Mix and Matchmaking: Character Cards

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Hester Conley
6 years ago
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1 Prospero SHAKESPEARE PLAY: The Tempest CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Prospero is a wise man, well acquainted with magic and science. He was once the Duke of Milan but was exiled many years ago in a political conspiracy. He has lived on a desert island for years with his teenage daughter Miranda and his two servants a sprite named Ariel and a monster named Caliban. He would like to get off the island. He would also like to arrange a romantic match for his daughter. PERSONALITY: Imperious and domineering. He wants things to go his way. Performs a magic spell to create a storm at sea. As a result, a ship carrying the King of Naples, his son, Prince Ferdinand, and others sinks. The voyagers wash up on the island. Performs a spell to put Miranda to sleep so he can arrange for her to fall in love with Ferdinand Gathers information from Ariel, who flies around the island and reports back to him Orders Ariel to perform various magical spells on the shipwrecked voyagers Enslaves Ferdinand to increase his desire for Miranda Pretends to dislike Ferdinand Frees Ferdinand and enables him and Miranda to marry Reveals himself to the shipwrecked voyagers, forgives them for banishing him to the island, and decides to sail back to Italy with them, Ferdinand, and Miranda Gives Ariel his freedom 18

2 Sycorax SHAKESPEARE PLAY: The Tempest CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Sycorax is a sorceress and the mother of a monster named Caliban. She never appears in the play, but other characters talk about her. PERSONALITY: Unknown; according to Prospero, she s evil. Ruled over the island before Prospero and Miranda arrived Trapped Ariel in a tree when he refused to do her bidding 19

Caliban SHAKESPEARE PLAY: The Tempest CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Caliban is a monster, the son of the sorceress Sycorax. He is also the slave of Prospero, ruler of the island.

3 Caliban SHAKESPEARE PLAY: The Tempest CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Caliban is a monster, the son of the sorceress Sycorax. He is also the slave of Prospero, ruler of the island. He dreams of overthrowing Prospero, marrying Miranda, and taking control. As the play begins, Prospero and Miranda are the only humans he has ever seen. PERSONALITY: Big, noisy, and self-pitying. Cannot hold his liquor. Tried to force himself on Miranda (before the action of the play begins) Does manual labor for Prospero When one of the shipwrecked voyagers offers him a drink of liquor, decides this man is a god Tries to convince one of the shipwrecked voyagers to kill Prospero Tries to kill Prospero during the celebration of Miranda and Ferdinand s wedding Promises to repent when Prospero leaves the island 20

4 Ariel SHAKESPEARE PLAY: The Tempest CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Ariel is a sprite who lives on Prospero s island. He is Prospero s eyes and ears, gathering information about goings-on on the island to help Prospero rule. Years ago, Ariel was imprisoned in a tree by Sycorax. Prospero freed him from the tree on condition that Ariel would serve him. But Prospero has promised to set Ariel free one day, which gives the sprite hope. PERSONALITY: Responsible and resourceful, Ariel frequently takes initiative to help and protect his master, Prospero. While he doesn t want to offend Prospero, he deeply longs for freedom. Arranges the storm at sea and the shipwreck Pleads for freedom Is invisible to anyone but Prospero Plays tricks on the shipwrecked voyagers, at Prospero s behest Arranges for Ferdinand and Miranda to meet Puts people to sleep and wakes them up Goes free when Prospero leaves the island 21

5 Miranda SHAKESPEARE PLAY: The Tempest CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Miranda is a teenage girl. In Shakespeare s day, she would have been of age to marry, so her father Prospero wants to make the best match possible and for her to become Prince Ferdinand s wife. Prospero is the only man Miranda has ever seen. When she first casts eyes on Ferdinand, she famously exclaims, How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, that has such people in it! PERSONALITY: Sweet and naïve Talks with her father Falls in love with Ferdinand Becomes engaged to Ferdinand 22

6 Ferdinand SHAKESPEARE PLAY: The Tempest CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Ferdinand is a strong, handsome young man, heir to the throne of Naples. He is on the ship that gets caught in the storm whipped up by Prospero and Ariel and becomes stranded on the island. PERSONALITY: Noble, dignified, cooperative, and modest Wakes up alone on shore Wanders around the island, unknowingly led by the invisible Ariel Sees Miranda and falls in love Works for Prospero, carrying logs Becomes engaged to Miranda 23

7 Demetrius SHAKESPEARE PLAY: A Midsummer Night s Dream CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Demetrius is a handsome young man. At the beginning of the play, Hermia s father wants him to marry Hermia, but she refuses: she loves another young man, Lysander. On a trip to the forest, Hermia accuses Demetrius of killing Lysander, who has disappeared. The fairy Puck (who does not appear in The Enchanted Island) puts a magic liquid in his eyes, causing him to fall in love with Helena, who has been pursuing Demetrius without success. Demetrius and Helena marry at the end of the play. PERSONALITY: Brash and determined to get his way although Puck s magic changes the object of his desire! Expects to marry Hermia Follows Hermia and Lysander into the forest, intending to seize her Rejects the love offered to him by Helena Falls in love with Helena due to Puck s magic Learning that Lysander has fallen in love with Helena as well, challenges Lysander to a duel Is led astray by Puck until he falls asleep Wakes to find Lysander in love with Hermia again Marries Helena 24

Helena SHAKESPEARE PLAY: A Midsummer Night s Dream CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Helena is a tall fair-haired young woman, often compared to her shorter dark-haired friend, Hermia.

