Workbook Answers for The Tempest by William Shakespeare Act 1 Scene 1 ISC
The Tempest Act 1 Scene 1 Workbook Answers
Extract 1Gonzalo: Good, yet remember whom thou hast aboard.
Boatswain: None that I more love than myself. You
are a councillor; if you can command these elements to
silence, and work the peace of the present, we will not
hand a rope more. Use your authority. If you cannot,
give thanks you have liv’d so long, and make yourself
ready in your cabin for the mischance of the hour, if it
so hap.—Cheerly, good hearts! Out of our way, I say.
1. Who are the Royal people aboard on the ship?
Answer
The royal people on the ship are Alonso (King of Naples), Ferdinand, Gonzalo, Sebastian, Antonio, Stephano, etc.
2. What has the boatswain said just before the extract about these people?
Answer
The boatswain said that he will be patient when the sea becomes patient and he said that what do this thunderstorm care whether we have a king on board. He tell them to go to their cabin and be quiet as they are helping the storm to wreck them.
3. What does the boatswain request Gonzalo to do?
Answer
The boatswain request Gonzalo that he is the king's advisor if he can subdue the storm and bring about a calm weather, they would not have to handle a single rope any more. He requests him to use his authority to control the strong waves.
4. What is referred to as the mischance of the hour? How could they save themselves from the mischance?
Answer
The death of passengers is referred to as mischance of an hour. They could save themselves from the mischance by going back to their cabins and allowing the sailors to continue their efforts.
5. What role does the sea storm play in the development of the plot?
Answer
The storm gives the play its title. The scene is is of vital importance since the fate of the ship and its passengers is uncertain. The dramatist manages to depict the fright of the royal entourage with remarkable skill. The scene of sea storm ends on a hopeless note, leaving the audience in suspense about the fate of the ship and its passengers.
6. Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the context of the passage
(a) counsellor
(b) elements
Answer
(a) counsellor: King’s advisor
(b) elements: here refers to winds, waves, ocean, etc.
Extract 2
2. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
Gonzalo: I have great comfort from this fellow.
Methinks he hath no drowning mark upon him, his
complexion is perfect gallows. Stand fast, good Fate,
to his hanging, make the rope of his destiny our cable,
for our own doth little advantage. If he be not born to
be hang’d, our case is miserable.
1. Who is this fellow referred to in the extract? why does Gonzalo have great comfort from him?
Answer
Boatswain is the referred person here. Gonzalo feels comforts from Boatswain because according to him there are no signs to show that he will die by hanging, not by drowning. His appearance shows that he will die by hanging, not by drowning, hence he will also be saved.
2. What has this fellow asked the passengers to do?
Answer
The fellow here refers to the boatswain. He asked the passengers to go the cabin silently and thank god that they have lived so long.
3. Where does this scene take place? Describe the chaos and confusion in the scene.
Answer
This scene takes place on board a ship at sea. There was a storm blowing on the sea accompanied by thunder and lightning. The passengers on the ship was frightened and lost the hope for survival. They were panicked and frustrated and thus could not maintain a clear state of mind. They were confused on what shall they do to save themselves.
4. In modern times confusion and chaos are shown on the stage by using modern equipment. How did Shakespeare produce such an effect on the stage?
Answer
Shakespeare produced such effect by the use of cymbals and drums. The sailors yell or the frightened shouts were made by the actors off stage. Most importantly the effect of the storm on the characters on board the ship created such effect.
5. Why did the passengers travel on the ship? What was their condition during the tempest?
Answer
The passengers were traveling in the ship because they were returning after Caribel's (The king Alonso's daughter) marriage to the king of Tunis, Africa, through the sea. They were frightened and frustrated and had lost their hope for survival.
6. Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the context of the passage
(a) drowning-mark
(b) advantage
Answer
(a) drowning-mark: indication of death by drowning
(b) advantage: benefit
Extract 3
Boatswain: Down with the topmast! Yare! lower,
lower! bring her to try with main-course. [A cry within.]
A plague upon this howling! they are louder than the
weather, or our office.
Enter SEBASTIAN, ANTONIO, and GONZALO.
Yet again? What do you here? Shall we give o’er and
drown? Have you a mind to sink?
