Video summary
The storm rages and wakes Miranda. She is not happy when she learns what her father has done.
She wants to know why he’s endangering the passengers of a passing ship.
Prospero clicks his fingers and the storm stops. Then he tells Miranda the whole story.
How he's not just a wizard; how he was once Duke of Milan; how he was betrayed by his brother, Antonio, who threw him - and the young Miranda - into a boat with the intention of losing them both at sea; how his old friend, Gonzalo, threw his science books into the boat with them as they were leaving and how after 12 years of study he has come to be a great magician.
Prospero then explains that on the boat are all the people responsible for his current situation, including his brother Antonio.
Ariel arrives with news that the passengers from the ship have landed safely on the island, split up in various locations - just as Prospero had ordered.
Teacher Notes
This series provides various opportunities to meet Key Stage 2 National Curriculum requirements, including study of a significant author, reading techniques such as prediction, drawing inferences, clarification and summary; and drama and writing opportunities - including poetry performance, descriptive writing, persuasive writing, letter writing, newspaper article writing, poetry and play scripts.
It could be used as an introduction to the play, consolidation of key aspects or for revision of the plot and characters.
More detail on how to use this series, including detailed lesson plans, can be found in the Teacher's Notes PDF.
This series is relevant for teaching English at KS2, in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and at Second Level in Scotland.
Episode 1 - Rock the ship. video
On an island with no name, Prospero, once Duke of Milan - conjures a great storm
Episode 3 - Full fathom five video
Prospero and Ariel tour the island to check on those who have been washed ashore
Episode 4 - Toledo steel. video
Antonio sees an opportunity - if he can persuade Sebastian to murder King Alonso
