the slave of Prospero
looked like, and it is not at all unlikely that the poet intended we
should not see him very clearly. He is a hideous spectacle, scarcely
human, yet resembling a man in some respects. He is called in various
places villain, slave and tortoise; a moon-calf, that is, a shapeless
lump; a fish, with legs like a man and fins like arms; a puppy-headed
monster; a man monster; half a fish and half a monster; a plain fish; a
mis-shaped knave; "as strange a thing as e'er I looked upon;" and it is
said of him that his manners are as disproportioned as his shape.

Is the character of Caliban apparently in keeping with his appearance?
What does Prospero say of him? Do you place confidence in the opinion of
such a man as Prospero, and do you feel that he is not unnecessarily
severe? Does Caliban do anything to justify the bad character Prospero
gives him early in the play? Why do you suppose Shakespeare introduces
into the play such a character? Does such a character heighten the
effect of the others?

6. _Other Characters._ Classify the other characters as good or bad.
Where did you place Alonso? Is there any doubt at all as to where
Gonzalo should be placed? Are there any redeeming traits in Stephano? Do
you think Trinculo's jesting is really funny? Would you like the play
better if Stephano and Trinculo were left out of it? What can you find
in the boatswain's words to justify the opinion Gonzalo holds of him?
Which is the greater scoundrel, Sebastian or Antonio?

THE STORY or PLOT. A certain duke has been by treachery driven from his
principality with his infant daughter, and has found refuge on an
uninhabited island. After many years those who plotted against him are
thrown into his power, he recovers his dukedom and marries his daughter
to the son of his king. Such, in brief, is the plot of _The Tempest_,
but how wonderfully it is expanded, and how many characters have been
created, how many incidents created to give interest and truthfulness to
the narrative. Let us follow the play through, and by studying the
relation of the incidents, one to another, learn to appreciate more
fully the art of the great magician who wrote the play.

ACT I--SCENE I. _Purpose:_ To introduce the enemies of Prospero. Do we
know at the time of such a person as Prospero? Do we know why the
persons are on the ship, where they intended to go or where they are
now? When do we find out these things? What idea do you get of Go