of speech, and justice to the marginalised (The prisoners)

Question 13

what is the 1st Tempest quote in paragraph 2

Answer 13

Use of swearing and the notion of abuse “Hag-seed, hence! … Shrug’st thou, malice?

Question 14

what is the explanation of the 1st Tempest quote in paragraph 2

Answer 14

mirrors the colonial perspective of indigenous people as savages.

Question 15

what is the 1st Hag-Seed quote in paragraph 2

Answer 15

Atwood stylistically Uses rap “He call me a lot of names…filth…slave…this was my kingdom! …then along came Prospero …I got to do the work… while he… Snorin…But I’m Hag-Seed!”

Question 16

what is the explanation of the 1st Hag-Seed quote in paragraph 2

Answer 16

as a medium to denote the oppressed feelings of Caliban which in turn empower the prisoners to fight against the stigma of imprisonment, reflecting the contemporary values of freedom of speech and justice for marginalised groups.

Question 17

what is the 2nd tempest quote in paragraph 2

Answer 17

the comic foils stephano and trinculo and their vulgar comments “This is some monster of the isle with four legs …What the devil”

Question 18

what is the explanation of the 2nd Tempest quote in paragraph 2

Answer 18

reflecting the renaissance mentality for the mistreatment of indigenous people

Question 19

what is the 2nd Hag-Seed quote in paragraph 2

Answer 19

Felix’s introduction to the prisoners “… I don’t care why you’re in here or what they say you’ve …the past is prologue.”

Question 20

what is the explanation of the 2nd Hag-Seed quote in paragraph 2

Answer 20

Brings to light the discrimination that imprisons criminals even outside of prison, as their past actions become synonymous with their identity

Question 21

what is the 3rd Tempest quote in paragraph 2

Answer 21

Shakespeare’s use of poetic ambiguity “demi devil… this thing of darkness I acknowledge mine.”

Question 22

what is the explanation of the 3rd Tempest quote in paragraph 2

Answer 22

affirm the renaissance Christian view of indigenous people as sinners in need of redemption.

Question 23

what is the 3rd Hag-Seed quote in paragraph 2

Answer 23

Atwood’s technical use of Legg’s rap “you callin me a monster. But who’s more monstrous than you?”

Question 24

what is the explanation of the 3rd Hag-Seed quote in paragraph 2

Answer 24

ridicules Shakespeare’s Jacobean Christian view of indigenous people and challenges the contemporary views of criminals, both considered monsters.

Question 25

what are the main ideas of paragraph 3 and what character is that shown through(2)

Answer 25

The tempest: anachronistic gender roles and stereotypes, (daughter filial service and marriage taboo) (Miranda)
Hag-Seed: Feminism (Anne-Marie)

Question 26

what is the 1st Tempest quote in paragraph 3

Answer 26

Prospero’s blessing of Miranda’s betrothal to Ferdinand “…as my gift and thine own acquisition worthily purchased, take my daughter…”

Question 27

what is the explanation of the 1st Tempest quote in paragraph 3

Answer 27

privileges the Jacobean view of a daughter’s filial service to their fathers, and their lack of autonomy when it comes to personal affairs. This serves as Miranda’s inescapable prison.

Question 28

what is the 1st Hag-Seed quote in paragraph 3

Answer 28

Atwood’s strategic use of personal pronouns and irony “None of them are willing to play a girl…
I don’t blame them…being a girl is the pits, trust me.”

Question 29

what is the explanation of the 1st Hag-Seed quote in paragraph 3

Answer 29

reveals the timeless struggles that imprison girls like Anne-Marie; positioning readers to empathise with her contemporary feminist perspective.

Question 30

what is the 2nd Tempest quote in paragraph 3

Answer 30

Shakespeare’s religious warning regarding Miranda “if…dost break her virgin knot before… all sanctimonious ceremonies …shall the heavens… make this contract grow, but barren hatred”

Question 31

what is the explanation of the 2nd Tempest quote in paragraph 3

Answer 31

is reflective of the traditional Jacobean-Christian taboo of tainting a maiden’s virginity before marriage, affirming Jacobean women’s lack of agency over their own bodies

Question 32

what is the 2nd Hag-Seed quote in paragraph 3

Answer 32

Atwood condones these tyrannical religious views through her shrewd use of textual allusion and innuendo through Anne-Marie’s bee tattoo “The tattoo any special meaning? I was having fun with the Ariel…in your play…the bee was our joke.”

Question 33

what is the explanation of the 2nd Hag-Seed quote in paragraph 3

Answer 33

Exhibiting Atwood’s contemporary feminist view of women’s freedom to choose what happens to their bodies, which directly conflicts with Shakespeare’s Christian-humanist context, thus providing a path to freedom for Miranda from societal expectations and pressures through Anne-Marie.