Student Reader: The Tempest

The Tempest, available as a free download, is wonderfully adapted for the intermediate reader and can be used for readers’ theater or a classroom performance. Based on what was possibly Shakespeare’s last play, and considered his most lyrical, The Tempest weaves together romance, slapstick, and revenge in a mixture of drama and comedy. Core Knowledge’s The Tempest provides background information on William Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre, as well as notes on Shakespeare’s use of prose and poetry in his plays. The Tempest is first presented in short story form, with tips on performing the play. The final section is a specially adapted and condensed script using Shakespeare’s original language.