Question

Prospero: Ariel, thy charge

Exactly is perform’d; but there’s more work.

What is the time o’ th day?

Ariel: Past the mid-season.

Prospero: At least two glasses. The time’ twixt six and now Must by us both be spent most preciously.

Ariel: Is there more toil? Since thou dost give me pains,

Let me remember thee what thou hast promised Which is not yet performed me.

(i) Where are Ariel and Prospero? Where had Prospero sent Ariel?

(ii) What account of his task does Ariel give Prospero? 

(iii) What had Ariel done with Alonso and his companions? 

(iv) Which promise does Ariel remind Prospero about? What does this tell you about Ariel?

(v) Why does Ariel think that he deserves what has been promised to him? What effect do his words have on Prospero? 

(vi) Give the meanings of the following words in the context of the passage: 

(a) twixt. 

(b) remember

Answer 1

(i) Ariel and Prospero are on an island in front of Prospero’s cell. Prospero had sent Ariel to cause a storm in the sea and to bring his enemies, Alonso. Antonio and others on the island.

(ii) Ariel (cils Prospero how he caused a storm on the sea and frightened the persons on the ship. All except the sailors deserted the ship and plunged into the sea. Now Ferdinand was sitting in one part of the island while the others were in another part. They knew nothing of what had happened to one another.

(iii) Ariel had so arranged everything by his supernatural powers that Alonso and others had been scattered on the island in small groups. While Ferdinand was sitting in one part of the island, thinking that others had drowned, others were in. different groups thinking that their companions had died in the storil.

(iv) Ariel reminds Prospero that he had promised to set him free if he performed the task given to him efficiently. it tells us that although Ariel possesses all the qualities of air. it is a spirit under the control of Prospero. It has always longed for its freedom.

(v) Ariel has carried out Prospero’s instructions with regard to the ship and its passengers. He has caused a storm on the sea and brought the passengers and the ship safel on the island. That is why, he thinks that he deserves his freedom promised to hitn by Prospero Prospero gets enraged at the words of Ariel and reminds him of his hard past when he was in the captivity of the witch Sycorax.

(vi) (a) between 

(b) remind