Reasons for selection and synopsis
A powerful wizard, an airy sprite, a scheming brother and an evil
slave are drawn together by a violent storm on a long-forgotten
island in this classic tale of power, revenge and magic.
This is a stunning adaptation of Shakespeare’s final play. It is
written in accessible language and manages to capture the
excitement and wonder of the original play. This tale of magic
and mystery is brought to life by Tony Ross’s engaging black and
white illustrations.
You can watch an animated adaptation of the play here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/schoolradio/subjects/english/the_
tempest
Before reading…
Ask the children to look at the front cover. What do you think the
book will be about? What things can you see on the front cover?
What sort of story will it be? Who might enjoy it?
Now read the blurb – where any of your predictions correct? How
do the reviews on the back persuade you to read the book?

Look carefully at the cast list. Draw lines to match the name of the character to their role in the story.
Prospero                                 Prospero’s daughter
Miranda                                  Servant to Prospero
Caliban                                   A wizard and the rightful Duke of Milan
Ariel                                         Son to the King of Naples
Antonio                                   A cheeky, airy spirit who helps Prospero
Prince Ferdinand                  Prospero’s brother
Alonso                                     King of Naples

O, I have suffered
With those that I saw suffer! A brave vessel,
Who had, no doubt, some noble creature in her,
Dashed all to pieces!
Miranda, I.iii.

What might the ‘vessel’ be? Why does Miranda describe it as ‘brave’? What
has happened to the vessel? How do you know? Who might the ‘noble
creature’ be? How is Miranda feeling? Can you think of a phrase or group of
words that is similar in meaning to ‘dashed all to pieces’?

Pages 7 – 14

Vocabulary

The palm trees are ‘swaying like dancers’. What does this mean? Is this an
effective simile?
What is a ‘staff’? (pg 9) Can the word have more than one meaning?
Look at the following sentence. Can you replace the words in bold with synonyms?

‘he lifted the staff in his right hand, and forked lightning crackled…’
Can you find and copy a word on page 14 that means the same as ‘magical’?

Infer

Who is controlling the storm? How do you know?
Why is Miranda’s hair ‘whipping about her face’ (pg 10)?
What might Miranda be thinking and feeling as she watches the ship?
How do we know that Miranda is confused by her father’s comments on page 13?
Why do you think Prospero puts Miranda into an enchanted sleep?

Predict

Read to the end of page 11. What do you think will happen to the ship?
Read to the end of page 12. Where do you think the ship has vanished to?
What do you think the ‘wrong’ might be on page 13?

Explain

Explain why a wave might look like a ‘startled horse’ (pg 12).
During the storm, Prince Ferdinand is on board the ship and cries out, “Hell is
empty and all the devils are here”. Can you explain to a partner what this might mean?
Explain what Prospero might mean when he says, “Soon, my brother!” on page 14.

Retrieve

What evidence is there on page 7 that the storm is violent?
Use the description of Prospero on pages 8 and 9 to draw and label a picture of him.
What happens on page 13 when Prospero lowers his hands?

Summarise

Look at the illustration on page 11 of Prospero. Can you think of some words
to describe him and summarise your first impressions of him?
Can you summarise the events of these pages in three sentences?
Re-write the events on these pages from Miranda’s point of view.

Pages 15 – 18

Vocabulary

Use a dictionary to write a definition of the following words on page 16 and 17: sternly, defiantly, lance, cunning.
Re-write this sentence and replace the words in bold with words that have a
similar meaning: “Needles of fire seemed to lance through Caliban, forcing him to his knees.”
Can you think of a synonym for the verb ‘shambled’ (pg 18)?

Infer How does Caliban feel towards Prospero?
Why do you think Caliban has a ‘cunning smile’ on page 17?
What are your first impressions of Caliban?

Predict

What do you think has happened to Sycorax?
How might the story have changed if Prospero hadn’t have taken Sycorax’s magic books?

Explain

In the play, when he is arguing with Proserpo, Caliban says:
“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!”
What might he mean by this?
Prospero is a bully. Do you agree? Disagree? Use evidence from the text to support your ideas.

