English Literature books summary

Act Three, Scene Three

Friar Laurence tells Romeo that he is banished from Verona, and that he

should be happy that the Prince was willing to commute the death sentence.

Romeo considers banishment worse than death, because it means that he can

never see Juliet again.When the Friar tries to console him, Romeo says,

"Wert thou as young as I, Juliet thy love.../ Then mightst thou speak"

(3.3.65/68).

The nurse enters and finds Romeo on the ground weeping. She tells him to

stand up. Romeo is so upset by the events that he starts to stab himself,

but the Nurse snatches away the dagger. Friar Laurence tells Romeo that he

should be happy, since he and Juliet are still alive and want to see each

other. The Friar then gets Romeo to go see Juliet that night, with the

expectation that Romeo will run away to Mantua the next morning.

Act Three, Scene Four

The Capulets and Paris are preparing for bed, even though it is almost

morning. Old Capulet decides right then that Juliet will marry Paris. He

comments, "I think she will be ruled / In all respects by me" (3.4.13-4).

He tells Lady Capulet to speak to Juliet about the matter immediately

before going to bed.

Romeo and Juliet are in her bedroom as daylight approaches. They pretend

for a short minute that it really is still the night, but the Nurse arrives

to tell Juliet her mother approaches. Romeo descends from the balcony to

the ground and bids her goodbye.

Lady Capulet tells Juliet she has news to cheer her up, namely the planned

wedding with Paris. Juliet tells her that she would sooner marry Romeo

rather than Paris. Capulet himself enters and becomes furious when Juliet

refuses to marry Paris. He calls Juliet "young baggage" and orders her to

prepare to marry Paris the upcoming Thursday.

Lady Capulet refuses to help Juliet, and even the Nurse tells her that

Paris is a fine gentleman whom she should marry. Juliet kicks out her Nurse

and prepares to visit Friar Laurence. As the Nurse leaves, Juliet calls

her, "Ancient damnation!" (3.5.235).

Act Four, Scene One

Paris is speaking with Friar Laurence about the wedding with Juliet. Friar

Laurence, aware that Juliet cannot marry Romeo, is full of misgivings.

Juliet enters and is forced to speak with Paris, who acts arrogant now that

the marriage is going to happen. Juliet rebuffs him by giving vague answers

to his questions. She finally asks Friar Laurence if she can meet with him

alone, meaning that Paris has to leave.

Friar Laurence comes up with a rash plan to get Romeo and Juliet together.

He gives Juliet a poison which will make her appear dead to the world. In

this way, rather than marry Paris, she will instead be placed in the vault

where all deceased Capulets are buried. Friar Laurence will then send a

letter to Romeo, telling him what is being done so that he can return and

sneak Juliet out of the tomb and also away from Verona.

Act Four, Scene Two

Juliet arrives home and tells her father that she has repented her sin of

being disobedient to him. He pardons her and happily sends her off to

prepare her clothes for the wedding day. Capulet then goes to tell Paris

that Juliet will marry him willingly.

Act Four, Scene Three

Juliet convinces both her mother and the Nurse that she wants to sleep

alone that night. She prepares to drink the poison that Friar Laurence gave

her, but cautiously puts a knife next to her bed in case the potion should

fail to work. Juliet then drinks the potion and falls motionless onto her

bed.

Act Four, Scene Four

The Nurse goes to fetch Juliet but instead finds her lying dead. Lady

Capulet enters and also starts lamenting her daughter's demise. Capulet

then arrives and, discovering his daughter has committed suicide, orders

the music to change to funeral tunes.

Act Five, Scene One

Romeo has had a dream in which Juliet finds him dead which has disturbed

him. His servant Balthasar arrives in Mantua from Verona with news that

Juliet is dead. Romeo immediately orders him to bring a post horse so that

he can return to Verona and see her for himself. Romeo then finds a poverty

stricken apothecary and pays him for some poison.

Act Five, Scene Two

Friar John arrives to tell Friar Laurence that he was unable to deliver the

letter to Romeo. His excuse is that some people were afraid he carried the

pestilence (the plague) and refused to let him out of a house. Friar

Laurence realizes that this destroys his plans, and orders a crowbar so

that he can go rescue Juliet from the grave.

Act Five, Scene Three

Romeo and Balthasar arrive at Juliet's tomb, where Paris is standing watch

to ensure no one tries to rob the vault. Paris sees Romeo and fights him,

but is killed in the process. His page then runs off to fetch the city

watchmen.

