Character Study
1. What magic does he practice on Miranda in
Act 1 Scene 2?
2. In Act 1 Scene 2 he explains how he came to
be on the island with his daughter.
What does he tell us of his former rank and reputation?
3. Prospero’s “project” is achieved with the
help of the spirit Ariel. From the
evidence in Act 1 Scene 2, how did Prospero come to be Ariel’s master?
1. Ferdinand is drawn to Prospero’s cell (cave)
by Ariel’s playing and singing. At
first, Miranda thinks he is a spirit. Why should this be her belief?
2. Ferdinand and Miranda are seemingly alone
together at the beginning of Act 3 Scene One.
Why is it they are “seemingly” alone?
3. As early as Act 4 Scene 1, Miranda’s
“vexations” are at an end and Prospero has given his “rich gift” t
Ferdinand. What condition is placed
upon the couple?
1. Ariel leads Ferdinand to Prospero’s cell,
where he meets Miranda. How do we know
from what Miranda says that he is handsome?
2. In Act 3 Scene 1, Ferdinand is given a
menial task by Prospero in order to test him.
How do we know that Ferdinand has been attracted to women before?
1. In Act 3 Scene 2, Ariel uses his powers of
invisibility again. Explain how this
befits the comic purposes of the scene.
2. Ariel intervenes in Act 3 Scene 3 to sweep
away the banquet that has been laid before the king and his party. What is his disguise?
3. Which three men does Ariel denounce in Act 3
Scene 3?
1. Caliban’s first appearance is in Act 1 Scene
2. What did Miranda teach Caliban that
she and her father had reason to regret later?
2. What was Caliban’s offense?
3. Caliban last appears in Act 5 Scene 1. What hint is there that Prospero is willing
to forgive?
1. From the evidence provided by Prospero in
Act 1 Scene 2, explain why Alonso is “a man of sin.”
1. The villainy of Antonio and Sebastian is
shown again in Act 3 Scene 3. What is
Antonio’s comment when Alonso concedes that Ferdinand is dead?