Understanding the plot of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can understand the conventions of a comedy play and describe the plot of ‘The Tempest’.
Key learning points
- Shakespeare's company was supported by King James I which meant Shakespeare would likely want to appeal to the King.
- 'The Tempest' is a comedy which means it has a happy ending.
- Prospero is served by a spirit, Ariel, and a creature, Caliban.
- Prospero uses his magic to manipulate and control others.
- Prospero eventually forgives the traitors and frees Ariel and the play ends with a celebration.
Keywords
Patronage - Patronage is the support, encouragement, or financial aid that an organisation or individual gives to another.
Usurp - If you usurp something then you have taken a position of power illegally or by force.
Spirit - A spirit is a supernatural being.
Freedom - Being free is having the power or right to act, speak or think as you want.
Revenge - Revenge is the act of harming someone in return for an injury or injustice that they have inflicted on you.
Common misconception
The defining feature of a comedy play is that they are funny.
While Shakespeare's comedies do employ humour, the defining feature is that everything is resolved at the end of the play.
Teacher tip
Rather than a storyboard, you could instead put the students in small groups and have them create a freeze-frame of one moment in the play.
Equipment
You may want a copy of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a 'tempest'?
Q2."The grit scraped over his hand" - which sense does this description appeal to?
Q3.What does 'simulate' mean?
Q4.What is an adverb?
Q5.Is this sentence grammatically correct? 'Prospero, is a magician.'
Q6.Which of these sentences is grammatically correct?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Ariel is a...
Q2.In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Ariel is controlled by...
Q3.Why did Prospero want revenge on his brother, Antonio, in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'?
Q4.From 1603, Shakespeare's theatre company was financed and supported by...
Q5.At the end of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Prospero his brother.
Q6.Throughout 'The Tempest', Prospero uses his magic to...
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Understanding the plot of 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: Understanding the plot of 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.