Year 7 - English
Understanding the portrayal of Miranda in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'
'The Tempest'
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the plot and characters of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', and read sections of the play. They explore how Prospero treats Ariel, Caliban and Miranda, and write monlogues from their perspectives. Finally, they write and perform their own monologues inspired by the play.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to understand and describe the extent to which Miranda meets the expectations of a patriarchal society.
Key Notes
- Shakespearean society was a patriarchal society.
- Women had less legal rights than men and faced social pressure to be subservient to men.
- Miranda is shown as compassionate, beautiful, intelligent and optimistic.
- Miranda is also shown as questioning her father's decisions.
- Miranda could be considered as both subverting and meeting the expectations of patriarchal society.
Vocabulary To Learn
- patriarchal: A patriarchal society is where men hold positions of control and are considered more important than women.
- subvert: To subvert means to undermine the power or authority of an established system by going against the rules.
- stereotype: A stereotype is a set idea that people have about what someone or something is like.
- subservient: Being subservient means you're willing to do what other people want and consider your own wishes less important.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students sometimes think that women were completely powerless in Shakespeare's time.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Shakespearean society was a patriarchal society. Women had less legal rights than men and faced social pressure to be subservient to men.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'patriarchal'
A patriarchal society is where men hold positions of control and are considered more important than women.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students sometimes think that women were completely powerless in Shakespeare's time. Correction: While there were legal restrictions and social pressures on women in Shakespeare's time, there were some women who had power and influence.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Comparing the Shakespearean theatre experience with modern theatre Study Guide
- Considering Caliban as an outsider in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Considering how to use body language and voice to perform a convincing monologue Study Guide
- Consolidating our understanding of the plot of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Constructing a debate on the presentation of Caliban in 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Crafting a monologue from the perspective of Caliban from 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Crafting a monologue in Ariel's voice from Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Exploring Prospero and Caliban's relationship in Act 1 Scene 2 of 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Exploring Prospero's power over Caliban in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Exploring Prospero's power over Miranda in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Exploring Shakespearean theatre as a sensory experience Study Guide
- Exploring the power dynamics between Prospero and Ariel in 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Exploring the treatment of Caliban in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Improving an essay on Prospero's power over Caliban in 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Introducing the role and presentation of Ariel in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Planning an essay on Prospero's power over Caliban in 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Revising the theme of inequality in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Structuring an imaginative monologue in relation to Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Understanding Caliban's role and presentation in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Understanding the characters of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Understanding the perspective of an outsider in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Understanding the plot of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Writing a diary in the voice of Miranda from Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Writing a monologue in Ariel's voice from Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Writing about Prospero's treatment of Ariel in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Writing an essay on Prospero's treatment of Caliban in 'The Tempest' Study Guide
- Writing the monologue of an outsider in relation to Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' Study Guide
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