The Shri Ram School Aravali

Subject: LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

Topic: Tempest (Act IV)
Class: XII

Act, Lines Literary Devices, Explanation

Scene Figures of Speech,
Dramatic devices,
Allusions etc.
Act Line 23: Allusion Greek Torches were carried on the wedding
IV, “Hymen day in honour of Hymen, the god of
Scene Lamps” marriage and symbolically -to light
1 the way for the bridal couple.
Line 27: reference Evil spirit-It was believed that every
“worser person was, at birth, allotted two
genius” spirits (the Christian ‘angels’) to be
attendants and guardians throughout
life. Ferdinand shall never be
tempted sexually even if the worser
genius tempts him into it.
Line 30: Allusion and Ferdinand will think that the
Elizabethan belief wedding night will never come
“Phoebus’steed either because the horses drawing
s are the sun’s chariot have collapsed
foundered” (foundered)through overwork, or
because the night is forcibly
prevented from coming.

Line 52-53: “ expression Blood was assumed to be the seat of

The strongest strong passion which included
oaths are straw sexual. Prospero warns Ferdinand to
To th’ fire take control and caution as in the
I’th’blood” heat of ‘dalliance’ oaths of
abstinence from this passion can
‘melt’

TSRS/AR/ The Tempest/ 2020-21 Total no of printed sides 3 Page

1
 Line 55: Expression Ferdinand assures Prospero of his
“The white faithfulness and depth of his love for
cold…liver” Miranda. He tells Prospero that his love
is so utterly pure that it cools his sexual
ardour (believed to arise from the liver)
Line 59: Allusion Goddess of rainbow and messenger of
“Iris.” the gods (line 71) she introduces the
masque which is written in rhymed
couplets.
Line 59: Allusion Goddess of the earth and patroness of
“Ceres” agriculture.

Line 70: Allusion (Roman) Juno- queen of the gods.

“queen o’th
sky”

Line 88: Allusion (Roman) The goddess of sensual love and her
“Venus or her son Cupid purveyor of passion
son, as thou traditionally represented blindfolded,
dost know,do with bow and arrows.
now attend
the queen”
Line : 89-91 Allusion Ceres refers to the episode when the
“Since they the God of the underworld, urged on
…..forsworn” by the powers of love, abducted her
daughter, Proserpina and kept her
with him for six months of the year
during which time Ceres laid upon
the earth the curse of winter.
Line 132: “ Allusion- The nymphs: chaste: the naiads were
temperate associated with Diana, the virgin
nymphs” goddess

Line 153: reference Prospero’s speech embraces here not

“the great only the earth as a globe but also the
globe itself” globe theatres where most of
Shakespeare’s plays were performed.
Line 171:” Reference: literal & Intoxicated with alcohol-literal and
red-hot with figurative figurative -excited, fired with false
drinking” courage.
Line 187: reference As a bait
“for stale to
catch these
thieves”
Line 188-9: Reference to Caliban Prospero charges Caliban to be the
“on whose and his birth, son of a witch- Sycorax and hence is
nature…quite upbringing immune to the benefits of nurture.
lost “ Prospero’s nurture has undoubtedly
been unsuccessful as Caliban does not
possess moral nature- a murderer,
TSRS/AR/ The Tempest/ 2020-21 conspirator
Total no of printed sides 3 Page
2 Line 193: “ Direct meaning Clothes line
line”
Line 194: “ Reference- literal and Literal- burrowing mammal with dark
blind mole” figurative velvety fur, a long muzzle, and very
small eyes, that have intensified
hearing ability but cannot see.