Romeo opens up the tomb and sees Juliet. He sits down next to her, takes a

cup and fills it with the poison, then drinks it and dies kissing Juliet.

Friar Laurence arrives only seconds later and discovers that Paris has been

killed by Romeo.

Juliet awakes and finds Romeo dead beside her, with the cup of poison still

next to him. She kisses him, hoping some of the poison will kill her as

well. Friar Laurence pleads with her to come out of the vault, but instead

Juliet chooses to kill herself with Romeo's dagger.

At this point the watchmen arrive, along with the Prince, Montague and

Capulet. Friar Laurence tells them the story as he knows it, and Balthasar

gives the Prince a letter written by Romeo which verifies the story.

Montague, in order to make amends for Juliet's death, tells them he will

erect a golden statue of her in Verona for all to see. Not to be outdone,

Capulet promises the same of Romeo. The Prince ends the play with the

words, "For never was a story of more woe / Than this of Juliet and her

Romeo." (5.3.308-9)

The Tempest

Summary of Act I:

Act I, Scene I

On a stormy sea, mariners try to keep a ship, with its passengers‹Alonso,

the King of Naples, his brothers Sebastian and Antonio, his son Ferdinand,

and his advisor, Gonzalo‹from running aground on the rocks. The boatswain

reckons that even kings cannot "command these elements" of wind and water,

and tells Antonio and Sebastian that they can either "keep below" or help

the sailors. The noblemen take offense at being ordered around by a mere

mariner, and both show a mean-tempered streak in this encounter. Suddenly,

a panic seizes the mariners, and they declare "all lost," surrendering

themselves, and their ship, to the vicious storm; Antonio and Sebastian

also fear the worst, and go below to say goodbye to their brother Alonso.

Act I, Scene 2

Prospero and his daughter Miranda are the focus of this scene, and from

Miranda's first speech it becomes clear that the storm in the previous

scene was somehow caused and controlled by Prospero. Miranda is concerned

that good men were lost in the wreck, but Prospero assures her that it all

went to plan, and no men were harmed. Prospero explains his motivations for

causing the storm by telling her his history with the nobles aboard the

ship; he reveals to Miranda that Antonio is his brother, and that he was

once the rightful Duke of Milan, a position Antonio now holds. Antonio

usurped Prospero's estate and wealth while Prospero became increasingly

"rapt in secret studies" and oblivious to his brother's machinations; and

in order to take Prospero's title as well, Antonio arranged to have his

brother Prospero and Prospero's daughter Miranda killed secretly. But

Prospero is widely known to be a good man, so those charged with his death

decide not to kill him, Instead, Prospero and Miranda were set adrift on

the open sea in a decayed vessel, and were able to survive off the supplies

that the honest councilor Gonzalo arranged for them to have; thus, they

landed on the island where they now live.

After Prospero's tale, Ariel, a magical spirit, appears; it becomes clear

that she is in Prospero's service, and caused the storm, at Prospero's

bidding. King Alonso and company are now "dispersed?'bout the isle," and

Ariel has made the incident look like a shipwreck. Ariel also expresses her

wish to be freed by Prospero, although he rescued her from the nasty witch

Syncorax. Caliban, who was Syncorax's son, also makes an appearance;

Miranda expresses her strong dislike for him, and he has been reduced to no

more than Prospero's slave.

Ferdinand, Alonso's son, meets Miranda, and falls immediately in love with

her; this appears to be of Ariel's doing, and part of the carefully-laid

plan that she must carry out to win her freedom from Prospero.

Summary of Act II

Act 2, Scene I

King Alonso has landed on the island, with his brothers Sebastian and

Antonio, noblemen Adrian and Francisco, and the councilor Gonzalo. Gonzalo

tries to console Alonso upon their good fortune of surviving the

shipwreck‹but Alonso is grieved‹not only because his son Ferdinand is

missing and presumed dead, but because he was returning from his daughter's

wedding in Africa, and fears he will never see her again because of the

distance. Antonio and Sebastian show great skill with mocking wordplay, and

use this skill to stifle Gonzalo and Adrian's attempts to speak frankly to

the rest of the party. Ariel's magic makes the party fall asleep, with the

exception of Antonio and Sebastian.

A strange seriousness, of Ariel's doing, falls upon Antonio and Sebastian.

Antonio begins to concoct a plan to get his brother the kingship, which

will be much easier if Ferdinand, the current heir, really is dead; and

since Alonso's daughter is very far away in Tunis, Sebastian might be able

to inherit the crown with only two murders, those of Alonso and Gonzalo.

