SUMMARY
‘The Tempest’ is a play written by William
Shakespeare. The present lesson is an extract from Charles Lamb’s ‘Tales from
Shakespeare’. Prospero and his daughter Miranda lived in an solated island. She
had no contact with any human being expect her father. They lived in a cave.
Prospero had many books related to magic. With his magical power he released
many spirits who had been imprisoned by Sycorax in the bodies of large trees.
Ariel was the chief of those spirits.
Ariel enjoyed tormenting an ugly monster Caliban, son
of Sycorax. Caliban was doing laborious work for Prospero. One day Prospero
raised a powerful storm with the help of the spirits. It affected a ship. He
told his daughter that the ship had many human beings like them. When she saw
the ship moving up and down she felt sorry for the people and asked her father
to stop the storm so that the people would be safe. Prospero told her that it
was only to frighten them not to and hurt them.
Now Prospero informed her what had happened twenty
years ago. Prospero was the Duke of Milan, and Miranda was the heir to the
throne. His brother Antonio wanted to become the Duke. He got the help of the
king of Naples to remove Prospero. So he took Prospero and Miranda in a ship
and forced them into a small boat without sail. He thought that he let them to
perish. His faithful courtier Gonzalo had kept in the boat, water, food, dress
and some books without the knowledge of others. The food lasted till they
reached the deserted island. Now the king of Naples, his son Ferdinand and the
cruel brother were in the ship affected by the storm.
Prospero made his daughter sleep with his magic power
and got a detailed report from Ariel about the ship. Ferdinand jumped out of
the ship in fear but now he was safe in the island. Others were safe but in
different places of the island. Each one thought that the other was dead. The
cruel brother was searching for his son with little hope of finding him.
Prospero wanted Ferdinand to meet Miranda. Ariel led Ferdinand to the place of
Prospero. Miranda for the first time saw a human being like her father.
Ferdinand thought he was in an enchanted island and Miranda was the goddess.
When they started talking, Prospero came there and
took the boy aside. He told him that he was a spy and he would be tied. Miranda
was trying to speak in favour of Ferdinand. Prospero gave him the hard work of
carrying heavy logs of wood. He as a prince was not used to such work. So he
was very tired. Miranda felt sad for him and volunteered to help him. Prospero
was invisible and listened to their conversation. Ferdinand told her that he
was the heir to the throne of Naples and she would be his queen. Then Prospero
appeared before them and assured Ferdinand that she would give his daughter to
him and make him very rich.
Then Ariel informed Prospero what had happened to his
cruel brother and the King of Naples. They were wandering hungry here and
there. By the time Ariel set a delicious banquet before them. When they were
about to eat it Ariel appeared before them in the shape of a harpy monster and
made the food disappear from there. Then the harpy spoke to them about the
cruelty they had done to Prospero and his daughter. When they heard that, they
repented for the crime they had committed.
Prospero asked Ariel to bring those people before him.
He brought old Gonzalo also with them. Prospero forgave them for their cruelty.
The King of Naples was very happy to see his son Ferdinand with a beautiful
girl. Prospero said that he would give his daughter as a gift to him. They all
left happily in their own boat which was hidden by Ariel. Prospero and Miranda
left the island next day.
Ariel was set free from his service to Prospero.
GLOSSARY B.P.No. 26
tormenting (v) – making someone suffer or worry a lot
dreadful (adj.) – extremely bad or unpleasant
duke (n) – a man of very high social rank in some
European countries; a king
deprive (v) – to take something important or necessary
away from someone
fatigue (n) – extreme tiredness
vexation (n) – worry or anger
famished (adj.) – extremely hungry
voracious (adj.) – very eager for something
repent (v) – to be very sorry for something bad you
have done.
A. Choose the correct answer. B.P.No. 26
1. __________ was the chief of all spirits.
a) Sycorax b) Caliban c) Ariel d) Prospero Ans : (c)
2. __________ raised a dreadful storm.
a) Caliban b) Prospero c) Miranda d) Sycorax Ans : (b)
3. Miranda was brought to the island __________ years
ago.
a) fourteen b) ten c) twelve d) five Ans : (c)
4. Prospero ordered Ariel to bring __________ to his
place.
a) Gonzalo b) Ferdinand c) King of Naples d) Antonio
Ans : (b)
5. __________ had provided Prospero formerly with
books and provisions.
a) Antonio b) Ferdinand c) Gonzalo d) Antonio Ans :
(c)
6. The second human being that Miranda saw on the
island was __________.
a) Ariel b) Prospero c) Ferdinand d) Gonzalo Ans : (c)
B. Identify the character or speaker.
1. He imprisoned the spirits in the bodies of large
trees. Ans. Sycorax
2. He was the chief of all spirits. Ans. Ariel
3. I was Duke of Milan, and you were a princess. Ans.
Prospero
4. What a trouble must I have been to you then! Ans.
Miranda
5. Now pray tell me, sir, your reason for raising this
sea-storm? Ans. Miranda
6. I will soon move you. Ans. Ariel
7. I will tie you neck and feet together. Ans.
Prospero
8. I must finish my task before I take my rest. Ans.
Ferdinard
9. He repented and implored his brother’s forgiveness.
Ans. Antonio
C. Answer the following questions in one or two
sentences.
