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Home β€Ί Book Quizzes β€Ί The Tempest

The Tempest Quiz: Act-by-Act Questions and Answers

William Shakespeare Β· Play, 1623 Β· 5 acts

Free The Tempest quizzes with answers: 35 original multiple-choice questions in 11 quizzes, act-by-act, plus a The Tempest summary, characters, themes, key quotes, essay questions and printable tests with answer keys. Use them as a study guide, a reading check or GCSE / High school / IB revision. One of Shakespeare's last plays (c.1611); an AQA GCSE text often read through the lens of colonialism.

GCSE English LiteratureUS High School EnglishIB English A: Literature

β–Ά Start with Act 1🏁 The Tempest final testπŸ“– Read it free

The Tempest at a glance

Author
William Shakespeare
First published
1623
Form
Play
Length
5 acts
Studied for
GCSE English Literature, US High School English, IB English A: Literature
Quizzes
11 (35 questions)

The Tempest quizzes act by act

Spoiler-safe reading checks: each quiz only covers its own act, with answers and explanations.

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The Tempest Act 1 quiz

5 questions with answers Β· spoiler-safe

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The Tempest Act 2 quiz

5 questions with answers Β· spoiler-safe

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The Tempest Act 3 quiz

5 questions with answers Β· spoiler-safe

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The Tempest Act 4 quiz

5 questions with answers Β· spoiler-safe

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The Tempest Act 5 quiz

5 questions with answers Β· spoiler-safe

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The Tempest final test

10 questions with answers Β· whole play

The Tempest skill quizzes: characters, themes & more

Revision quizzes that pull questions from across the whole play (spoilers).

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The Tempest characters quiz

7 questions Β· Motives, relationships and how characters change.

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The Tempest themes quiz

5 questions Β· The big ideas and what the writer is saying about them.

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The Tempest plot recall quiz

13 questions Β· Quick check of what happens and when.

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The Tempest reading between the lines quiz

6 questions Β· Why things happen and what the text implies.

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The Tempest challenge quiz

8 questions Β· The hardest questions β€” exam-style thinking.

Make your own The Tempest test

Pick the acts you have read, the question types and difficulty β€” then play online or print a The Tempest test with an answer key.

The Tempest summary

Show the The Tempest plot summary (contains spoilers)

Prospero, the deposed Duke of Milan, has lived for twelve years on an island with his daughter Miranda, the spirit Ariel and the islander Caliban. Using magic he shipwrecks his enemies, arranges Miranda's love for Ferdinand, and finally chooses forgiveness over revenge.

The Tempest characters

Prospero
The exiled duke and magician who controls the island.
Miranda
His daughter, raised on the island.
Ariel
A spirit who serves Prospero in exchange for freedom.
Caliban
The island's native inhabitant, enslaved by Prospero.
Ferdinand
The Prince of Naples, who falls in love with Miranda.
Antonio
Prospero's brother, who stole his dukedom.
Gonzalo
An honest old counsellor.

The Tempest themes

PowerColonialismForgivenessFreedomMagicIllusionNature and nurtureTheatre

The Tempest key quotes

Short quotations from the public-domain text, with where they appear.

β€œThis island's mine, by Sycorax my mother,”Act I, Scene ii
β€œYou taught me language, and my profit on't / Is I know how to curse.”Act I, Scene ii
β€œthe isle is full of noises,”Act III, Scene ii
β€œWe are such stuff / As dreams are made on,”Act IV, Scene i
β€œThe rarer action is / In virtue than in vengeance.”Act V, Scene i
β€œO brave new world / That has such people in't!”Act V, Scene i
β€œthis thing of darkness I / Acknowledge mine.”Act V, Scene i

The Tempest essay questions

Exam-style essay and discussion prompts for GCSE, High school, IB.

  1. How does Shakespeare present power in The Tempest? Refer closely to at least two moments in the play.
  2. How does Prospero change over the course of the play, and why does that change matter?
  3. β€œThe Tempest is a play about colonialism.” How far do you agree?
  4. Explore the relationship between Prospero and Miranda. What does it reveal about forgiveness?
  5. Choose one scene and explain how it would be staged to bring out its dramatic tension.
  6. Compare how The Tempest explores freedom with another text you have studied.

Read The Tempest free & other resources

πŸ“– Read The Tempest free on Pagine

Full text in the Pagine reader

🎭 Folger Shakespeare Library

Free modern edition with notes

πŸ“š Project Gutenberg

Free public-domain e-book

🎧 LibriVox audiobook

Free volunteer recordings

πŸ“ Find it in a library

WorldCat

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Frankenstein quiz

Mary Shelley Β· 75 questions

The Great Gatsby quiz

F. Scott Fitzgerald Β· 55 questions

All questions are original and written for Pagine. Pagine is not affiliated with any exam board.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Tempest about?

Prospero, the deposed Duke of Milan, has lived for twelve years on an island with his daughter Miranda, the spirit Ariel and the islander Caliban. One of Shakespeare's last plays (c.1611); an AQA GCSE text often read through the lens of colonialism.

Who wrote The Tempest and when?

William Shakespeare wrote The Tempest, first published in 1623. It is a play in 5 acts.

Who are the main characters in The Tempest?

Prospero, Miranda, Ariel, Caliban, Ferdinand, Antonio and Gonzalo.

What are the main themes of The Tempest?

Power, Colonialism, Forgiveness, Freedom, Magic, Illusion, Nature and nurture, Theatre.

Is this The Tempest quiz free, with answers?

Yes. All 35 questions are free, each with the answer and an explanation. Play online with instant feedback, or print any quiz as a test with an answer key.

Will the The Tempest quizzes spoil the ending?

The act quizzes are spoiler-safe β€” each one only covers its own act. The final test and the skill quizzes cover the whole play.

Is The Tempest on the GCSE / High school / IB reading list?

The Tempest is widely studied for GCSE English Literature, US High School English, IB English A: Literature. Reading lists vary by school and exam board, so check your own syllabus.

Where can I read The Tempest free?

The Tempest is in the public domain in the US: read it free in Pagine, at the Folger Shakespeare Library or on Project Gutenberg, or listen on LibriVox.

Can teachers use these quizzes with a class?

Yes. Print any The Tempest quiz with an answer key for reading checks, homework or revision, or use β€œBuild your own quiz” to choose acts, skills and difficulty.

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