Exploring the treatment of Caliban in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how different characters treat Caliban.
Key learning points
- Trinculo and Stephano’s first impressions of Caliban suggest that they see him as unnatural and inhuman.
- Trinculo’s repeated use of ‘monster’ to describe Caliban suggests that he sees him as an abomination.
- Stephano’s use of imperative language implies he sees himself as superior to Caliban.
- Caliban’s language may show that he sees himself as inferior and is desperate to prove his worth.
Keywords
Perfidious - If someone is perfidious then they are untrustworthy and deceitful.
Abominable - Something abominable is something very bad or unpleasant.
Superior - To be superior means to be higher in rank, status or quality.
Inferior - To be inferior means to be lower in rank, status or quality.
Imperative - Imperative language means commanding language.
Common misconception
That calling someone a 'monster' means that you find them terrifying.
While calling someone a 'monster' can mean you find them terrifying, it can also be a way of ridiculing someone and showing your dislike.
Teacher tip
You could ask the students to act out the scenes to help them consider how the characters might use body language to show their reactions to Caliban.
Equipment
You may want a copy of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A first impression of someone is what you think they're like having met them for the .
Q2.If someone's first response after meeting you is to ask a question, what might this suggest?
Q3.In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', how is Caliban treated by Prospero?
Q4.Which of the following are connotations of 'monster'?
Q5.Using commands is known as language.
Q6.If you repeatedly use imperative language when talking to someone then it suggests you feel .
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', when Trinculo first sees Caliban he says 'what have we here, a man or a fish?' - which emotions might this suggest?
Q2.In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Caliban offers to kiss Stephano's feet - what does this suggest?
Q3.What does abominable mean?
Q4.In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' which of the following does Caliban offer to do for Stephano to show respect?
Q5.In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Stephano says 'lead the way without any more talking' to Caliban - what does this suggest?
Q6.What does 'perfidious' mean?
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Exploring the treatment of Caliban in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Exploring the treatment of Caliban in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the 'The Tempest' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.