David Bruce

William Shakespeare's The Tempest: A Retelling in Prose David Bruce

I would like to see my retellings of classic literature used in schools, so I give permission to the country of Finland (and all other countries) to buy one copy of this eBook and give copies to all students forever. I also give permission to the state of Texas (and all other states) to buy one copy of this eBook and give copies to all students forever. I also give permission to all teachers to buy one copy of this eBook and give copies to all students forever. Teachers need not actually teach my retellings. Teachers are welcome to give students copies of my eBooks as background material. For example, if they are teaching Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey," teachers are welcome to give students copies of my "Virgil's 'Aeneid': A Retelling in Prose" and tell students, "Here's another ancient epic you may want to read in your spare time."This is an easy-to-read retelling of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest." This is the last play he wrote by himself, although later he co-wrote two plays with John Fletcher. In "The Tempest," Prospero, who lives on a mostly deserted island with his daughter, Miranda, uses his magic powers to regain his rightful place as Duke of Milan.- 1.1 -Thunder sounded and lightning flashed as a storm struck a ship at sea. The Captain of the ship shouted, "Boatswain!""Here I am, Captain. How goes it?""Good fellow, speak to the sailors and give them orders. All of us must get on with the work - and briskly - or else we will run aground. Hurry! Hurry!"Both the Captain and the Boatswain had a whistle around their necks. At times the sound of wind and waves would drown out human speech, and the sailors had been trained to get their orders from the sounds of the whistles. The Captain exited, and some sailors came on deck and started working with the ropes. The Boatswain said to the sailors, "Good work, mates! Work with a good will, sailors! Quickly! Take in the topsail. Listen to the whistle for your orders."He shouted at the storm, "Blow as hard as you like, as long as we are on the open sea and not close to sand reefs or rocks!"Several passengers - members of the upper class - came on deck. They included Alonso, the King of Naples; Sebastian, his brother; Antonio, who had stolen the Dukedom of Naples from Prospero, who was his brother; Ferdinand, Alonso's son, who was a Prince; Gonzalo, an honest old counselor, and others. King Alonso said, "Good Boatswain, take care. Where's the Captain?"To the sailors, King Alonso said, "Be men now."The Boatswain replied, "Please, keep below. Do not be on deck now."Antonio, Prospero's brother, said, "Where is the Captain, Boatswain?"The Captain's whistle could be heard, giving orders to the sailors behind the mast. The Boatswain was in charge of the sailors before the mast. The Boatswain replied to Antonio, "Do you not hear him?"To all the upper-class passengers, he said, "You are interfering with our work. Stay in your cabins. You are assisting the storm, not us sailors."Gonzalo, an old counselor, said, "Good Boatswain, be calm.""I will be calm when the sea is calm," the Boatswain said. "Get below! Alonso is the King of Naples, but what do these roaring winds and waves care for the title of King? Go to your cabins and be quiet! The only people who should be on deck now are sailors!"