Understanding the portrayal of Miranda in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' | English

Starter quiz

Which monarch was on the throne for the majority of Shakespeare's life?
- Queen Elizabeth I ✓
- Queen Elizabeth II
- King Henry VIII
What does subservient mean?
- You act selfishly and think only of yourself.
- You consider your own wishes as less important. ✓
- You feel equal to other people.
A patriarchal society is a society controlled by men. How do you think women are thought of in a patriarchal society?
- They are thought of as equal to men.
- They are thought of as more important than men.
- They are thought of as less important than men. ✓
Starting with the first, put these plot events for Miranda in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' in chronological order.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  Miranda finds out that her father used to be the Duke of Milan
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  Miranda and Ferdinand meet and fall in love
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  Prospero doesn't want their love to be too easy so he tests them
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  Miranda and Ferdiand get married
Shakespearean society was a patriarchal society, controlled by men, so which of the following do you think women could do once they were married?
- vote
- look after their husband ✓
- bear children ✓
- own property
Shakespearean society was patriarchal, meaning it was controlled by men, which of the following do you think women would be expected to be?
- obedient ✓
- weak ✓
- powerful
- ambitious

A society controlled by men is known as a __________ society.
- patriarchal ✓
- matriarchal
- democracy
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest, what does Miranda offer to do for Ferdinand that he says would be a dishonour?
- marry him
- ask her father to release him
- take over his physical labour ✓
In Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', Miranda asks Ferdinand if he will be her husband. In a patriarchal society, this would be...
- normal and expected
- abnormal and unexpected ✓
- unheard of - marriages were arranged by the government
What is a stereotype?
- a pause in a line of poetry
- a society controlled by men
- a willingness to please
- a set idea of how someone should be ✓
What does 'subvert' mean?
- to meet expectations
- to go against the rules ✓
- to consider your own wishes less important
- to intentionally hurt someone
By asking Ferdinand if he will be her husband, Miranda ______ patriarchal expectations in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'.
- 'subverts' ✓

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Shakespearean society was a patriarchal society.
Women had less legal rights than men and faced social pressure to be subservient to men.
Miranda is shown as compassionate, beautiful, intelligent and optimistic.
Miranda is also shown as questioning her father’s decisions.
Miranda could be considered as both subverting and meeting the expectations of patriarchal society.

Students sometimes think that women were completely powerless in Shakespeare's time.

While there were legal restrictions and social pressures on women in Shakespeare's time, there were some women who had power and influence.

Patriarchal - A patriarchal society is where men hold positions of control and are considered more important than women.
Subvert - To subvert means to undermine the power or authority of an established system by going against the rules.
Stereotype - A stereotype is a set idea that people have about what someone or something is like.
Subservient - Being subservient means you’re willing to do what other people want and consider your own wishes less important.