Mood:
surprisedThe Tempest (Act 5)
Act 5: In the last act of the play, Prospero decides to break his staff and drown his magic book after he performs his last task. He asks Ariel to bring all the groups back together, including the Mariners. Prospero asks Antonio to give back his dukedom and plans to live the end of his life in Milan. As Ariel's time is over as a slave, Prospero asks for one more favor, to let the seas be calm with auspicious gales.
Questions & Answers:
1. How does the beginning of Act V differ from the end of Act IV? Does this give evidence to the idea that The Tempest was intended to include breaks?
A: The beginning of Act V differ from the end of Act IV in a way that Prospero is wearing his magic robes in Act V but not in IV. The Tempest was inteded to include breaks because costume changes were necessary. Furthermore, for the first time, all the characters were brought on stage for the first time.
2. Is time an important factor in Prospero’s plan? How does he tell the time of day in the play? Is the play set in “real time” ie does everything that happen in the play occur within the three or so hours contained by the play? If not, why not? What is to happen at “the sixth hour”?
A: Time is a very important factor in Prospero's plan because Prospero could only use Ariel for a limited time. Prospero tells the time in the play by using the sun. Ariel is supposed to get freed at "the sixth hour"
3. Ariel says that Alonso and the others are “prisoners”(line 9). What does he mean? Whose actions does Ariel say would make Prospero “become tender”? Why? What does this show bout this character?
A: Prospero means that they are stuck in one place and they can't do anything because of the big news that Ariel delivered to them. Prospero's actions would make Prospero "become tender"
4. Does Prospero think that he should feel the plight of the prisoners more or less than Ariel? Why?
A: Prospero thinks that he should feel the plight of the prisoners more than Ariel because he has to deal with them by himself without the help of Ariel.
5. In the following passage, what does the phrase in BOLD mean (passage 25-30)?Though with their high wrongs I am struck to the quick,
Yet with my nobler reason 'gaitist my fury
Do I take part: the rarer action is
In virtue than in vengeance: they being penitent,
The sole drift of my purpose doth extend
Not a frown further.Go release them Ariel.
A: It means that the action to thake vengeance is rarer than the vengeance itself.
6. What benefit is it to Prospero to believe in “virtue” more than in “vengeance”? Are there other benefits to society to adopt this belief? Other than for reasons of Prospero’s “virtue” why should Ariel “restore” the prisoners? Why do they need to “be themselves” for a satisfying ending?
A: To Prospero, more benefits are to Prospero to believe in "virtue" because this is just to get equal to what they had done to Prospero. They need to "be themselves" for a satisfying ending because it is a happy ending.
7. In Prospero’s long speech at lines 33-57, who does he address? What actions of magic has Prospero participated in, in the last few hours (during the play) (ie name them).
A: In Prospero's long speech, he addresses to his staff and book.
8. What is Prospero going to do with his “rough magic” now? What does he require to “work mine end upon their senses”?
A: Prospero is going to drown his magic.
9. What will Prospero do with his staff? His book? Why not just leave them in the cave?
A: Prospero will break his staff and drown his book. He would not just leave them in the cave because someone else might take such, such as Caliban.
10. What cures the “brains” of Alonso? How are the actors who play Alonso, Sebastian, and Antonio supposed to be acting before this change back to normal? Do they get to speak also? Is this a soliloquy? Why or why not?
A: When Ariel occured as a harpy and reminded them about Prospero, Alonso's brain was completely cursed. They are supposed to be acting very dumb and brainwashed. They do not get to speak.
11. In line 74, who does Prospero seem to condemn the most? Why?
A: Sebastian, because he was on Antonio's side when he was trying to usurp the king.
12. What does Prospero send Ariel to fetch in the cell? Why?
A: Ariel goes to go get Prospero noble clothes.
13. What qualities/ characteristics of Ariel are revealed in Ariel’s “bee” song?
A: Ariel is an educated speaker, because his bee song has rhythmic pattern.
14. Who must Ariel “enforce to this place”? Why bring back these characters now?
A: He must enforce the mariners back to this place. These characters must be brought back now because they are going to go back home and to prove that nobody was killed in the tempest.