Retrieve

Use the description of Caliban on page 15 to draw and label a picture of him.
Who is Sycorax?
How did Prospero gain power and ownership of the island when he arrived?
What happens on page 17 when Prospero snaps his fingers?

Summarise

In the play, Caliban says:
“This island’s mine, by Sycorax my mother,
Which thou tak’st from me. When thou cam’st first,
Thou strok’st me and mad’st much of me…”
Can you summarise the meaning of this by writing a modern day version of it?

Pages 19 – 23

Vocabulary

Which words or phrases on page 19 make Ariel seem light and playful?
Highlight all the verbs and phrases that describe Prospero’s way of speaking
(called softly, commanded, demanded, sighed). What clues do they give
you about Prospero?

Infer

Why do you think Ariel is so keen to carry out Prospero’s demands?
How is Ariel feeling when Prospero asks him to bring him Prince Ferdinand?
How do you know?
What might Ariel be thinking and feeling when Prospero says he will set him
free?

Predict

Read to the bottom of page 23. Do you think Prospero will set Ariel free?
What do you think Prospero will do with Prince Ferdinand next?

Explain

Explain what Prospero means when he says, ‘Grief blinded me to the
treachery of Antonio’.
How does Prospero treat Caliban and Ariel differently? Use evidence from
the text.
Is there a difference between revenge and justice?

Retrieve

Ariel has golden skin and purple wings. True or false?
What has Prospero asked Ariel to do?
Where is the King of Naples and what is he doing?
What happened twelve years ago?
Prospero asks Ariel to bring him Antonio. True or false?

Summarise

On these pages highlight: the name of three different characters,something someone said, four words beginning with the letter ‘m’.
Re-write these events in the correct order:
• Antonio and the King of Naples overthrew Prospero and Antonio took
his place.
• Prospero and Miranda were put in a boat and cast adrift to die.
• Twelve years ago Prospero’s wife died.
• They reached the island and Prospero found Sycorax’s magic books.

Pages 24 – 30

Vocabulary

Ferdinand’s face is ‘lined with sadness’ (pg 24). What does this mean?
Find and copy a word on page 24 that means the same as ‘undiscovered’.
Find and copy a phrase that tells us that Prospero thinks Miranda and
Ferdinand are destined to be together.

Infer

Who do you think is singing to Ferdinand on page 26?
Highlight evidence on page 26 which suggest that Ferdinand is in a trance.
What might Miranda be thinking and feeling when she sees Ferdinand on page 27? What evidence is there on page 28 to suggest that Miranda has
never seen another man before?

Predict

Read to the end of page 26. What do you think will happen to Ferdinand next?
Read to the end of page 30. What might Prospero’s plan be?
How do you think Caliban is going to react to Ferdinand and Miranda falling in love?

Explain

In the play, Ariel sings the following song to Ferdinand:

Full fathom five thy father lies;
Of his bones are coral made;
Those are pearls that were his eyes:
Nothing of him that doth fade,
But doth suffer a sea-change
Into something rich and strange.

What might it mean? What is a fathom? Can you highlight an example of alliteration?

What is coral? Explain how the sea might transform a drowned sailor.
What is the effect of ‘and when you do….’ (pg 30)? Why hasn’t the author
revealed Prospero’s plans for Antonio and King Alonso?
Do you think it is realistic that Miranda and Ferdinand would instantly fall in love?
Listen to Ben Whishaw singing ‘Full Fathom Five’ from ‘The Tempest’ (2010)
film, starring Helen Mirren. How does the compose create a sense of mystery and magic?

Retrieve

Salt water and sun has bleached Ferdinand’s hair blond. True or false?
What interrupts Ferdinand’s thoughts about drowning?
Why has Prospero orchestrated the meeting between Miranda and Ferdinand?
What does Ferdinand say when he sees Miranda for the first time?
Prospero asks Ariel to find Trinculo and Stephano next. True or false?

Summarise
Complete this table to summarise the character of Ferdinand and explain

Writing opportunity
Research and find out about William Shakespeare. Can you write a biography detailing his life, family and famous plays?

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