1.
The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Norton Topics Online. 2005. 19 Feb. 2005
This website introduces the student to the age of exploration that was both the historical context and the backdrop for The Tempest.
2.
“The Columbus Letter Translation.” Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education, University of Southern Maine. 1998. 23 Feb. 2005<
Christopher Columbus’ Letter about the New World had a huge influence on European imagination and helped to form the atmosphere in which Shakespeare wrote The Tempest.
3.
“Of Cannibals.” Trans. Cotton, Charles. Essays by Michel de Montaigne. 22 Feb. 2005
This site contains the complete text of Michel de Montaigne’s essay on New World people,“Of Cannibals,” which influenced Shakespeare in his writing of The Tempest.
Also see http://ise.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/ideas/montaigne.html
4.
“The Seaventure, 1609.” Thomas Langford. English America: The Voyages, Vessels, People,&
Places. 2003. 19 Feb.2005
This site discusses the voyage of William Strachey’s ship, the Seaventure, and its shipwreck on the island of Bermuda. This occurrence may have inspired Shakespeare’s writing of The Tempest.
5.
“Schooner Vocabulary.” Tom Van Oosterhout. Schoonerman. 22 Feb. 2005
An extensive dictionary of sailing ship terms. This can be a good reference to understand seafaring lingo not covered in the text’s notes, or to find out more about ships.
6.
Elizabethan Beliefs. 2005. 19 Feb. 2005
This short site gives an overview of the superstition and science that prevailedamong many people in the Elizabethan era. It is a good source for a quick and
basic understanding of the historical context of The Tempest.
7.
“The Tempest Summary at eNotes.” eNotes.com. 2005. 19 Feb. 2005
This site gives a simple and useful introduction to The Tempest.
8.
Shakespeare’s Globe Online. 2005. 19 Feb. 2005
The online site for a reconstructed Globe theater. The site contains some interesting information about the famous theater in which Shakespeare’s plays were performed. This site is especially useful if you are introducing Shakespeare to the class.
See also this excellent site: http://www.bardweb.net/globe.html
9.
“An Encapsulated Bibliography.” Shakespeare Resource Center. 2005. Feb. 19 2005
This site is a good resource for introducing Shakespeare to your class. It also has many links to other good resources.
10.
McGinn, James E., Ed.D, and McGlinn, Jeanne, Ph.D. A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. 24 Feb. 2005
This site has some very good pre-reading strategies and activities. It would be a good supplement to start a unit on The Tempest.
During Reading Strategies
1.
The Tempest: New Historical Background for A2 Specification. 19 Feb. 2005
An excellent, all-purpose site with historical background information, paintings of scenes in the play, a critical guide, and articles addressing any number of issues dealt with in the text.
2.
“Tempest–1611.” 19 Feb. 2005
Lecture notes for a unit on The Tempest. Although they do not come with an explanation, they offer some higher-level thoughts concepts, and interpretations about the play.
See also the source page for the lecture notes, Triangulating Shakespeare:
http://cla.calpoly.edu/~smarx/Shakespeare/triang/Comedies/comedies.html
3.
“The Tempest.” University of Basel, Switzerland. Jan. 2005. 19 Feb. 2005
This page itself is a compilation of links about The Tempest that cover contexts of the play, paintings and music of the play, criticism, and more.
4.
“The Shakespeare Glossary.” About.com. 19 Feb. 2005
This Elizabethan glossary is a great source to strengthen your or your student’s Shakespeare vocabulary.
5.
E. A. Abbott. A Shakespearian Grammar. Macmillan and Company. London and New York, 1870. 22 Feb. 2005
This site is a fascinating database showing some of the differences between Elizabethan English grammar and modern English grammar. A great way to demystify Shakespeare’s writing.
6.
Proper Elizabethan Accents. 22 Feb. 2005
A brief introduction to how people's speech in Elizabethan England actually
sounded, illustrating their vocabulary, and grammar. Includes a table for constructing
Shakespearean insults, as well as audio downloads of spoken examples! Lots of fun.
7.
Rombough, Paul. Rombough’s Grade 8 English Class Site: The Tempest. 22 Feb. 2005
This site provides a partial 8th grade lesson plan from Paul Rombough, Chateauguay Valley High School, for teaching The Tempest. It also gives a summary by scene with accompanying questions to ask students.
8.
Smith, Babs. AP English: The Tempest Unit Plan. 22 Feb. 2005
For a higher-level lesson on The Tempest, Babs Smith’s AP English lesson plan site is a very detailed and useful source.
9.
Schwartz, Debora B. The Tempest: Study Guide. 23 Feb. 2005
A study guide created by Dr. Debora B. Schwartz of California Polytechnic State University contains some useful study questions.
10.
Boyer, Norman. Reading Questions for The Tempest. 23 Feb. 2005
This document from Norman Boyer gives questions to accompany the reading for each scene.
After Reading Strategies
1.
“Essays on The Tempest.” Shakespeare Online. Mabillard, Amanda. 2003. 22 Feb. 2005
A mother-lode of articles on The Tempest. This site gives some good perspectives for class discussions. The home site for Shakespeare Online is also useful.
2.
“Criticism of Individual Plays.” Criticism. Gray, Terry A.. 2005. 22 Feb. 2005
This is another source for articles and criticism on The Tempest.
3.
Essay Topics on The Tempest. Malaspina University-College. 23 Feb. 2005
This site gives a number of possible essay prompts for students to write on.
4.
Cox, Timothy. “Writing Assignment for The Tempest.” 24 Feb. 2005
By writing about The Tempest in a different paradigm as a newspaper or tabloid reporter, students will strengthen their understanding of its story and themes.
5.
Barron’s Booknotes: The Tempest, William Shakespeare. PinkMonkey.com. 1993. 23 Feb. 2005
This is an interesting and extensive test with an answer key. It might cost some money to print, but would be a good assessment tool.
See also the pink monkey home site for an entire database and study source.
http://www.pinkmonkey.com/index2.asp
6.
The Tempest, William Shakespeare. Cliffs Notes. 2005. 23 Feb. 2005
The Cliffs Notes website. Cliche? Yes. Functional? Very. Aside from regular plot summaries, this site provides commentary and critical essays.
7.
The Tempest, William Shakespeare Study Guide: Themes, Motifs, and Symbols. SparkNotes. 23 Feb. 2005
This article and the SparkNotes site in general provide some interesting insight into the themes, motifs, and symbols of The Tempest.
8.
Cantor, Paul A. “Shakespeare–‘For All Time’?” Public Interest 110 (1993):34-49. Ebsco Host
Research Database. 24 Feb. 2005
This article would be a good source for a high-level discussion of The Tempest. It addresses the play from various critical angles.
9.
The Tempest. Dir. William Woodman. Perf. Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., William H. Bassett, Ted Sorel, Ron Palillo. Kultur Films, Inc., 1985.
Let’s be honest. Shakespeare wrote his plays to be seen, not read. Here is a relatively recent rendering of The Tempest that could prove quite useful.
10.
The Tempest. Dir. Jack Bender. Perf. Peter Fonda, John Glover, Katherine Heigl, John Pyper- Ferguson, Harold Perrineau, Jr. 1999.
This version of Shakespeare’s play sets the action in the American South during the Civil War. It would be a nice tool to show students how the themes of The Tempest can be applied to humanity in any time or condition.
