How Shakspere Came to Write the 'Tempest'
The work presents a speculative exploration of the origins of a renowned play, suggesting that its inspiration stemmed from a chance encounter with a sailor's tale. The narrative begins with a reference to a discussion on the play's enchanting island, which the author argues was not a product of the playwright's imagination but rather derived from real-life experiences and conversations. The author posits that a stage-manager, engaged in the theater scene, overhears a drunken mariner recounting a shipwreck and the subsequent behavior of the passengers. This sailor's vivid storytelling, filled with nautical details and colorful expressions, captures the manager's attention. A particular phrase resonates, hinting at the indifference of the passengers to authority, which becomes a thematic element in the play. As the sailor continues, he describes the island's geography and atmosphere, painting a picture of a lush, vibrant place filled with strange sounds and sensations. The author emphasizes the importance of detail in the sailor's account, suggesting that the manager, in turn, would need to visualize the setting to effectively convey it to the audience. The description of the island aligns with the characteristics of Bermuda, where the author draws parallels between the sailor's narrative and the actual landscape. The narrative progresses as the sailor, becoming increasingly inebriated, shares a more fantastical story of his adventures on the island, including encounters with supernatural elements and the chaos that ensues among the castaways. This blend of reality and fantasy serves as a foundation for the play's themes of magic and the unknown. The author argues that the play's creation was a natural outcome of the manager's daily life, influenced by the sailor's drunken ramblings. The interplay between the mundane and the extraordinary is highlighted, suggesting that the miraculous elements of the story were grounded in the sailor's authentic experiences. The narrative concludes by asserting that the playwright immortalized the dreamer, acknowledging the sailor's role in inspiring the work. Overall, the piece presents a compelling theory that the play emerged from a combination of real-life events, the vivid imagination of a sailor, and the creative process of a theater manager, ultimately leading to a timeless exploration of human experience and the supernatural.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1908 · Genre: Literary Criticism, Historical Fiction, Drama · 1,988 words
First lines
_To the Editor of the Spectator._
SIR: -- Your article on 'Landscape and Literature' in the _Spectator_ of June 18th has the following, among other suggestive passages: -- "But whence came the vision of the enchanted island in the 'Tempest'? It had no existence in Shakspere's world, but was woven out of such stuff as dreams are made of."
What this Textopian page supports
How Shakspere Came to Write the 'Tempest' is listed on Textopian as an essay by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Rudyard Kipling
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Criticism, Historical Fiction, Drama, Fantasy, Essay
- Length: 1,988 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for How Shakspere Came to Write the 'Tempest' by Rudyard Kipling
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering How Shakspere Came to Write the 'Tempest'?
- How does this essay by Rudyard Kipling fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Criticism first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Art Of Shakspere As Revealed By Himself by George Macdonald
- Shakespeare And His Love by Frank Harris
- The Shakespeare Memorial by G. K. Chesterton
- On Historical Novels by G. K. Chesterton
- Rostand by G. K. Chesterton
- The Legacy Of Richard Hughes by Margaret Lynn
Genres
- Literary Criticism — The work analyzes the origins and influences behind Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', making it a critical examination of literature.
- Historical Fiction — It explores historical contexts, particularly the Bermuda shipwreck, which ties into the narrative of 'The Tempest'.
- Drama — The discussion revolves around a play, specifically Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', which is a dramatic work.
- Fantasy — The themes of magic and the supernatural in 'The Tempest' are central to the analysis, linking it to fantasy elements.
Tags
Shakespeare · The Tempest · literary analysis · historical fiction · playwriting · inspiration · creativity · Elizabethan era · theater · drama · character development · plot structure