For Tuesday: The Tempest, Acts 2-3 & Adaptation Assignment

NOTE: The Final Project Assignment I handed out in Thursday's class is just below these questions...

Answer TWO of the following: 

Q1: How might the Act 2, scene 2 satirize the encounters between Europeans and natives that were ongoing throughout Shakespeare's time (since this was when Europeans were actively exploring the Americas)? How is Caliban duped by the servants? 

Q2: Much of The Tempest reads like a play-within-a-play: how does Shakespeare achieve this quality? When do we feel we're watching the actors play roles inside their own, and when do we seem to be watching the "real" action?

Q3: Though The Tempest is generically termed a “romance” or a “tragicomedy,” what genre does the play most feel to you as you read it? Is the tone generally comedic, or lighthearted? Are the stakes pretty low? Or does this seem to be heading towards tragedy and high drama? What are the clues that Shakespeare offers to hint at his own generic intentions?

Q4: Does Caliban emerge as a sympathetic character through Acts 2 and 3? Are we on his side, even when he plans to “Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake,/Or cut his weasand with thy knife” (3.2)? Is he a hapless victim who longs for freedom, or a bloodthirsty murderer who justifies Prospero’s suspicions of him in Act 1?

English 3213: Shakespeare

Final Project: Adapting The Tempest!

As you might have guessed, your final project is to propose a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest! Don’t worry—I’m not suggesting you actually stage a modern adaptation of the play, or film anything; but I would like you to suggest how you might go about re-envisioning this late tragicomedy for a 21^st audience so they can appreciate some of what makes it unique, exciting, strange, and enchanting. In other words, make us appreciate why it’s still being read and staged over 400 years after its first performance. Your project can be either a PRESENTATION (Powerpoint, etc.) or a PAPER. But either way, you have to cover all of the following aspects of the proposed production: 

• A Modern Context: how could you stage The Tempest in a modern setting to bring it closer to the audience? What setting might translate the play visually for the audience? Think about how some of our adaptations did this. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in a farm in Iowa, or in a modern high school; but consider what would work for this particular play and its themes and characters. Discuss what inspired you to make this decision and why it could be beneficial.
• A Play or a Film: Which medium would best capture the feel, tone, and drama of the play, and of your Context? Do you need CGI (or animation), or should it just be a live experience? Be sure to explain why.
• The Language: Would you use Shakespeare’s actual language or translate it into modern English while still following the basic story and characters? Consider how Much Ado About Nothing kept all the language despite the modern setting, whereas A Thousand Acres dropped it entirely.
• Editorial Cuts: What characters, scenes or aspects of the play you would cut, adapt, or alter to make sense in your Context? Or things that you feel the audience simply wouldn’t understand? You might consider how many productions of Macbeth cut the Hecate scenes, etc. Be sure to explain why!
• A Sample Scene: Briefly examine one specific scene that would really work in your adaptation. Explain how your changes to the setting and characters (and language?) would help you realize this scene for your audience.
• Anything Else: ???

PRESENTATION: Compile slides that visually and verbally ‘sell’ your production to potential investors/acting companies. Use some form of art/illustrations to help us ‘see’ the setting you envision in your mind. Be sure to quote from the play when necessary so we can ‘see’ this modernized Shakespeare. PAPER: Though you obviously lack visuals, make up for this by being very specific. Make sure we can see and understand your context, what it might look like, and of course what you hope it accomplishes. Be sure to quote from the play as necessary!

FINAL EXAM DAY: Tuesday, December 10 @ 11:30. We will be presenting these in class, either by actually presenting them, or simply discussing your adaptation ideas. The presentation paper or presentation is due in class as well (or should be e-mailed to me by the beginning of class time).