A Tempest, a Game of Chess, and Prospero s Book

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1 Teacher: English 8 April 2, 2017 A Tempest, a Game of Chess, and Prospero s Book Have you ever read a book or watched a movie and noticed things or objects that might have had a deeper meaning? In literature, symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense, ( Symbolism ). As a literary device, imagery consists of descriptive language that can function as a way for the reader to better imagine the world of the piece of literature and also add symbolism to the work, ( Imagery Examples ). The tempest, the game of chess, and Prospero s book are all symbols of imagery in The Tempest by William Shakespeare. The tempest symbolizes Prospero s suffering and his magic and power. In the beginning of the book, Alonso, Sebastian, Ferdinand, Antonio, Stephano, Gonzalo, and Trinculo came from Claribel s, Alonso s daughter, wedding and were on their way back to Italy. A storm, or a tempest, appears and attacks the ship in which Alonso, Sebastian, Ferdinand, Antonio, Stephano, Gonzalo, and Trinculo are on. Here is where the tempest is mentioned from The Tempest summary from SparkNotes: The royal party and the other mariners, with the exception of the unflappable Boatswain, begin to fear for their lives. Lightning cracks, and the mariners cry that the ship has been hit. Everyone prepares to sink.

2 Kidnapped and left to die on a raft at sea, Prospero and his daughter survive because Gonzalo leaves them supplies and Prospero s books, which are the source of his magic and power. Only now, Prospero says, has Fortune at last sent his enemies his way, and he has raised the tempest in order to make things right with them once and for all. After telling this story, Prospero charms Miranda to sleep and then calls forth his familiar spirit Ariel, his chief magical agent. Prospero and Ariel s discussion reveals that Ariel brought the tempest upon the ship and set fire to the mast. The game of chess symbolizes destroying the king. Here is where the game of chess is mentioned in the play from The Tempest summary from SparkNotes: Prospero confronts Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian with their treachery, but tells them that he forgives them. Alonso tells him of having lost Ferdinand in the tempest and Prospero says that he recently lost his own daughter. Clarifying his meaning, he draws aside a curtain to reveal Ferdinand and Miranda playing chess. Alonso and his companions are amazed by the miracle of Ferdinand s survival, and Miranda is stunned by the sight of people unlike any she has seen before. Ferdinand tells his father about his marriage. Here is how it symbolizes destroying the king from The Tempest themes from SparkeNotes: The object of chess is to capture the king. That, at the simplest level, is the symbolic significance of Prospero revealing Ferdinand and Miranda playing chess in the final scene.

3 Prospero s book symbolizes also symbolize Prospero s power and his desire to. Here is where Prospero s book is mentioned in The Tempest from The Tempest summary from SparkNotes: Prospero confronts Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian with their treachery, but tells them that he forgives them. Alonso tells him of having lost Ferdinand in the tempest and Prospero says that he recently lost his own daughter. Clarifying his meaning, he draws aside a curtain to reveal Ferdinand and Miranda playing chess. Alonso and his companions are amazed by the miracle of Ferdinand s survival, and Miranda is stunned by the sight of people unlike any she has seen before. Ferdinand tells his father about his marriage. Here is how Prospero s book symbolizes Prospero s power from The Tempest from SparkeNotes: Like the tempest, Prospero s books are a symbol of his power. Remember / First to possess his books, Caliban says to Stephano and Trinculo, for without them / He s but a sot (III.ii.86 88). The books are also, however, a symbol of Prospero s dangerous desire to withdraw entirely from the world. It was his devotion to study that put him at the mercy of his ambitious brother, and it is this same devotion to study that has made him content to raise Miranda in isolation. In The Tempest by William Shakespeare, the tempest, the game of chess, and Prospero s book are all symbols of imagery. The tempest symbolized Prospero s suffering, magic, and power. The game of chess symbolized the king being destroyed. Prospero s also symbolized his power. Symbolism can help create a better picture of a story and can give the story a deeper

4 meaning. The next time you read a book or watch a movie, let s see if we can find any symbolism and see how it helps give the story a better picture and a deeper meaning.

5 Works Cited "Symbolism - Examples and Definition of Symbolism." Literary Devices. N.p., 03 June Web. 26 Mar "Imagery Examples and Definition." Literary Devices. N.p., 30 Oct Web. 26 Mar "The Tempest." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 26 Mar The Tempest. SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 26 Mar Shakespeare, William The Tempest Literary Devices. n.d. Book. March, 15, 2017.

The Tempest - Plot Overrview

The Tempest - Plot Overrview A storm strikes a ship carrying Alonso, Ferdinand, Sebastian, Antonio, Gonzalo, Stephano, and Trinculo, who are on their way to Italy after coming from the wedding of Alonso