The Tempest: Genre

Question 1

Overall Argument

Answer 1

The tempest is a romantic/tragi-comedy. Shakespeare looked to transcend the limitations of genre.

Question 2

1st Paragraph: Comedy

Answer 2

Trinculo speaks in prose, highlights his ordinary nature.

T and S take on roles of a ‘noble lord’ - funny for 17th century, acting above their status.

‘Monster, I will kill this man. His daughter and I will be King and Queen’ - not comedy

Question 3

Context: Comedy

Answer 3

Plato - ‘form of fiction, although untrue, seems like it could be true’

Aristotle - ‘major characters are common people’
- ‘protagonist’s life goes from bad to good’

Question 4

Context: Tragedy

Answer 4

Aristotle - ‘major characters in a tragedy are not average. They are heroes, kings and gods’

Revolves around reversal. Oedipus.

Question 5

2nd Paragraph: Tragedy

Answer 5

‘they all hate him/As rootedly as I do’, ‘I will kill this man’ - Prospero’s redemption story is threatened by Caliban

‘union’ of F and M and aversion of Caliban assure he is safe.

Question 6

3rd Paragraph: Romantic/Tragi-Comedy

Answer 6

‘Ivy wich had my princely trunk,/And sucked my venture out’ - natural imagery contrasts the unnatural act of usurpation. Play started by the usurpation.

‘Thy dukedom I do resign’

‘wronged duke of milan’

‘my project gathers to a head’

Question 7

Context: Tragi-Comedy/Romantic

Answer 7

Introduced by John Fletcher in the first decade of the 17th century.

Romance was not a term in the 17th century

Romance centres around a story of redemption.

Question 8

Critical Quotes

Answer 8

Harbage - ‘the themes of transgression, expiation, redemption are all actually conspicuous’