15. In addition to speaking to Alonso, Prospero does something else.. What does he do and why?
A: Besides speaking to Alonso, Prospero also compliments Alonso. He does this because he and Alonso's children are married.
16. What is Alonso’s response? Is this what Prospero wanted from the beginning?
A: Alonso's response is that he was wrong to force out Prospero and that he resigns Prospero's dukedom. This is what all Prospero wanted from the beginning.
17. Does Prospero tell Alonso about Sebastian and Antonio’s plot to kill him? Why or why not?
A: Prospero tells that Alonso could have been betrayed, but he refuses to tell no tales because if he does, a fight could occur.
18. Why does Alonso ask Prospero how he got to the island? Who does this remind him of?
A: Alonso asks Prospero how he got to the island because he remembers forcing Prospero out of his dukedum. This reminds him of Gonzalo.
19. Alonso says he lost a daughter during the tempest. Whom do you think he is referring to? Where does he wish she was now?
A: Alonso says that he lost a daughter during the tempest, meaning Claribel. He wishes she was in Naples, safe and alive.
20. What game are Ferdinand and Miranda Playing? What significance is there to the play for these two characters to play this game? What does Miranda mean in line 177-178 ending in “fair play” What does this show about her character?
A: Ferdinand and Miranda are playing a game of chess. I do not know what significance there is to the play for these two characters to play.
21. What is Miranda’s first reaction to this “brave new world”? ie is all mankind that she observes “beauteous”?
A: She is very excited to see other mankind. This is her first time ever seeing so much men, and she observes it as beauteous.
22. What does Ferdinand tell Alonso about how he came to be engaged to Miranda? Why did he not ask his father?
A: Ferdinand tells Alonso that he didn't know his father was still alive so he dicided it by his opinion.
23. What does Gonzalo say about Prospero’s “issue”? ie what does this mean? Gonzalo says that all the characters “found” something. Who found what in this play?
A: Gonzalo's issue about Prospero is if he should become kings of Naples. Miranda and Ferdinand found true love, Prospero found his dukedom back and Alonso found his son in the play.
24. What does the boatswain say about the events since the storm?
A: Boatsawin say the boat is bravely rigged and ready to be sailed on again.
25. Why does Ariel care that the business at the ship was “well done”?
A: Ariel cares that the business at the ship was "well done" because that decided rather he would be free or not.
26. Prospero wants the king and the noblemen to “mark but the badges of these men”. Meaning?
A: It means that they were Prospero's servants
27. What does Prospero instruct Caliban? Is Caliban sorry for taking new masters?
A: Caliban begs for mercy and is sorry that Caliban took new masters. He knows that he will be pinched to death but he is still sorry.
28. What will Prospero tell the king when they are in the cave? Do you sense that these men knew each other before? Do you think Prospero has changed from his early life in Milan? Do you think Alonso has? Antonio and Sebastian?
A: Prospero will tell the story of his life. These men knew each other before when they were young. Prospero has changed greatly since his early life in Milan. In fact, everyone in the play has changed throught the play.
29. What will happen in the morning? Why must Ferdinand and Miranda have their wedding solemnized in Naples? Why did not Claribel do the same?
A: In the morning, Ferdinand and Miranda will get married in Naples. Claribel did not do the same because she was sold for money.
30. Where is the rest of the fleet? Will they catch them? How?
A: The rest of the fleet is gone.
31. What last duty must Ariel perform? Then what happens?
A: Ariel's last duty was to promise calm seas with auspicious gales. The Ariel is FREEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!
32. Who is on stage when Prospero gives his last speech? Why call it an “Epilogue”?
A: Nobody else is on stage besdies Prospero. It's called an epilogue because it's a part ended at the end of the play.
33. What is the structure of this passage (verse or prose)? Is there is meter? What is it? Does Shakespeare use rhyme here? What is the rhyme scheme? IS this structure used anywhere else in the play?
A: The verses are written in rhyming couplet. Shakespeare uses rhyme here. The rhyme scheme is AA BB CC DD EE FF GG HH II JJ.
34. What is Prospero saying in this passage and to whom does he speak? What will release him?
A: Prospero is speaking to the audience, and the audience's applause will release him.
35. Does this play end on a happy note?
A: This play does end on a happy note because nobody is killed and everything is back to normal, the way it should have been.
