The Tempest

William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.7

Word count: 98K words
Chapters: 10

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Tempest by William ShakespeareAuthor: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Jul 1, 2000

Editor's review

The Tempest is generally regarded as the masterpiece of Shakespeare's late romances, centering on magic, exile, revenge, and reconciliation, and combining fantastical scenes with humanist reflection. Prospero's magic, Ariel's spirit figure, Caliban's complex predicament, and the love of Miranda and Ferdinand all offer rich layers for reading and discussion. This edition is a public-domain English ebook from Project Gutenberg, presenting the original text without modern notes or introduction, suited to readers with some English reading ability who wish to engage directly with Shakespeare's original. While reading, one may focus on themes such as magic and power, colonialism and the other, and forgiveness and reconciliation, and may also consider stage adaptations to appreciate its theatricality.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with some English proficiency who want to read a late romance in the original
Students of English and American literature courses who need a public-domain electronic text as course material
Literature enthusiasts interested in themes of magic, the island, and reconciliation
Readers who wish to collect a freely available public-domain English ebook of a Shakespeare play

Not a good fit for

Beginners with weak English who need modern translations and detailed notes
Researchers seeking scholarly introductions, textual collation, and detailed annotation
Readers who prefer only realistic plots and have little interest in fantasy and symbolism

Reading tips

First read a plot summary to understand the main lines of exile, magic, and reconciliation, then move into the English original
While reading, note the relationships and power structures among Prospero, Ariel, and Caliban
Combine with stage productions or film adaptations to appreciate the play's fantastical scenes and musicality
After reading, write brief notes on forgiveness and colonialism to organize your understanding

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this edition suitable for academic citation?

This edition is a public-domain English ebook provided by Project Gutenberg and may be used for general reading and course reference, but it generally does not include textual collation or scholarly annotation. For academic citation, consult an authoritative edition with collation and notes.

Is The Tempest a comedy or a tragedy?

It is usually classified as a romance or late romantic play, containing comic elements while also addressing serious themes such as exile, revenge, and reconciliation; its ending leans toward forgiveness and reunion, and it is not fully equivalent to the early comedies or tragedies.

What preparation is needed before reading the English original?

It is advisable first to learn the plot summary and the relationships among the main characters, and to have a Chinese translation or annotated edition for reference. Early modern English vocabulary and syntax differ from present-day English, and accompanying performance videos or audio can also aid understanding.

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About the author

William Shakespeare Author · English · 1564–1616

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was the greatest playwright, poet and actor of the English Renaissance. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, he is known as the "Bard of Avon." He wrote roughly thirty-seven to thirty-nine plays, one hundred and fifty-four sonnets and narrative poems. His representative works include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. His works span tragedy, comedy and history play, distinguished by rich, poetic language and profound characterization. His explorations of human nature, power, love and fate have had a lasting influence, and his works have been translated into many languages and circulated widely around the world.