The Tempest

# Essay Prompt: *The Tempest* by William Shakespeare **Prompt:** In *The Tempest*, Prospero holds nearly complete control over the island and its inhabitants — yet Shakespeare complicates any simple admiration for that power by revealing its costs and contradictions. **Argue that Prospero's use of magic and authority acts as a form of colonial domination**, exploring how his treatment of Caliban and Ariel exposes the exploitation that underlies his rule. In your essay, analyze at least **two specific scenes or passages** that demonstrate how power is exercised, justified, and ultimately challenged in the play. Consider how Shakespeare employs language, imagery, and character interactions to encourage the audience to critique — rather than simply accept — Prospero's authority. --- **Requirements:** - Develop a clear, debatable thesis that takes a stance on the nature of Prospero's power. - Support your argument with close textual evidence (direct quotations and paraphrase). - Address at least one **counterargument** (e.g., Prospero as a benevolent or wronged figure) and refute it. - Conclude by reflecting on what the play suggests about the **relationship between knowledge, power, and justice**. --- **Suggested Length:** 4–6 paragraphs (approximately 800–1,200 words)

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# Essay Prompt: *The Tempest* by William Shakespeare **Prompt:** In *The Tempest*, Prospero holds almost complete control over the island and its inhabitants. However, Shakespeare adds complexity to our understanding of his authority by revealing its costs, contradictions, and eventual abandonment. **Argue that Prospero's exercise of power is essentially a form of colonial domination**, or, on the flip side, **argue that it reflects a rightful application of justice and restoration**. Use specific scenes, character dynamics (like Prospero/Caliban, Prospero/Ariel, Prospero/Miranda), and Shakespeare's language and imagery to back up a clear, debatable claim regarding the nature of power in the play. --- **Requirements:** - Present a clear, arguable thesis in your introduction. - Analyze **at least three** distinct pieces of textual evidence. - Address and counter a **counterargument** to your stance. - Conclude by linking your argument to a broader theme (such as freedom, justice, or civilization versus nature). --- **Suggested Length:** 4–6 paragraphs (around 800–1,200 words)

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# Essay Prompt: *The Tempest* by William Shakespeare **Prompt:** In *The Tempest*, Prospero holds significant power over the island and its inhabitants. However, Shakespeare adds complexity to this portrayal of power by including characters who resist it, endure suffering under it, or find liberation through it. **Write a well-structured argumentative essay where you assert a claim about how Shakespeare illustrates Prospero's use of power to express a central theme — such as colonialism and subjugation, the ethics of revenge versus forgiveness, the connection between art and control, or the nature of freedom and enslavement.** Your essay should: - Present a clear, defensible thesis that goes beyond merely summarizing the plot. - Back up your argument with **specific textual evidence** (direct quotes and paraphrases) from at least **three scenes or acts**. - Examine how Shakespeare's dramatic techniques — including imagery, symbolism, dramatic irony, and characterization — enhance the theme you choose. - Recognize and engage with **at least one counterargument** or complicating viewpoint. - Conclude by considering the broader implications of your argument beyond the play itself. --- **Suggested length:** 4–6 paragraphs (AP) or 800–1,200 words (A-Level) **Pre-writing tip:** Think about how the experiences of Caliban, Ariel, Miranda, and Prospero himself reveal different facets of power. By the end of the play, who is truly free — and what have they sacrificed to achieve that freedom?

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