Exploring Prospero's power over Caliban in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' | English

Starter quiz

If someone repeats something, what are they trying to show about what they have said?
- that it's not important
- that you should try to remember it ✓
- that they've forgotten it
Britain used to control many other countries. This was known as the British ______.
- Country
- Empire ✓
- Continent
- Group
If you are able to control someone else then you are said to have ______ over them.
- 'power' ✓
If someone has power over you then it means their status is ______.
- superior ✓
- inferior
- the same as yours
Why might someone compare an experience to something else when describing it?
- to make it harder for you to understand
- to make it easier for you to picture the experience ✓
- to add more importance to their description
What is the purpose of threatening someone?
- to make them scared of you ✓
- to make them like you
- to make them angry at you

If someone has an inferior position then it means they are ______.
- higher in status or rank
- lower in status or rank ✓
- equal in status or rank
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', which two of the following does Prospero threaten Caliban with?
- cramps ✓
- malnourishment
- dehydration
- being pinched ✓
Why does Prospero repeat that Caliban is his 'slave' six times in Act 1, Scene 2 of 'The Tempest'?
- because otherwise he'd forget
- to emphasise Caliban's superiority
- to emphasise his power ✓
In 'The Tempest' Prospero's threats towards Caliban would make him feel ______.
- warmly towards Prospero
- jealous of Prospero
- afraid of Prospero ✓
Colonialism is ______.
- the process of making new laws
- the process of taking control of another country ✓
- the process of trading with another country
Which two of the following are reasons why 'The Tempest' has been read as a comment on colonialism?
- Prospero arrives on the island and takes control. ✓
- Prospero is banished from his own country.
- Prospero enslaves Caliban. ✓
- Prospero is a controlling character.

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Prospero repeatedly calls Caliban his slave, emphasising Caliban’s inferiority.
Prospero rules Caliban through fear.
‘The Tempest’ is considered by many scholars to be a comment on colonialism.
Caliban could be considered representative of indigenous people controlled by colonists.

That characters are only meant to be read as themselves.

Often in literature, the characters are the writer's way of commenting on something happening in the world.