8 Helena SHAKESPEARE PLAY: A Midsummer Night s Dream CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Helena is a tall fair-haired young woman, often compared to her shorter dark-haired friend, Hermia. Helena feels that men are not attracted to her but prefer Hermia. As the play begins, Helena is in love with Demetrius, but he is engaged to marry Hermia. When Hermia runs off to the forest to meet the man she loves, Lysander, Helena tells Demetrius. Once all four are in the forest, the fairy Puck (who does not appear in The Enchanted Island) gets confused and makes both Demetrius and Lysander fall in love with Helena. Helena thinks the men are making fun of her, and that Hermia is party to the joke. Puck puts all four to sleep and corrects his error. When they awake, Demetrius falls in love with Helena at last and they marry. PERSONALITY: Insecure, somewhat suspicious due to her low self-esteem, envious of Hermia Tells Demetrius that Helena and Lysander are going to meet in the forest Follows Demetrius into the forest Cannot believe that Lysander (under Puck s spell) is in love with her Cannot believe that Demetrius (under Puck s spell) is also in love with her Quarrels and trades insults with her friend Hermia Marries Demetrius 25

9 Lysander SHAKESPEARE PLAY: A Midsummer Night s Dream CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Lysander is a handsome young man. As the play opens, he is in love with Hermia, but her father wants her to marry Demetrius instead. Lysander and Hermia arrange a secret meeting in the woods, where they are soon joined by Demetrius and Helena. The fairy Puck (who does not appear in The Enchanted Island) tries to put magic drops in Demetrius s eyes to make him fall in love with Helena, so Lysander can be with Hermia. But Puck chooses the wrong man: he puts the drops in Lysander s eyes, and Lysander falls in love with Helena, spurning Hermia. After some confusion, Puck corrects his error. Lysander marries Hermia. PERSONALITY: Decent and passionate Runs off to the forest with Hermia Falls in love with Helena, due to Puck s magic Learning that Demetrius has fallen in love with Helena as well, challenges Demetrius to a duel Is led astray by Puck until he falls asleep Wakes up in love with Hermia again, also through Puck s magic Marries Hermia 26

Hermia SHAKESPEARE PLAY: A Midsummer Night s Dream CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Hermia is a short, dark-haired young woman, whose best friend is the tall fair-haired Helena.

10 Hermia SHAKESPEARE PLAY: A Midsummer Night s Dream CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: Hermia is a short, dark-haired young woman, whose best friend is the tall fair-haired Helena. As the play begins, Hermia is in love with Lysander, but her father wants her to marry Demetrius. She tells Helena that she and Lysander have set a secret rendezvous. Helena tells Demetrius, and all four end up in the forest. In the forest, the fairy Puck (who does not appear in The Enchanted Island) gets involved with the four humans, upon orders of his master, the fairy king Oberon (who does not appear in The Enchanted Island either). Puck casts spells on both Demetrius and Lysander, causing them both to fall in love with Helena. Hermia is flabbergasted. The two friends argue, throwing barbs about each other s height. Puck puts all four to sleep and casts a spell causing Lysander to fall back in love with Hermia. When they wake up, Lysander and Hermia return home and marry. PERSONALITY: Feisty and quick-witted Loves Lysander Goes to the woods to meet Lysander Trades insults with Helena when Lysander and Demetrius, under Puck s spell, fall in love with her friend, Hermia Marries Lysander 27

11 Neptune SHAKESPEARE PLAY: does not appear in a Shakespeare play CHARACTER DESCRIPTION: The Roman god of the sea PERSONALITY: All-powerful, as far as the oceans are concerned 28

12 Mix and Matchmaking: Plot Point Card Act Scene Plot Point # Subject Action (feel free to add other actions) Object Prospero Sycorax Caliban Ariel Miranda Ferdinand Demetrius Helena Lysander Hermia is led astray by marries apologizes to tries to kill works for forgets his/her true love, falls in love with casts a magic spell on is sent on a mission rules over gets angry at refuses to marry quarrels with insults Prospero Sycorax Caliban Ariel Miranda Ferdinand Demetrius Helena Lysander Hermia Neptune Neptune 29

The Tempest character activity. Age group:

This project and its actions were made possible due to co-financing by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals EAL Nexus resource The Tempest character activity Character cards