Shakespeare’s story of an exiled ruler who uses magic to restore his daughter to power argues that the powerful must show mercy. First performed in 1611, The Tempest explores the consequences of European settlement in the New World. Read a character analysis of Prospero, plot summary and important quotes.
Summary
Read a Plot Overview of the entire play or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis.
Characters
See a complete list of the characters in The Tempest and in-depth analyses of Prospero, Miranda, Caliban, Ariel, and Gonzalo.
Main Ideas
Here's where you'll find analysis about The Tempest as a whole, from the major themes and ideas to analysis of style, tone, point of view, and more.
Quotes
Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of The Tempest by reading these key quotes.
-
Quotes by Theme
- Prospero’s Threats
- Obedience and Disobedience
- Treason
- Wonder/admiration
- Monstrosity
Further Study
Test your knowledge of The Tempest with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on context, background, and movie adaptations, plus links to the best resources around the web.
Writing Help
Get ready to write your paper on The Tempest with our suggested essay topics, sample essays, and more.
Teacher's Handbook
Teachers, check out our ideas for how you can creatively incorporate SparkNotes materials into your classroom instruction.
Purchase
Go to BN.com to get your copy of these helpful resources.Take a Study Break
-
Every Shakespeare Play Summed Up in a Quote from The Office
-
Every Marvel Movie Summed Up in a Single Sentence
-
Macbeth As Told in a Series of Texts
-
QUIZ: Is This a Great Gatsby Quote or a Lorde Lyric?
-
QUIZ: Which Coming-of-Age Trope Will You Experience This Summer?
-
QUIZ: Are You a Hero, a Villain, or an Anti-Hero?
-
Pick 10 Books and We'll Guess Whether You're an Introvert or an Extrovert