The Tempest -Questions and Answers

* Characters in the play

• Prospero - The real Duke of Milan
• Antonio  - Prospero's bother, who has made himself Duke.
• Miranda - Prospero's daughter.
• Alanso   - King of Naples.
• Sebastian - Alanso's Brother.
• Ferdinand - Alonso's son.
• Gonzalo -  an honest, old nobleman.
• Ariel - a fairy.
• Caliban - a slave.

1.  Describe Prospero's nature?

• He was a Duke of Milan.  Wise and leaned man,more interested in books than in ruling his country.  He left the care of political affairs to his brother Antonio, while he himself studied strange sciences and books of magic.

2.  What was the intention of Antonio?

• Antonio was jealous of his brother.  He wanted the Title for himself.  So Antonio and Alanso King of Naples made a wicked plan.  They decided to send Prospero far away from is country, so he could rule Milan i his place.

3.  How did Antonio treat his Brother Prospero?

• Prospero was  taken prisoner with his three year old daughter Miranda.  They were put into an old boat which had neither sails nor oars.  He was certain that the old boat would sink in the stormy sea,and Prospero and Miranda would be drowned.

4.  What was the help given by the kind nobleman?

• One kind man among Alanso's noblemen Gonzalo secretly put food, warm clothes and water and Prspero's books in to the boat.

5.  Describe the helpless situation of Prospero?

• The little boat was pushed out to sea rocked helplessly on the waves.  The small Miranda slept peacefully.  At last the storm ended and the sea was calm.  Prospero must have used his magical powers or the good fairies were watching over them. In the morning Prospero saw and Island and manage to land safely with his daughter.

6.  Narrate the tale of Ariel?

• Ariel had been imprisoned inside the tree for twelve years through the magic of a wicked old man called Sycorax, because when Sycorax first came to the Island, Ariel and many other fairies had refused to obey her and to punish them. She had imprisoned them all inside these trees.  Now after her death no one could free them from that curse.  But Prospero removed the curse and save all from the trees.

7.  Describe Caliban?  How did Prospero treat him?

• Caliban was ugly, half-mad son of Sycorax.  Prospero tried to teach him some of his own knowledge.  He taught him the name of the sun and the moon.  Fed him on berries and water, and was gentle and kind to him.  But caliban was wicked, stupid and ungrateful and finally Prospero made him his slave.

8.  Describe the status of Miranda?

• Twelve years passed, and Miranda grew to be a beautiful girl.  In all those twelve years she had never seen a human being except her father.  She remembered nothing of their life in Milan, because she had been so young when they left Italy.  she was perfectly content to live on the Island and asked for noting different.

9.  What did Miranda see in the sea?

• One day there was a terrible storm, Miranda stood on the shore watching the wild waves and the heavy rain sweeping across the sea.  suddenly she saw a ship being carried by the strong tide towards the rocks.  The sails of the ship were torn by the wind.  Miranda could hear the sailors crying for help.

10.Why did Miranda ask help and what was her father's reply?

• After hearing the sailors' cry Miranda felt sorry and ran to her father and requested him to hep them.  But Prospero did not seem greatly anxious about the fate of the sailors.  he told that he himself had caused the storm.  He intended to frighten the people on board.

11.What was  the sad tale of Prospero?

• Prospero told Miranda the way he was betrayed by his own Brother Antonio who was jealous of his position as Duke, and planned with his friends the King of Naples and his Brother Sebastian ,chased him and Miranda away from his country Milan and living there in the Magic Island with out honor.  

12.What was his plan to Ferdinand?

• He wanted  to bring Ferdinand to his magic Island and punish his father the king of Naples.
• Prospero decided to arrange marriage between Miranda and Ferdinand.
• He wanted to give a happy and good relationship among them.

13. Why was there a disagreement between Prospero and Ariel?

• Ariel was tired, cross and began to complain to his master.  he reminded Prospero about his freedom and demanded his freedom.  But Prospero told him that his time had not come.  He reminded him how he saved Ariel from the tree.  Also he promised Ariel that he would release him in two days.
• He commanded Ariel do his final task before his complete freedom.

14. The condition of Ferdinand - Describe?

• Ferdinand had been washed ashore alone.  He was sad as he thought that his father must have been drowned, suddenly he heard a mysterious voice telling him that his father was drowned.  Ferdinand walked in the direction of the voice and reached the Island of Miranda.

15.  How did Prospero treat Fredinand?

• Prospero chained Ferdinand throughh is magical powers.  He spoke to him angrily.  He accused him of being a rival.  He made him a prisoner.  He gave dead roots and sea water.  He made to cut wood and carry logs.

16. What was Fredinand's reaction to Prospero?

• Ferdinand was angry.  He tried to draw his sword to fight Prospero, but he found he could not move due to his magical power.  So Ferdinanad decided he could show his love for Miranda by working as  Propero's slave.

17. What happened to king Alanso?

• King Alanso was unhappy as he was sure of son's death. But his companion Gonzalo comforted him by saying that Ferdinand was a great swimmer so he would not have drowned. He was such a brave prince.  But king Alanso would not get peace of mind for his son was a great treasure to him.

18. What was Antonio's plan? How did Ariel save the king?

• Meanwhile Antonio and Alanso's brother Sebastian were thirsty and hungry as they had nothing to eat but even in this situation they both planned to kill king Alanso to make sebastian as kind of Naples. They drew their swords to came to kill the sad, sleeping king Alanso.
• Prospero knowing their evil plan through his magic powers send Ariel to protect the kind and to frighten them all.  Ariel arrived in time, he found Antonio and Sebastian with their swords, he awakened the king quickly and changed his appearance and frightened them all.

19. How did Ariel teach Antonio, Sebastian and King Alanso?

• Prospero commanded Ariel to change his appearance.  Ariel changed into an ugly bird and spoke to Antonio, Alanso and Sebastian about the sins they committed. Also he reminded them their betrayal to the innocent brother Prospero and Miranda.  he went on to tell them that his was their punishment for the sins against the Duke.  He ordered them to show sincere regret and promise to lead a better life in future.

20. Narrate the end of the story?

• All were filled with fear and sorrow.  They swore they would be better men in future.  At last Prospero appeared before them..They couldn't not believe that Prospero was alive.  All begged his forgiveness and asked him to back back to Milan as Duke.  Prospero forgave them and took them to the cave and showed the prince Ferdinand and Miranda  in love.  Alanso was delighted to see his son was alive and engaged to the beautiful Miranda. He showed his happy consent for their marriage
• Next day all sailed back to Milan, Ferdinand and Miranda were married and Prosper ruled again as Duke.  Ariel flew and free for ever.

Thank you.