Overview

William Shakespeare wrote The Tempest for audiences who believed in magic, sorcery, witchcraft, and other “dark arts.” This handout gives students important background information about magic in Shakespeare’s time, when modern science was just beginning and ancient superstitions about magic and witchcraft had entered the Christian religion. The biographies of John Dee, a model for the character of Prospero, and James VI/James I, the play’s royal audience, explain some of the allusions in the play. The handout also helps students understand the action in the play, interpret Shakespeare’s characters, and describe what the play meant to its contemporary audiences. Use this handout to spark discussion and debate in your classroom and allow students to express personal experiences and opinions related to the issues described.

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