HSC - DISCOVERY - THE TEMPEST NOTES

Character Map:
Character analysis:

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/tempest/characters.html
Plot Summary

Act I

Scene 1 – A ship carrying Alonso, King of Naples and his courtship is caught in a wild
storm. The crew attempt to save the ship but find they are powerless. The ship is
wrecked onto an unknown shore.

Scene 2 – We meet Miranda and Prospero on their Island. Miranda begs Prospero to
calm the tempest. Prospero reveals to Miranda that he was once the Duke of Milan, but
his brother Antonio, who took his place and exiled he and Miranda to this island,
usurped him. Ariel reports to Prospero that the boatmen are safe and requests his
freedom from Prospero, which Prospero denies. Prospero orders Ariel to disguise
himself as an invisible sea-nymph and sends him away. Prospero and Miranda visit
Caliban and we learn how he was enslaved by Prospero after attempting to assault
Miranda. Ferdinand, the son of Antonio, has left the wreck and has been drawn to the
beach where Miranda is by Ariel’s music. Miranda and Ferdinand are transfixed by each
other at first sight and Ferdinand offers to make Miranda the Queen of Naples (thinking
his father dead). Prospero denies Ferdinand this in order to test his loyalty and forces
him to work for him.
Act II

Scene 1 – Alonso and his court find themselves on the island in a state of confusion.
Gonzalo notes how everyone’s clothes are dry and is mocked for his observations.
Alonso is in despair, believing his son to be dead, and will not be comforted. We learn
that Antonio and Sebastian are plotting to kill the King and take his throne.

Scene 2 – Trinculo, a court jester, and Stephano, a butler, discover Caliban in his cave.
They make him their servant and then begin to plot to take over the island together.

Act III

Scene 1 – Miranda and Ferdinand declare their love for each other and Miranda
declares that she wishes to marry Ferdinand. Prospero endorses this.

Scene 2 – Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo get into a fight, caused by Ariel’s trickery.
They all get drunk and are led away by Ariel’s music.

Scene 3 – Gonzalo and Alonso are wearied by their wanderings and Alonso is
beginning to give up hope that Ferdinand may still be alive. Sebastian and Antonio
continue to plot against the King. A magical banquet appears and then disappears,
leaving the courtship amazed and confused. Ariel then appears to the men as a harpy
and accuses the men of their sins.

Act IV
Scene 1 – Prospero warns Ferdinand to control his desires with Miranda until they are
married. Ferdinand promises he will. Three spirits, Juno, Ceres and Iris then appear in
the masque and perform a ceremony to celebrate the lover’s engagement. Stephano,
Trinculo and Caliban find some clothes on a line and take them, while continuing to plot
their dominance of the island.

Act V

Scene 1 – Ariel expresses pity for all the people Prospero has trapped on the Island.
This causes Prospero to express mercy for them himself. Prospero finally brings all
those on the island together and reveals his identity. He reunites happily with Gonzalo,
reprimands Alonso and Sebastian and forgives Antonio. Alonso asks for forgiveness
and offers to reinstate Prospero as duke. Miranda and Ferdinand are revealed to the
court and tell their story. Alonso is overjoyed. Stephano, Trinculo and Caliban arrive and
realise their mistakes. Prospero promises the crew a safe trip home and ends the play
by asking the audience for forgiveness and relinquishing his magic powers.

Discovery in the Tempest

The discoveries in the Tempest, and most other text’s, fall into four main categories.
Some may be included in more than one category.

Place

People Events

Relationships

Place

- Prospero discovered the island. Act 1, Sc 2

- The boat crew discovers the island. Act 1, Sc 1
- Miranda discovers she comes from Milan. Act 1, Sc 2
- Discovery of ownership. Act 5, Sc1

Ideas about place + discovery:

 Discovery about a place can lead to reconsidered values and ideas.

Discovery of a new place can bring many questions about status and ownership.
(Colonial context)

Events

- The storm and shipwreck leads to all the other discoveries in the play (and
mirrors Prospero’s original shipwreck and discovery of the Island.) Act 1, Sc 1-2
- The banquet. Act 3, Sc 3
- Ferdinand and Miranda’s meeting. Act 1, Sc 2.

Ideas about events + discovery:

Unexpected events often result in discovery

Similar events can lead to similar discoveries

People

- Miranda discovers there are people other than Prospero and Caliban. Act 1, Sc 2
- Sebastian discovers Antonio’s true nature.
- Prospero makes the self-discovery that he is capable of mercy and compassion.
Act 5, Sc 1
- Most characters make significant personal discoveries through the course of the
play.

Ideas about people + discovery:

- Being in a new and/or unexpected situation can cause us to make
discoveries about ourselves and other people.
- These discoveries can alter the way we see ourselves and relate to
others.
- Reception to discovery is strongly linked to an individual’s
social/physical/emotional context.
- Discovery can change our identity.
- The degree of a discoveries impact is shaped by the individual’s
willingness to embrace it.
- Discoveries can be eagerly sought or unwelcome.
- The nature of a discovery can change over time.

Relationships

- Miranda and Ferdinand discover love through their relationship.

- Prospero repairs his relationships with Antonio and Alonso through forgiveness
and mercy. Act 5, Sc 1
 Ideas about relationships + discovery:
- Discoveries can be made, through a relationship with another person,
which could not be made on your own.
- Personal discoveries can have great impact on relationships, for better or
worse.

