Exploring the power dynamics between Prospero and Ariel in 'The Tempest' | English

Starter quiz

A resolution is the...
- creation of a problem.
- answer to a problem. ✓
- statement of a problem.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Ariel creates a storm. What does this tell us about Ariel?
- Ariel has magical powers. ✓
- Ariel has super speed.
- Ariel is a powerful being. ✓
- Ariel is a powerless being.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Ariel greets Prospero enthusiastically but Prospero doesn't return the greeting - what does this suggest about their relationship?
- They are friends.
- They are enemies.
- Their relationship is unequal. ✓
Is this sentence grammatically correct? "Ariel; a magical being, carries out tasks for Prospero."
- Yes - the punctuation is in the correct place.
- No - the semi-colon is incorrect. ✓
- No -the comma is incorrect.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Ariel asks Prospero if he loves them - what does this suggest?
- Ariel is indifferent to Prospero.
- Ariel wants Prospero's approval. ✓
- Ariel dislikes Prospero.
- Ariel is jealous of Prospero.
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Prospero calls Ariel a "chick" - what are the connotations of that?
- Prospero feels Ariel is young and innocent. ✓
- Prospero dislikes Ariel.
- Prospero feels Ariel is angry and jealous.

If you serve someone, what might that suggest?
- You tell someone what to do.
- You work for someone. ✓
- You have a good relationship with the person.
- You have a bad relationship with the person.
In some stage performances of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Prospero is shown as standing over Ariel. What might this suggest?
- That Ariel is more powerful than Prospero.
- That Prospero is more powerful than Ariel. ✓
- That the two are equal.
What does malignant mean?
- Something heavenly.
- Something god-like.
- Something evil. ✓
- Something jealous.
In a play, if someone has the majority of lines in a scene then what might it suggest?
- That they are less powerful.
- That their voice doesn't matter.
- That they have a loud voice.
- That their voice is more powerful. ✓
What does to toil mean?
- To not work.
- To begrudgingly work.
- To work hard.
- To work extremely hard. ✓
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Prospero calls Ariel a "thing". What does this suggest?
- That Prospero thinks fondly of Ariel.
- That Prospero is dehumanising Ariel. ✓
- That Prospero is being respectful to Ariel.

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Ariel’s language shows both deference and frustration towards Prospero.
Ariel is forced to be obedient to Prospero because of his threats to return Ariel to the tree.
Prospero having more lines than Ariel suggests that his voice is considered more important.

That an analysis of a play only consists of the word the characters say.

The amount of lines a character has as well as stage directions are also important aspects of analysing a play.

Toil - To toil means to work extremely hard.
Service - Service is the action of helping or doing work for someone.
Noble - Being noble means to be of high status or to have high moral qualities.
Malignant - Something malignant is something that is evil.
Staging - The act, process or manner of performing a play or show is known as staging.