1. Who were the inhabitants of the island?
The inhabitants of the island were Prospero and
Miranda.
2. What powers did Prospero possess?
Prospero possessed the power of magic, with which he
was able to release many good spirits from a witch called Sycorax who had
imprisoned them in the bodies of large trees.
3. Who was Caliban? What was he employed for?
Caliban was an ugly monster and son of Ariel’s old
enemy Sycorax. He was employed like a slave to fetch wood and do the most
laborious jobs.
4. Who were on the ship? How were they related to
Prospero?
Antonio, King of Naples, his son Ferdinand and Gonzalo
were in the ship. Antonio was Prospero’s cruel brother who with the help of the
king of Naples sent Prospero and his daughter out of dukedom. Gonzalo was the faithful courtier of
Prospero. He kept food, water and books in the boat.
5. Why had Prospero raised a violent storm in the sea?
Prospero raised a violent storm in the sea because he
came to know that his cruel brother, king of Naples was in a ship. He wanted to
wreck the ship and bring all the travellers to the island.
6. How did Miranda feel when her father raised the
storm to destroy the ship?
Miranda felt greatly distressed when her father raised
the storm to destroy the ship. She pleaded with him to save the ship and people
in it.
7. What was Ariel ordered to do with the people on the
ship?
Ariel was ordered to wreck the ship but not to harm
anybody.
8. Give two reasons why Miranda was so concerned about
Ferdinand.
Ferdinand was the first human being she saw except
Prospero and Caliban. She was very much attracted towards the handsome young
man.
9. Why did Prospero set Ferdinand a severe task to
perform?
Prospero wanted to test the depth of Ferdinand’s love
for Miranda. So he set him a severe task to perform.
10. How was Gonzalo helpful to Prospero when he left
Milan?
Gonzalo was Prospero’s faithful courtier who had kept
water, food and books in the small boat for Prospero and his daughter.
D. Answer the questions in a paragraph of about 100 –
150 words.
1. Write a detailed character sketch of Prospero.
main character – duke of Milan – sent out of Milan –
reader – magical power – released
spirits – helped his cruel brother – brought up his daughter – brought
everyone together
Title The Tempest
Author William Shakespeare
Theme Forgiveness is sweet revenge
Prospero was the main character in ‘Tempest’ a play
written by William Shakespeare. He was the Duke of Milan but he was sent out of
the country by his cruel brother Antonio with the help of the King of Naples.
Prospero was fond of reading especially books of magic. He attained the power
to use magic on others. He was a sympathetic man so he released the spirits
which were imprisoned by Sycorax. Though he was ill treated by his brother, at
the end of the play he helped them. He raised a storm to wreck the ship in which
his brother and the king of Naples travelled. But he did not want to hurt any
of them. He was a good father. He brought up his daughter Miranda very well. He
wanted to be together with his enemy king, the King of Naples so he was ready
to give his daughter to Ferdinand. He
forgave those who caused him pains and sufferings.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do
that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that –
Martin Luther King.
2. Narrate how Prospero made his enemies repent to
restore his dukedom.
sent out of Milan – reached deserted island – released
spirits – magical power – cruel brother and King of Naples – brought to island
– Ferdinand met Miranda – others repented – brought to Prospero – forgiven
Title The Tempest
Author William Shakespeare
Theme Forgiveness is sweet revenge
Prospero was sent out of Milan by his cruel brother
Antonio with the help of the King of Naples. He went to a deserted island with
his daughter Miranda. He lived there with the spirts he released with his
magical power. One day after twelve years of his life in the desert he came to
know that his brother and the King of Naples were travelling in a ship. He
raised a storm to wreck the ship but he did not want to hurt anyone. They were
all brought to the island. Each one thought that other one was dead. Ferdinand
was brought to meet Miranda and they fell in love with each other. This was the
plan of Prospero. The others were moving up and down hungry in the island.
Ariel brought delicious food to them but when they were about to eat he made it
disappear. Then he made them realise the crime they had committed to Prospero
and his daughter. They repented for their crime. Prospero asked Ariel to bring
them all to him. Then he forgave them and was ready to give his daughter in
marriage to Ferdinand, the son of the king of Naples.
Without forgiveness, life is governed by an endless
cycle of resentment and retaliation.
E. Rearrange the following sentences in coherent
order.
3 He ordered Ariel to torment the inmates of the ship.
7 Miranda was attracted by Ferdinand and had more
concern towards him.
1 Prospero and Miranda came to an island and lived in
a cave.
10 Prospero forgave them and restored his dukedom,
Milan.
4 He raised a violent storm in the sea to wreck the
ship of his enemies.
8 Prospero wanted to test Ferdinand and gave a severe
task to perform.
2 Using his powers, Prospero released the good spirits
from large bodies of trees.
9 The King of Naples, and Antonio the false brother, repented
the injustice they had done to Prospero.
5 Ariel was instructed to bring Ferdinand, the prince
of Naples to his cave.
6 Ferdinand was the second human whom Miranda had seen
after her father
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