Licence information | This resource is free to use for educational purposes. ©British Council 2015

Source | This resource was originally developed by EAL Nexus. Images are from Self-Made Hero’s

Manga Shakespeare series.

The Tempest Act 4

Scene summary

Subject: English Age range: 12–14, 15–16 Topic: The Tempest

This project and its actions were made possible due to co-financing by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals

EAL Nexus resource

©British Council 2015

The Tempest Act 4:

Scene summary

Scene 1 Outside Prospero’s cell

Prospero approves of Ferdinand and Miranda’s love for each other.

He tells Ferdinand that he must not take advantage of Miranda

before they are married.

Prospero then asks Ariel to arrange a masque to celebrate the

engagement. Ariel calls for Juno (queen of the gods), Iris (Juno’s

messenger and the goddess of the rainbow) and Ceres (goddess of

agriculture) to appear. They give the couple their blessing, and wish

them honour, riches and prosperity.

Just as some nymphs and reapers are about to start a country

dance, Prospero suddenly remembers the attempt on his life. He

stops the masque and sends the spirits away. He then tells Ferdinand

and Miranda that his abrupt actions are mainly due to his age and

that he needs to have a walk.

When Prospero and Ariel are on their own, Ariel updates Prospero

with his would-be assassins’ plan. Ariel also tells Prospero that he

used his music to lead the three men through pricking gorse and

thorns, and into a filthy pool.

Prospero and Ariel set a trap. They hang some nice clothes on a line

in Prospero’s cell. When Stephano and Trinculo see the fine clothes,

they want to steal them because they are wet from the pool. Even

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though Caliban wants to stick to their plan to steal the magic books

and kill Prospero, the other two ignore him. When they touch the

clothes, some spirits disguised as hounds chase the conspirators out.

Key words or phrases with pictures

Key words to translate

Word or phrase Translation Meaning

a masque

to approve

to take advantage

of

to celebrate

the engagement

agriculture

a blessing

an honour

Ceres a country dance the hounds

Iris Juno a pool

the pricking gorse the rainbow some spirits

Prospero’s cell fine clothes

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Word or phrase Translation Meaning

prosperity

some nymphs

some reapers

his abrupt actions

due to

to update

his would-be

assassins

a filthy pool

to ignore

to disguise

to chase

the conspirators