Good morning Class 4!
Another big well done for working so hard on the blogs last week! I hope you all had a lovely weekend as you definitely deserved a rest! I know it is not easy learning online but you are all doing a fantastic job!
Today we have another big question related to our topic which, as you know, is all about William Shakespeare and his play The Tempest!
William Shakespeare wrote his plays hundreds of years ago and they are still famous today. They are performed on stage around the world throughout the year. The play The Tempest begins with a dramatic storm at sea…
After the opening scene of the storm, the play then takes us back to tell us how and why the storm came about. Have a look at the picture below which is an extract from the very beginning of the play, alongside a modern translation:
Think about the different ways the opening scene of the storm has been shown on stage. I can imagine flashing lights and the whole theatre in darkness with sound effects and loud drums to create the sound of thunder. The pictures below show how different theatres have created a set to show the storm.
(click the image to enlarge it)
Your task is to answer the following question:
Why do you think William Shakespeare opens his play, The Tempest, with a storm?
Think carefully about your answer and when you write it on the blog, make sure you give reasons for your ideas and explain them clearly.
You could even read you classmates’ ideas and reply to them saying if you agree or disagree and why.
I look forward to reading your ideas!
From Miss Lee 🙂
FOR A PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS BLOG, PLEASE CLICK HERE: Year 4 Topic
If you would like an idea of something creative to do this week… Why not create your own set design for The Tempest? You could use recycled cardboard boxes or anything at home to create your set design.
This link below shows you how to make a 3D model of a room but it would also make a great stage for you to create your set design of the storm:
Last year in Year 4 we created set designs for a different Shakespeare play ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Have a look at the photographs of them here for some inspiration.
If you do make your own set design, send in your photos and I’ll post them on our Year 4 page!
I think he wanted to do it so the people in the audience could be interested and so they would want to hear what happens next.
I think he did it so that it would be more exiting and so it would have more of a sudden start to the show.
I think the tempest is started with a storm because it makes the scene more dramatic and full of suspense.The people on the ship were king Alonsos crew and family members celebrating alonsos sisters birthday but then ship was shipwrecked and alonsos sister was very sad
I think that he opened his play with a storm ⛈ because Prospero was trying to get revenge and the perfect revenge is to shipwreck the people on the ship. An easy way to make it happen is to make the ship sink in a storm.
He starts the story with a storm because he is showing it with anger. He is showing Prospero’s anger because his brother tried to kill him so Prospero wanted to get revenge.
S starts by a storm because he wants to show that Prospero is really angry.
He also wants the start to be very interesting so people would like to continue reading so that his play would be successfull.
Good ideas that the storm represents Prospero’s anger and then we find out exactly why he was so angry!
I think William Shakespeare started his play with a mighty storm to create suspension for the audience.I also think he started it like this because he named his play the ‘ The Tempest ‘ and I think this means extreme temperature and weather.
Good work Elisa! I think you’re right, starting with a big storm would definitely create suspense!
I think that the tempest starts with a storm to make it more exciting.
Good idea! Why might a storm be ab exciting start?
I think Shakespeare started the play with a violent, windy storm {a tempest} to make the audience wonder and ask to themselves, what is going on? I also think he starts with a storm because the story is called, The Tempest. Then he explains where and why it happened.
Good ideas Lucy! Well done!
He opens his because tempest means storm
Dear Miss,
Thank you for your call today!
I was wondering if the school has access to the National Theathre productions… https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learning/national-theatre-collection/uk-state-funded-schools
thank you! Paolo and mum
You’re welcome, it was lovely to speak to you! Oh that looks interesting, I have just asked Miss Coleman and she is looking into it! Thank you for sharing the link!
I think that The Tempest it started with a storm so the the audience / readers wonder what happens next.
Good ideas! We also learn a lot about the characters in this opening scene and how they react when they are in the storm!
I think that Shakespeare started with a storm because he wanted to make the play more dramatic and exiting for the audience. I think also because the story is called the Tempest and starting with a storm seemed very appropriate. Even today there are lots of films that start in the middle and only after tell the beginning, like Starwars – it started with 4,5,6 then 1,2,3.
Hello Paolo!
Yes good ideas! I agree lots of films do this, they start in the middle and then explain how the characters got there!
It’s because it brings suspense to the story by making the open scene of the play stormy,therefore, calling it the tempest!
Great ideas Amarissa! It definitely brings suspense and emphasises the name of the play!
I think he started the play with a storm because he wants the reader’s attention by making the beginning very intense and the reader will want to know what will happen after the storm.
Yes good idea, the audience would definitely want to know what caused the storm and how the characters found themselves in the middle of it!
I think the story begins with a storm/Tempest because it’s maybe to make it more dramatic and to make the audience frightened, but excited on what will happen next. I think it’s also to get their attention and to give an idea of what the story is going to be about. I also agree with Lucy because Tempest means storm.
Good ideas Clare! You’re right, a big storm would definitely get the audience’s attention!
I think 5hat William Shakespeare put storm in his play to make the audience more curious and suspicious of what might happen next.
Hello Miss Lee,
I think The Tempest begins on a stormy day because it represents Prospero’s rage and anger, this also makes it sound dramatic. This would definitely catch the readers attention.
Hello Mayowa!
Great ideas! I agree a storm would capture the attention of the audience right away!
I think he opens his play with a storm to make it quite dramatic, full of action and suspense. He also starts his play with a quite violent setting. People might think that like someone (Prospero) did this magic storm, his enimies can strike back. This makes it a bit suspenseful to the spectators.
This is dramatic because a storm just coming in a suuden wave is not expected that much, even if the sailors new a storm would maybe show up. All the people are shocked, so they don’t know what to do. They all kind of run about panicking.
We all know that a storm is very very violent, but this isn’t a “storm” this is a ………..
TEMPEST! A very tempestuous tempest. It is much more violent then a storm. A tempest would be two times more violent then a storm. When a tempest takes place you attend for people to be hurt. Though in The Tempest, Prospero promised to Miranda that no soul would be hurt or lost.
Normally, in a storm a lot of things can happen like the ship sinks, or people get hit by lightning. They all get punished for something and that is why the storm came. In the tempest, it is different. All the people aborders on the ship are safe on an island.
So much detail Stella! I’m impressed!
Some great ideas! I agree, a storm would get the audience wondering what would happen next and worrying about the characters on board the ship!
I think William Shakespeare began the play in a storm ⛈ so it is very cool ? and exciting, then maybe the audience would wonder what would happen next.