Eduqas A Level English Literature Component 2: Drama| 'The Tempest' by Shakespeare | Revision Bundle, Everything You Need To Know
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Component 2: Drama
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CCEA
This document consists of all the knowledge needed for in Paper 2 Eduqas English Literature A Level for Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'. It covers all of the AOs required for this essay, including summaries, context, critics, quotes, analysis of quotes, topic sentences, and example paragraphs.
- Comedy - Freedom
- Magic / supernatural - Colonisation
- Discord and harmony - Usurpation
- Power - Human condition
- Relationships - Revenge
, CONTEXT:
Context Explain Link
Shakespeare Shakespeare was a famous playwright, actor, The Tempest being his last links to the critique of
theatre entrepreneur and actor. ‘willing suspension of disbelief’ that the audience
In his life, he wrote 154 sonnets, 50 long poems were captivated by throughout Shakespeare’s
and 37 plays credited to him. time.
The tempest was his last play.
His plays were either tragedies (Romeo and
Juliet), comedies (Midsummer's Nights Dream) or
histories (Richard II) but at his last ever play,
Shakespeare combined these themes in the
Tempest.
There were 7 years of Shapeseare’s life that were
unrecorded, known as his ‘lost years’, conspired
to be teaching, acting or escaped and went into
hiding.
Colonialism This refers to the discovery of the new world. ‘The Tempest’ was first performed in 1611, which
Elizabethan reign was a time of discovery as was a period of exploration following the
English ships travelled the world, exploring and discovery of America in 1492. This led to c17th
trading. Under Elizabeth, England became a colonial attitudes being discriminatory against
great naval power and sowed the seeds of the indigenous populations as anyone that deviated
British Empire. In the late 1500s, the lack of from western stereotypes was viewed as
technology meant that when explorers travelled abnormal.
the world, they could make up stories about what - Enlightenment (audiences admiring
they saw and people would believe them, leading Prtosero’s attempt to civilise) vs
to a strong belief in the supernatural. Romanticism (Caloabn was a natural man
and evilness was based on product of his
environment)
Magic Magic is split into black and white. Black magic is As Prospero claims to use white magic that he
the use of supernatural powers, magic for evil gained from reading books to study language and
and selfish purposes or magic associated with the magic, making him gain the ability to control
devil and other evil spirits. forces of nature and make their effects fruitful
White magic is using supernatural rather than destructive. He uses this distinction
powers/magic, to do good and in the renaissance as a way to undermine Syrocrax, who uses black
, period, to bring someone closer to God. magic and is compared to Medea from Greek
Practitioners of white magic have been given mythology. However, whilst Sycorax tortured
titles such as wise men or women, healers, white Ariel, Prospero did the same to Caliban showing
wizards of witches. white magic is not his only use of magic and he
acts as a case for the overlapping nature of these
two binary oppositions.
James I (issues during monarchy) James I had a war with Spain and made peace in James’ personal experiences show relation to
1604 before directing his attention to the troubles some of that seen in the tempest. He can be seen
in the Church. as a powerful man that seeks peace and harmony,
Parisian and Catholic groups posed threats so which is not common in the cut-throat nature of
James had to balance the wishes of both to politics, showing his similarities to Prospero.
maintain religious control. He held a conference His prejudice can somewhat reflect that of Ariel
to lay out his plan for creating unity within the and Caliba, where he is more able to sympathise
church and bridged the differences between with them.
conservatives and reformers by sponsoring a new
English translation of the bible, still known today
as the King James Version.
Faced prejudice in England as a Scotsman so
attempted to attract and reward supporters
through offering many titles of nobility and gifts.
James I (masques) James I and his queen, Anne of Denmark, James I sponsored Shakespeare’ company, so it
staged many court masques. Courtiers were was important to him that he implemented
expected to play at least one musical elements within his plays that tailor to his
instrument, dance well and take part in interests. It also ties in with the harmonious
masques. Masques were a combination of elements on the tempest.
opera, theatre, ballet and ball and were great
court spectacles that consisted of music with
dancing, poetry, scenery and dramatic
costume. They featured Gods and Goddesses
from mythology and British history and their
purpose was to demonstrate wisdom, and the
god-given right to rule of the Stuart monarchs.
Alchemy The Elizabethan age was known as the golden age This can link to Prospero as he transforms base
for alchemy, where science and magic became metals (Antonio, Alonso, Caliban) into gold (more
intertwined, such as with John Dee and virtuous and noble). The image of him conjuring
astronomy. He was known to practice theurgy the tempest can link to the process alchemists
but was also an astronomer, mathematician, used to boil up water as part of their experiments.
geographer and engineer. Today, alchemy is
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