SEBASTIAN. A pox o’ your throat, you bawling,
blasphemous, incharitable dog!
1. What is the boatswain trying to do? How does the extract show that the people were in danger during the tempest?
Answer
Boatswain is trying to have control over the ship and bring the ship to main course as the ship was drifting towards toe rocky coast and save the life of the passenger. People were in danger during the tempest because all were crying, tensed and frightened because of the fear of being drowned.
2. How can you say from this scene that Shakespeare has a sound knowledge of a ship at the sea?
Answer
The scene has many terms of seamanship which shows Shakespeare's familiarity with the subject. The graphic picture of a ship drifting towards the rocky coast or an island, the action to be taken by the sailors to keep the ship under control suggest that Shakespeare had a sound knowledge of the ship at sea.
3. Judging from the speech, what sort of a man is Boatswain?
Answer
Boatswain is a confident person. He is confident in his work but he is highly disrespectful and insolent person as he talks to the royal party in a discourteous way.
4. Who are Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo?
Answer
Sebastian is a brother of Alonso, the King of Naples. Antonio is Prospero’s brother, whereas Gonzalo is the honest counsellor of king Alonso.
5. Compare the character of Sebastian with that of Gonzalo.
Answer
Sebastian is the brother of King Alonso. He is a villain. He becomes a partner with Antonio in the conspiracy against his brother, Alonso, whereas Gonzalo is an honest courtier at the Court of King Alonso. He is sympathetic in nature and loyal to his King. When Alonso is sad at the supposed loss of his son, Gonzalo tries to console him.
6. Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the context of the passage
(a) plague
(b) blasphemous
Answer
(a) plague: curse upon
(b) blasphemous: taking irrelevantly
Extract 4
Antonio: Hang, cur! hang, you whoreson, insolent
noisemaker! We are less afraid to be drown’d than thou
art.
Gonzalo. I’ll warrant him for drowning, though the
ship were no stronger than a nutshell, and as leaky as an
unstanch’d wench.
Boatswain. Lay her a-hold, a-hold! Set her two courses
off to sea again! Lay her off.
Enter MARINERS wet.
Mariners. All lost! To prayers, to prayers! All lost!
1. Who is the insolent noisemaker? What is busy-doing? Why is Antonio talking to him impatiently?
Answer
Boatswain is the insolvent noisemaker. Boatswain was commanding the sailors to handle the rope and protect ship from getting struck into shallow water. Antonio was talking to Boatswain impatiently because he was not satisfied with the efforts of Boatswain and he thought that the ship was going to drown.
2. Why is Gonzalo confident that the Boatswain will die by drowning?
Answer
Gonzalo was confident that the boatswain will not die by drowning, because according to him there are no signs on boatswain's face which show that he will not die by drowning. His face shows that he will die by hanging even if the ship were no stronger than a nutshell.
3. What is the attitude of the following towards the danger in the ship?
(a) Antonio (b) Gonzalo
Answer
(a) Antonio shows negative signs. He is devoid of human feelings. He says that they are going to die because of these drunkard sailors.
(b) Gonzalo is optimistic and calm. He is confident that the boatswain will not die by drowning, because according to him there are no signs of drowning on boatswain's face.
4. How do the following reaction to the shipwreck?
(a) Boatswain (b) Mariners
Answer
(a) Boatswain: The boatswain shows his authority on the ship. He is worried about his life. When passengers interfere in his work, he orders them to go back to their cabin. He finally resorts himself to his fate.
(b) Mariners: Mariners put up with difficulty till end by trying to save the ship. At last they lose all their hope of survival and begin to pray to God to save them.
5. How does Shakespeare create an atmosphere of a fierce storm in the scene?
Answer
The scene is not very tragic despite the terrible storm and the fact that so many lives are at stake. Shakespeare lets us know that he does not want us to be too serious, because he makes use of subtle dramatic devices like the boatswain ignoring royal presence amidst the storm and the devastating wit of Gonzalo. There is suspense and the danger presented by the storm. But Gonzalo’s satire relieves it to a great extent.
6. Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the context of the passage
(a) insolent
(b) warrant
Answer
(a) insolent: rude
(b) warrant: assure