Tempest AO2 Flashcards
Prospero tells Miranda of his usurpation
Dash on line indicates line unfinished (anacoluthon) creates abrupt tone- Antonio still angers P. Syntax is fragmented showing stress he feels when recalling past- showing how deeply affected he still is. ‘Perfidious’- plosive ‘P’ and hard consonants (f and d) bring P’s disgust at treachery to life, caesura after shows pausing, maybe disbelief- composing himself so as not to let anger consume him. hyperbole ‘of all the world i loved’ shows extremity of A’s betrayal, shows P’s vulnerability. Lines are hypermetric (more than ten syllables) to show how P’s emotion can barely be restrained.
More on Prospero’s usurpation
Iambic metre stresses ‘ivy’; natural imagery used to show A as like a parasite which destroys the tree and robs it of vitality- P is blaming A for going against nature and usurping him. concept of one natural element corrupting another seems perverse and unnatural- Antonio’s usurpation is unnatural act according to chain of being. Sibilance in lines convey P’s spitting accusations and bitterness, fast pace of lines created by enjambment and monosyballic words also show P’s outpouring of aggressive, unstoppable emotion. Agitation is aimed towards Miranda, shows him to be tyrannical- but also stops Miranda being too sheltered and naive.
Caliban’s island speech
imperative ‘be not afeared’ does not create an aggressive command but a reassuring tone. Shakespeare employs lines of eleven syllables rather than ten to make this section stand out- we see a touching and poignant side to his character (noble savage). the first line is in iambic metre, giving a steady, soothing tone, and the emphasis lies on ‘isle’, ‘full’ and ‘noise’ as if caliban is celebrating these elements of the isle, maybe said in hushed tones (as indicated by the soft sibilance) so as not to disrupt the enchanted moment of declaration. the metre in the second line is trochaic, which doesnt create a sense of discord as the stress lies on ‘sound’ and ‘sweet’ it highlights musicality of the island that caliban enjoys. again soft sibilance creates a tender and soothing tone to show Calibans love of island and emotional connection- his sensitivity is amplified because of his emotive response- he feels ‘delight’ and the long vowel sounds evoke a wistful tone.
Prospero warns Ferdinand
line 1 is trachaic, stress on ‘my’ rather than ‘thine’ shows Ps self-importance. semantic field of transaction- miranda as ‘gifts’ shows how women are used as bargaining chips. ‘thou’ informal, lack of respect for Ferdinand and there is a fast pace, threatening, enjambment showing the power of vehemence. caesura used to stress consequences of actions, and plosives are menacing and measured- ‘weeds’. nature imagery is used like with A, shows P again allying himself with nature. ‘alls rotten in the state of Denmark’- again the view of the scenery reflects character. mythological reference to Hymen- shows Ps elevated status as God is on his side.
Prospero ‘dreams’ speech
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Miranda and the shipwreck
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Animal imagery
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Disease imagery
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Sexual imagery
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Sea imagery
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Natural world imagery
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Divine and religious imagery
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Music
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Magic
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