TECHNIQUES

Symbolism of the storm

⇒ Symbolises inner turmoil of characters
⇒ Physical storm – catalyst for physical discovery
⇒ Internal storm – catalyst for internal discovery
⇒ Enables physical discovery and disruption of the social order
⇒ Represents Prospero’s rage

Story as an allegory for colonial action/colonial allusions

⇒ Shows the impact of new discoveries
⇒ Establishes power balances and their role in discovery

Spiritual motifs
⇒ Demonstrate the connection between the real and spiritual
⇒ Show the spiritual realm as an important part of discovery
⇒ Drives discovery and confronts characters – transformation of self/world view
o Ariel’s illusionary banquet
o Wedding ceremony by spirits
o Ariel’s confrontation of Prospero

Recurrence of music and magic

⇒ Create an imaginary world which enables discovery through re-evaluation of the
self
Important Quotes:

“I have such provision in mine art so safely ordered, that there is no soul, no, no so
much perdition as a hair be tied to any creature in the vessel.” Prospero, Act 1, Scene
2.

You taught me language, and my profit on’t

Is I know how to curse. The red plague rid you
For learning me your language!
Caliban, Act 1, Scene 2

“This is the third man that e’er I saw; the first that e’er I sighed for.”
Miranda, Act 1, Scene 2.

“To th’most of men this is a Caliban, and they to him are angels.”

“I would not wish any companion in the world but you;” Miranda, Act 3,
Scene 1.

“What I desire to give, and much less take what I shall die to want… And prompt me,
plain and holy innocence. I am your wife, If you will marry me…” Miranda, Act 3, Scene
2 (Miranda’s discovery of Ferdinand causes her to reconsider herself.)

“Monster, I will kill this man. His daughter and I will be king and queen – ‘save our
graces! – and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys. Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo?”
Stephano, Act 3, Scene 2.
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air;
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve;
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.
Prospero, Act 4, Scene 1

“Your charm so strongly works ‘em that if you now beheld them, your affections would
become tender.” “Dost thou think so, spirit?” “Mine would, sir, were I human.” “And
mine shall.” Ariel – Prospero, Act 5, Scene 1.

Sample HSC Questions

Question 1

‘Not all discoveries are made for the first time.’

Explore the truth of this statement in relation to the texts, you have studied.
In your response, refer to your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of
your own choosing. [DONE]

Question 2

‘Most discoveries encompass rediscovering something that has been lost, forgotten or
concealed.’
To what extent do you agree with this statement from your study?
In your response, refer to your prescribed text and TWO other related texts of your own
choosing. [DONE]

Question 3

‘Discovery is a product of curiosity and careful planning.’

To what extent do you agree with this statement from your study?
In your response, refer to your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of
your own choosing. [DONE]
Discovery:
Discovery can encompass the experience of discovering something for the first time.
Or rediscovering something that has been lost or forgotten. Discoveries can be sudden
and unexpected, or they can emerge from a process of deliberate and careful planning
evoked by curiosity, necessity or wonder. Discoveries can be fresh and intensely
meaningful in ways that may be emotional, creative, intellectual, physical and spiritual.
They can also be confronting or provocative. They can lead us to new worlds and
values, stimulate new ideas, and enable us to speculate about future possibilities.
Discoveries and discovering can offer new understandings and renewed perceptions of
ourselves and others. An individual’s discoveries and their process of discovering can
vary according to personal, cultural, historical and social contexts and values. The
impact of these discoveries can be far-reaching and transformative for the individual
and for broader society. Discoveries may be questioned or challenged when viewed
from different perspectives and their worth may be reassessed over time. The
ramifications of particular discoveries may differ for individuals and their worlds. By
exploring the concept of discovery, students can understand how texts have the
potential to affirm or challenge individuals’ or more widely-held assumptions and
beliefs about aspects of human experience and the world. Through composing and
responding to a wide range of texts, students may make discoveries about people,
relationships, societies, places, and events and generate new ideas. By synthesising
perspectives, students may deepen their understanding of the concept of discovery.
Students consider the ways composers may invite them to experience discovery
through their texts and explore how the process of discovery is represented using a
variety of language modes, forms and features.

Example Discovery Thesis:

● Discovery is the experience of (re)discovering something for the first time.
● Something that has been lost, forgotten or concealed changes meaning when it
is rediscovered.
● a sudden discovery can provoke a life-changing experience.
● Discovery can emerge from a process of careful planning evoked by
● Curiosity about the world leads to wonderful discoveries.
● Discoveries can lead to intensely meaningful emotional, creative, intellectual,
physical & spiritual experiences.
● Discoveries can also be confronting and provocative.
● Discoveries can cause us to question our values and think about the world in a
new way
● Discoveries can enable us to speculate about future possibilities.
● Discoveries can change our values and ideas about the world.
● Discoveries can enable us to speculate about future possibilities.
● Discoveries and discovering can change our perceptions of ourselves and
others.
● An individual’s discoveries and their process of discovering can vary according
to personal, cultural, historical and social contexts and values.
● Discoveries can be far-reaching and transformative for the individual and for
broader society.
● Discoveries may be questioned or challenged when viewed from different
perspectives and their value may be reassessed over time.
● The consequences of particular discoveries can be different for different people.