The Tempest Lesson Plan

The Tempest, once considered a comedy, is now generally classified as one of Shakespeare's romances because it combines aspects of comedy, tragedy, and mysticism. These plays are not called "romances" because they are focused on a love plot. The plot of Romeo and Juliet focuses on a pair of lovers and is closer to what a modern person would consider a "romance." However, for the purposes of categorizing Shakespeare's works, Romeo and Juliet is unambiguously tragic. Likewise, Shakespeare's romantic comedies, such as Twelfth Night and As You Like It, are classified as comedies and not romances. "Romance" is a label reserved for Shakespeare's works which have dark and dramatic elements yet...