Cyber-Freewrite
Give a synopsis of Act Two, Scene One, in The Tempest. Relate to Takaki where possible. There are several references to colonizing or taking over the island. There are also references to class and race.
Shakespeare's language is so modern in places. Look at those sections where his language has survived to the present. Note a few analogies that stood out you'd like to share.
Respond in a fuller response later and re post.
Oh, respond in 250 words or more (smile). 1 page. Incorporate text where applicable.
Give a synopsis of Act Two, Scene One, in The Tempest. Relate to Takaki where possible. There are several references to colonizing or taking over the island. There are also references to class and race.
Shakespeare's language is so modern in places. Look at those sections where his language has survived to the present. Note a few analogies that stood out you'd like to share.
Respond in a fuller response later and re post.
Oh, respond in 250 words or more (smile). 1 page. Incorporate text where applicable.
posted by Professor Wanda's Posse at 11:39 AM
7 Comments:
Frena Zamudio
Professor Sabir
English 1A
16 September 2010
Act 2 Scene Synopsis
This scene started when King Alonso arrived on the island with his brothers Sebastian and Antonio, noblemen Adrian and Francisco and the councilor Gonzalo. Alonso is sad not only because his son Ferdinand is missing and said to be dead but also he just came from his daughter’s wedding in Africa and scared that he will never see her again because of the distance. Antonio and Sebastian showed great skill with mocking wordplay while Ariel’s magic make people bored except Antonio and Sebastian. Suddenly, Antonio made a plan to get his brother the kinship, which will be easier if Ferdinand is really gone and since Alonso’s daughter is very far away from Tunis, Sebastian will most likely be able to get the crown with the only two murders (Alonso and Gonzalo). Ariel heard the plan and woke up Gonzalo with a warning of his life. Ariel decided to tell Prospero about it so then he can keep Gonzalo safe. An example where Shakespeare’s language survived to the present is when Gonzalo said “When every grief is entertained that’s offered, Come to the entertainer” It is not one of those lines that are hard to understand or read. Just by looking at it, you can just tell that it means that if we let everything that happens, even the small ones bring us down, then we would find ourselves sad and in pain all the time, which is obviously not good. This line also stood out for me because it really does make sense, a lot of sense actually, it happens, it’s a good lesson for everyone not be sad or weak all the time, and be strong about everything that life might bring. Be prepared to expect the unexpected.
Maxx Bartko
Professor Sabir
English 1A
19 September 2010
To summarize the first scene of the second act of The Tempest, Alonso and Gonzalo survive an assassination attempt by Antonio and Sebastian, with both the vulnerability and the rescue of the former two parties enacted by Ariel’s magic. Of course, Ariel is Prospero’s servant, a pawn in his calculated scheme to regain his kingdom and former glory. Our “hero’s” astute manipulation has thus far not only convinced the sailors that their king is dead, but convinced Ferdinand that his father is dead, and Alonso that his son is dead. These cold, cruel tricks aren’t the worst Prospero could wreak with his magic, but they serve his purposes.
If Prospero is Takaki’s white settler, this a similar sort of treachery seen in indentured servitude. In sewing division and deceit within his own kind, Prospero uses the predictable passions of his unwitting pawns to his advantage with a strictly pragmatic regard for their well-being. Likewise, the English settlers’ exploitation of their own people who longed for new opportunities in the new world was usually limited to working them to near-death; after all, what good is a dead servant? This is slightly better treatment the outright genocidal colonial practices shown to the Natives, which in itself is worse than the looming permanent designation of kidnapped Africans as subhuman slaves. Prospero, like the white settler, is forming a hierarchy between his pawns, his servants and his slaves.
While I absolutely disagree that Shakespeare’s language approaches modern, a very entertaining exception pops up without warning during Antonio and Sebastian’s treacherous dialogue during Gonzalo and Alonso’s slumber. When Antonio says “I’ll teach you how to flow,” he is most certainly not offering to show Sebastian how to rap; Alonso is beckoning him to act on ideas that Sebastian is slow – if not outright hesitant – to comprehend (Shakespeare 82).
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Trans. John Crowther. New York: SparkNotes, 2003. 82. Print.
I forgot to add a title:
Maxx Bartko
Professor Sabir
English 1A
19 September 2010
Creating Divisions
Rochelle Predovic
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1A
19 September 2010
Free write: Act two, Scene one Synopsis
These men are washed ashore on an island after a huge storm created by Ariel, who followed Prospero's directions. Antonio, Sebastian, Gonzalo, Francisco, and Adrian find Alonso alive. Then Gonzalo admires the land so much that he says he wants to start a civilization. While everyone is wet and lost, Antonio and Sebastian mock Gonzalo’s idea of a classless society. Also Alonso and the others are convinced that Ferdinand is dead except for Francisco. Sebastian suggests that Alonso’s wedding plans killed Ferdinand, because they were all at sea traveling to see Alonso's daughter Claribel become the Queen of Tunis. Ariel follows Prospero’s orders and sang everyone to sleep except Sebastian and Antonio. Meanwhile, Antonio convinces Sebastian to kill Alonso if he wants to become king. Both Antonio and Sebastian almost kill Alonso, but Ariel saves them by waking everyone up. To avoid the truth about why their swords were out, Sebastian tells Gonzalo and Alonso that there was a lion. Since Gonzalo admits that he heard something, he suggests that all of them have their swords ready while they continue to search for Ferdinand.