Ariel, however, hears to conspirators plan, and wakes Gonzalo with a

warning of the danger he is in. Ariel intends to let Prospero know that the

conspiracy has indeed been formed as he wished, and Prospero in turn will

try to keep Gonzalo safe, out of appreciation for his past help in

preserving the lives of Prospero and Miranda.

Act 2, Scene 2

Caliban curses Prospero, as another storm approaches the island; he takes

the storm as a sign that Prospero is up to mischief, and hides at the

approach of what he fears is one of Prospero's punishing spirits. Trinculo,

Alonso's court jester, finds Caliban lying still on the ground and covered

with a cloak, and figures him to be a "dead Indian"; but, the storm

continues to approach, so he also hides himself, using Caliban's cloak as a

shelter, and flattening himself on the ground beside Caliban's prostrate

form.

Alonso's drunken butler, Stephano, enters, drunk and singing, and stumbles

upon the strange sight of the two men under the cloak; he figures, in his

drunken stupor, that Trinculo and Caliban make a four-legged monster.

Caliban,in his delirium, thinks that Stephano is one of Prospero's minions,

sent to torment him; Stephano thinks a drink of wine will cure Caliban of

what ails him, and bit by bit, gets Caliban drunk as well. It takes

Stephano a while to recognize his old friend, Trinculo, whom Caliban seems

to be ignoring. Because of Stephano's generosity with his "celestial

liquor," Caliban takes him to be some sort of benevolent god; much to

Trinculo's disbelief, Caliban actually offers his service to Stephano,

forsaking the "tyrant" Prospero. Stephano accepts the offer.

Summary of Act III

Act III, Scene 1

Ferdinand has been made to take Caliban's place as a servant, despite his

royal status; and though he does not like Prospero, he does the work

because it will benefit his new love, Miranda. Ferdinand and Miranda

express their love for each other, and both express their desire to be

married‹though they have known each other for less than a day.

Act III, Scene 2

Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban are drinking; Trinculo and Sebastian

continue to insult Caliban, though Caliban only protests against Trinculo's

remarks, and tries to get Stephano to defend him. Caliban begins to tell

the other two about the tyranny of his old master, Prospero, and how he

wants to be rid of Prospero forever; Ariel enters, causes further discord

among the group, and gets Caliban to form a murder plot against Prospero.

Caliban promises Stephano that if Prospero is successfully killed, he will

allow Stephano to be ruler of the island, and will be his servant. He also

promises that Stephano will get Miranda if the plot is successful‹Ariel

leaves, to tell Prospero of these developments.

Act III, Scene 3

Alonso, Adrian, Francisco, Sebastian, Antonio, and Gonzalo are still

wandering about the island, and Alonzo has finally given up any hope of his

son Ferdinand being alive. Antonio and Sebastian decide to make their

murderous move later that night, but their conspiracy is interrupted by

Prospero sending in a huge banquet via his spirits, with he himself there,

but invisible. They are all amazed, but not too taken aback that they will

not eat the food; but, as they are about to eat, a vengeful Ariel enters,

taking credit for their shipwreck, and makes the banquet vanish. Alonso

recognizes Ariel's words as being of Prospero's pen, and the great guilt of

Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian begins to take them over, at the thought of

Prospero being alive, and so nearby.

Summary of Act IV

Prospero stops Ferdinand's punishment, and decides to finally give Miranda

to him, since he has proven his love for her through his service. Prospero

accepts the union, but issues them a warning; if Ferdinand takes Miranda's

virginity before a ceremony can be performed, then their union will be

cursed. Ferdinand swears to Prospero that they shall wait until the

ceremony to consummate their marriage, and then Prospero calls upon Ariel

to perform one of his last acts of magic. A betrothal masque is performed

for the party by some of Prospero's magical spirits; Juno, Ceres, and Iris

are the goddesses who are represented within the masque, and the play

speaks about the bounties of a good marriage, and blesses the happy couple.

This act of magic so captivates Prospero that he forgets Caliban's plot to

kill him; for a moment, he almost loses control, but manages to pull

himself out of his reverie and take action.

Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo come looking for Prospero, and swipe a few

garments of Prospero's on their way. Caliban still wants very much to kill

Prospero, and carry out this plot; however, Trinculo and Stephano are very

drunk, as usual, and prove completely incapable of anything but petty

theft. Prospero catches them‹not difficult, since they are making a huge

amount of noise--and sends Ariel after them as they flee.

Summary of Act V

Prospero finally has all under his control; Ariel has apprehended Alonso,

Sebastian, and Antonio, and they are all waiting for Prospero's judgment.

