The Tempest

Question 1

What is the meaning of The Tempest?

Answer 1

The Tempest is a storm.

Question 2

Who is Antonio?

Answer 2

Antonio is Prospero’s brother and Duke of Milan

Question 3

Who is Alonso?

Answer 3

He is the King of Naples

Question 4

Who is Ferdinand?

Answer 4

He is the prince of Naples

Son of Alonso

Question 5

Who is Sebastian?

Answer 5

He is Alonso’s young brother

Question 6

Who is Gonzalo?

Answer 6

A loyal Neapolitan courtier and councilor to Alonso

Question 7

Who is Stephano?

Answer 7

A butler on the Italian ship

Question 8

Who is Trinculo?

Answer 8

A jester on the Italian ship

Question 9

Who is Prospero?

Answer 9

He is the ruler of the island
Former Duke of Milan
Master of Ariel and Caliban

Question 10

Who is Ariel?

Answer 10

An airy-spirit

Fairy-servient of Prospero

Question 11

Who is Caliban?

Answer 11

Enslaved by Prospero

Son of Sycorax

Question 12

Who is Miranda?

Answer 12

She is Prospero’s daughter
Lover of Ferdinand
Only female on the island

Question 13

Who is Sycorax?

Answer 13

She is a witch and was banished from the city of Algiers in Algeria.
She was Ariel’s first master.

Question 14

Why was Prospero banished?

Answer 14

Prospero focused more on studying magic than his duties as the Duke of Milan.
Antonio and Alonso conspired to assassinate him to make Antonio Duke of Naples but the assassination failed because Gonzalo warned Prospero of the plot and he helped Prospero and Miranda onto a rotting boat and then they landed on the island.

Question 15

Why does Ariel work for Prospero?

Answer 15

Ariel well out of favor of Sycorax because he did not follow her orders. She imprisoned him in a cloven pine and he reminded in there for 12 years living in eternity of pain before Prospero set him free from his prison (tree), from then on Ariel owed Prospero.

Question 16

Why does Caliban hate Prospero?

Answer 16

Caliban hates them because they took control over his island. This is ironic because both him and Prospero was violently pushed from the seat of power. Whereas Prospero was free but exiled, Caliban was enslaved in his own home.
Caliban resents the fact that he was first a free ruler of the island to a servant of a master.
He also resents Prospero for taking all his power.

Question 17

Why does Caliban hate Miranda?

Answer 17

He resents the education Miranda has given him. Caliban sees her selflessness as an extension of Prospero’s imperialism (extending power).
He insists that the only good thing about learning her language is that he can express his hatred.

Question 18

How does Prospero manipulate Alonso and his company?

Answer 18

Prospero commands his servant Ariel to present Alonso and his company with visions of splendor and horror. They are meant to keep the men disoriented (unable to think clearly). Ariel even puts the men to sleep in order to disorient them further. As long as they remain bewildered (deeply confused), Prospero can control their movements as he pleases.
The visions of splendor and horror are meant to break the men down emotionally and psychologically. This emotional breakdown is a crucial aspect of Prospero’s plan. Alonso must feel broken and defeated, so that when Prospero reveals that his son Ferdinand survived, the revelation will enable an genuine emotional resolution to their longstanding conflict.
Prospero uses magic both to get revenge and to secure his own salvation (being saved from sin).

Question 19

Why does Prospero give up magic?

Answer 19

Magic is capable of great harm. Prospero’s obsessive study of magic is what cost him his dukedom. He tells himself that he will abandon magic when he manages to resolve his conflict with Alonso and Antonio and once he accomplishes his goal, he will abandon magic and rid himself of its corrupting influence for good.