Works cited
Shakespeare, William, and John Crowther. The Tempest. New York: SparkNotes, 2003. Print.
Linh Tran
Professor Sabir
English 1A
20 September 2010
The Tempest: Act II, Scene I Synopsis
King Alonso and his men have survived the shipwreck and the aftermath of the storm. They are all safe on the island but, still, they mourn over the loss of Ferdinand. The men try to comfort the King by telling him that they will soon find his son, but Alonso is not easily cheered.
The men engage in lively banter about Gonzalo colonizing the island. He tells the others of his idealized plan for the territory – “No name of magistrate… Riches, poverty, and use of service – none… All men… [a]nd women too, but innocent and pure.” (Act II, Scene I, Lines 142-149) Even as England’s dream of colonizing the New World has barely taken roots, Shakespeare already imagined a world of equality, without the rule of any monarch. Everyone would be equal and have equal say in all the decisions.
“All things in common nature should produce without sweat or endeavor.” (Act II, Scene I, Lines 151-152) This suggests that the masses at the end of the social ladder – the ones who would become the majority of the immigrants to the New World – believed that the earth would yield plentiful harvest and they would not have to toil under the sun to scrape together a living. The ideal hope was that all the wealth and profit of the new land was to be shared by all who occupied it.
Ariel puts the men under a spell that makes them sleepy to delay their search for Ferdinand. While everyone is sleeping, Antonio and Sebastian, on whom Ariel did not cast the spell, plot to murder the men to gain Alonso’s throne. Antonio convinces Sebastian that with Ferdinand the heir out of the way, the only obstacle between him and the throne of Naples was the sleeping Alonso. They are about to strike when Ariel wakes Gonzalo, who immediately lets out an alarmed cry that also wakes the others. Antonio’s plan is thwarted and he fakes an excuse for having his sword drawn. The men continue the search for Ferdinand.
Shakespeare’s writing is very witty and clever. Some phrases that stood out were “He received comfort like cold porridge.” (Act II, Scene I, Line 10) Alonso enjoys words of comfort about the loss of his son as much as he would cold oatmeal. Which is to say, he is not the least bit comforted. “… he’s winding up the watch of his wit. By and by it will strike.” (Act II, Scene I, Line 12) Sebastian is referring to Gonzalo’s persistent attempt to cheer up the King. Gonzalo is gathering up all of his wit to combat against the King’s grave disposition.
Denise Martinez
English 1A
Professor Sabir
20 September 2010
Freewrite: Act 2 Scene 1 Synopsis
Gonzalo, Antonio, Sebastian, & Alonso are stuck on an island. Alonso’s son is dead and Gonzalo is persistent on cheering him up. While they are all asleep Antonio moves in on manipulating Sebastian to think that he can become a king and to kill his brother Gonzalo. Just as Antonio and Sebastian whip out their swords Ariel invisibly appears and sings into Gonzalo’s ear warning him to wake up. They all rise, Sebastian and Antonio make up a lie about the reason they had to pull their swords out, Gonzalo and Alonso believe it and they are on their way to leave the island.
In Robert Takaki’s book he makes a reference about Shakespeare when Gonzalo marvels at Cailban’s island and says, “Look how lush and healthy the grass is! How green!” Takaki later goes on to state how Virginia was described as having “lusty” soil with meadows “full of green grass”.
Although I completely disagree that Shakespeare’s language is modern there is one part where Gonzalo says, “What’s the matter?” Where you can understand that he’s saying “What’s going on?” or “What’s this all about?” and people still use that in their daily vocabulary.
Works Cited
Takaki, Ronald. A Different Mirror. June 1993.
Shakespeare, William, and John Crowther. The Tempest. New York: SparkNotes, 2003. Print
Dalmar Mohamed
Professor Sabir
English 1A
20 September 2010
Summary of Act Two Scene one
Act two, scene one is all about Prospero plans for Alonso the duke of Milan, Sebastian, Adrian , Francisco and his evil brother Antonio. Gonzalo sees the island as a way to start a new world where everyone can be happy and be free. A place where everyone shares and there are no thieves or fights over power and properties. But the others make fun of his ideals. Ariel comes and put everyone to sleep accept Antonio and Sebastian. Antonio convinces Sebastian to kill his brother for throne but Ariel wakes up Gonzalo before they strike and they make up an excuse for why they drew their swords out. Alonso says let go look for my son.
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