Shakespearean Romances were once combined into the 18 Comedies Shakespeare wrote during his career. However, as scholars have analyzed these plays further, they’ve realized that five of them are more like “tragicomedies” than true Comedies, because they incorporate important qualities from the Medieval Romance genre. Thus, Shakespearean Romances have become a genre of their own, on par with his Comedies, Tragedies, and Histories.
Having students create storyboards that depict the elements of this genre will help them to understand the Romance elements in The Tempest. It will also help them follow the multiple plots and interweaving of characters, while bringing the genre to life!
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows the five elements of the Shakespearean Romance in The Tempest. Make sure to depict the scenes where the elements appear, and describe how the scene highlights the element you have identified. Make sure you craft the scenes with care, choose historically-appropriate art, and give clear, concise explanations. Proofread your work!