Finally, Prospero makes up his mind against revenge, and makes a speech

that signifies his renunciation of magic; the accused and the other nobles

enter the magic circle that Prospero has made, and stand there, enchanted,

while he speaks. Prospero charges Alonso with throwing Prospero and his

daughter out of Italy, and Antonio and Sebastian with being part of this

crime. Prospero announces Ariel's freedom after Ariel sees the party back

to Naples, and Ariel sings a song out of joy. Alonso and Prospero are

reconciled after Alonso declares his remorse and repents his wrongs to

Prospero and Miranda, and Prospero finally wins back his dukedom from

Antonio. Prospero, perhaps unwillingly, also says that he forgives Antonio

and Sebastian, though he calls them "wicked" and expresses his reservations

about letting them off the hook.

After despairing that his son is dead, Alonso finds out that his son

Ferdinand is indeed alive, and the two are reunited; then, Ferdinand and

Miranda's engagement is announced, and is approved before the whole party

by Alonso and Prospero. Gonzalo rejoices that on the voyage, such a good

match was made, and that the brothers are reunited, and some of the bad

blood between them is now flushed out. Ariel has readied Alonso's boat for

their departure, and the boatswain shows up again, telling them about what

happened to all of the sailors during the tempest.

Caliban apologizes to Prospero for taking the foolish Stephano as his

master, and Prospero, at last, acknowledges Caliban, and takes him as his

own. Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban's plot is exposed to the whole group,

and is immediately forgiven. Prospero invites everyone to pass one last

night in the island at his dwelling, and promises to tell the story of his

and Miranda's survival, and of the devices of his magic. The play ends with

Prospero addressing the audience, telling them that they hold an even

greater power than Prospero the character, and can decide what happens

next.

Twelfth Night

Act I Summary:

Scene 1:

Count Orsino of Illyria is introduced; he laments that he is lovesick, and

wishes that "if music be the food of love," he could kill his unrequited

love through an overdose of music. His servant, Curio, asks Orsino if he

will go and hunt; Orsino answers with another lovelorn reply, about how his

love for the Lady Olivia has been tearing him apart. Orsino's servant

Valentine, whom Orsino sent to give his affections to Olivia, returns;

Valentine was not allowed to speak directly to Olivia, but Olivia sent a

message, via her handmaiden, that Olivia will continue to mourn her dead

brother, and will neither allow Orsino to see her or to woo her. Orsino

laments that Olivia does not hold the same deeply felt love that he

professes to have.

Scene 2:

Viola lands in Illyria, after a terrible shipwreck in which she was

separated from her twin brother, Sebastian. Viola hopes that her brother

was saved, as she was; the Captain, who also managed to get ashore, tries

to console her of the hopes of finding her brother alive. The Captain

recalls seeing her brother in the water after the shipwreck, clinging onto

a mast, and riding above the waves. As it happens, the Captain is from

Illyria, and tells Viola of Count Orsino, and of his love for Lady Olivia;

the Captain also mentions Olivia's recent loss of both her father and her

brother, and Viola, having lost her brother as well, commiserates with

Olivia's situation. Viola proposes that she serve Orsino, since he is a

good and just man; she conspires with the Captain that she may be presented

to Orsino as a eunuch, and that her true identity as a foreign woman be

concealed. The Captain agrees to help her, and he leads her to Orsino.

Scene 3:

Sir Toby, Olivia's drunken uncle, is approached by Olivia's handmaiden,

Maria, about his late hours and disorderly habits. Maria also objects to

one of Sir Toby's drinking buddies, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a rather foolish

man who Sir Toby has brought as a potential suitor to Olivia. Sir Toby has

great affection for Sir Andrew, but Maria does not; she believes that Sir

Andrew is a drunkard and a fool, and not to be suffered. Sir Toby attempts

to introduce Sir Andrew to Maria; wordplay ensues from a series of

misunderstandings, puns, and differing usages of words. Maria exits, and

Sir Toby and Sir Andrew continue to quibble, with some amusing results; at

last, they decide to start drinking.

Scene 4:

Viola has now disguised herself as a boy, Cesario, and has been taken into

the service of Count Orsino. Valentine remarks that Orsino and Viola, as

Cesario, have become close in the short time that Viola has been employed;

indeed, Orsino has already told Viola of his great love for Olivia. Orsino

asks Viola to go to Olivia and make Orsino's case to the lady; he believes

that Viola/ Cesario, being younger and more eloquent than his other

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