William Shakespeare, The Tempest
Lesson plans and teaching ideas

For introductory, background and other resources, try Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Age . For links to other plays, try the Shakespeare Main Page.

60-Second Shakespeare
On this page, a tabloid-style summary of the play from the BBC. Follow links to learn how your students can produce something similar.

Controlling Sight and Knowledge in The Tempest
Students use journals, reading logs, seminar discussions, artistic analysis, and acting to explore the play. These lessons emphasize the relationship between knowing and seeing. Unit plan includes essential questions.

English Class in Performance
If you want your students to get up and perform Shakespeare, here are some abridged scripts: The Merchant of Venice , A Midsummer Night's Dream , Macbeth , Romeo and Juliet , and The Tempest .

The Tempest
Background, scene-by-scene synopsis, and a variety of activities related to the Elizabethan era, plot, character, language, theme, reader response, and more. Requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.

The Tempest
Reading strategies, including an anticipation guide, questioning strategies, and an approach to vocabulary.

The Tempest
Plot summary, themes, study questions, more.

The Tempest
Background, summary, discussion questions, analysis, suggestions for writing about the play, sample essay questions.

Themes, Motifs & Symbols
Analysis from Sparknotes.

Tom Hanks and Caliban: Survivor Superstars
"Students ... explore the Sea Venture 's wreck on Bermuda in 1609 as inspiration for Shakespeare's The Tempest ."

The Wreck of the Sea Venture
Was The Tempest inspired in part by accounts of the wreck of the ship, the Sea Venture ? This audio file from Shakespeare in American Life explores the possibility.

You Can Go Home Again, Can't You? An Introduction to The Tempest
Text of a college-level introductory lecture on the play, with emphasis on interpretation.