The Tempest: key quotations

16 short quotations from The Tempest by William Shakespeare for Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Literature, with who says them, where, the themes and why they matter. Learn a few for each theme.

“Hell is empty, / And all the devils are here.”
Ariel (reporting Ferdinand's cry), Act 1, Scene 2 · magic, power
This shows the terror Prospero's magic storm creates, and hints that evil is present among humans.
“Me, poor man, my library / Was dukedom large enough”
Prospero, Act 1, Scene 2 · power, magic
Prospero admits he cared more for his books than ruling, which helped his brother steal his dukedom.
“Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself”
Prospero, Act 1, Scene 2 · colonisation, power
Prospero insults Caliban as evil from birth, showing how the coloniser justifies his control.
“This island's mine, by Sycorax my mother, / Which thou tak'st from me.”
Caliban, Act 1, Scene 2 · colonisation, power, freedom
Caliban argues the island was rightfully his, so Prospero is a thief, which invites us to question colonial rule.
“Thou didst prevent me; I had peopled else / This isle with Calibans.”
Caliban, Act 1, Scene 2 · colonisation, power
Caliban shows no regret for attacking Miranda, which complicates our sympathy for him.
“Abhorred slave, / Which any print of goodness wilt not take”
Prospero (some editions give this to Miranda), Act 1, Scene 2 · colonisation, power
This suggests Caliban cannot be taught goodness, the colonisers' excuse for treating him as a slave.
“You taught me language, and my profit on 't / Is, I know how to curse.”
Caliban, Act 1, Scene 2 · colonisation, freedom
Caliban turns the colonisers' gift of language into a weapon against them.
“My liberty.”
Ariel, Act 1, Scene 2 · freedom, power
Ariel's short, direct demand shows that even a loyal servant longs to be free of Prospero.
“I would not wish / Any companion in the world but you”
Miranda, Act 3, Scene 1 · love
Miranda's open and honest love for Ferdinand is innocent and sincere, a contrast to the scheming elsewhere.
“Be not afeard. The isle is full of noises, / Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not.”
Caliban, Act 3, Scene 2 · magic, colonisation
Caliban, called a monster, speaks beautiful poetry, showing he is more sensitive than others claim.
“A devil, a born devil, on whose nature”
Prospero, Act 4, Scene 1 · colonisation, power
Prospero believes Caliban's nature can never be improved, raising the nature versus nurture debate.
“We are such stuff / As dreams are made on, and our little life”
Prospero, Act 4, Scene 1 · magic, power
Prospero reflects that life is as brief and unreal as his magic shows, a thoughtful moment about human limits.
“the rarer action is / In virtue than in vengeance”
Prospero, Act 5, Scene 1 · revenge and forgiveness, power
This is the turning point where Prospero chooses forgiveness over revenge as the nobler path.
“I'll drown my book.”
Prospero, Act 5, Scene 1 · magic, power
By giving up his magic Prospero lets go of his power, ready to return to ordinary human life.
“How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world / That has such people in 't!”
Miranda, Act 5, Scene 1 · love, power
Miranda's wonder is naive, since the people she admires include traitors, which creates dramatic irony.
“This thing of darkness I / Acknowledge mine.”
Prospero, Act 5, Scene 1 · colonisation, revenge and forgiveness
Prospero finally takes responsibility for Caliban, though calling him a 'thing' still shows prejudice.

Every quotation was checked word for word against The Tempest, Project Gutenberg eBook #1540. Editions differ slightly in punctuation, so use your own copy in class. Practise using them in a long answer with the essay planner and Correct my answer.

Source: Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in English Literature (1ET0) Specification, Issue 2 (June 2019). Checked 23 October 2026. GCSE-ready is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by Pearson.