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The Tempest: No Fear Shakespeare Side-by-Side Plain English
This No Fear Shakespeare ebook gives you the complete text of The Tempest and an easy-to-understand translation.
Each No Fear Shakespeare contains
The complete text of the original play A line-by-line translation that puts Shakespeare into everyday language A complete list of characters with descriptionsPlenty of helpful commentary
Each No Fear Shakespeare contains
The complete text of the original play A line-by-line translation that puts Shakespeare into everyday language A complete list of characters with descriptionsPlenty of helpful commentary
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 30, 2018
116 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
William Shakespeare
27.6k books46.9k followersWilliam Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 57 reviews
December 7, 2022
At some point in high school my granddaughter will be asked to read a Shakespeare play. I'm going to make sure she has all the tools she needs to successfully comprehend and enjoy whatever play it is.
September 7, 2024
pre-review
warning: I have like no opinion on this book 😭 so this review is gonna be super short and really not opinionated 😭😭
pre-read
summer homework !! (aka i'm going to annotate this very heavily, lol) & i also am playing Iris in my school play next fall so obviously i have to read this for that anyway! <33
warning: I have like no opinion on this book 😭 so this review is gonna be super short and really not opinionated 😭😭
pre-read
summer homework !! (aka i'm going to annotate this very heavily, lol) & i also am playing Iris in my school play next fall so obviously i have to read this for that anyway! <33
May 16, 2025
I love reading plays, because, for someone who doesn't see things well in her head, dialogue and stage directions are a breeze. However, I think "The Tempest" should be watched. I can't say that definitively as I have not watched a version of the play, but I think it would be more enjoyable to watch than to read.
At the start, there was simply a lot going on. There's not a huge cast of characters, but I definitely got confused during Act 2, Scene 1 when everyone was talking so quickly.
Regardless, the dialogue was the best part, in my opinion. Shakespeare is quick-witted, and there were so many lines that I pocketed for later use.
The ending felt bizarre to me. I expected a particular character to get *something* of a comeuppance, and there was something else about the ending that felt unsatisfying, but I won't spoil it.
I don't know that I'll read this one again any time soon, but I am glad to have it marked off my list.
At the start, there was simply a lot going on. There's not a huge cast of characters, but I definitely got confused during Act 2, Scene 1 when everyone was talking so quickly.
Regardless, the dialogue was the best part, in my opinion. Shakespeare is quick-witted, and there were so many lines that I pocketed for later use.
The ending felt bizarre to me. I expected a particular character to get *something* of a comeuppance, and there was something else about the ending that felt unsatisfying, but I won't spoil it.
I don't know that I'll read this one again any time soon, but I am glad to have it marked off my list.
September 24, 2023
i read the no fear shakespeare ver so i had to modern english translation, i watched the play side by side as i read it so i could fully understand what was going on and STILL have no idea what is going on and i think that’s just because i’m unwell and my brain isn’t working properly but sparknotes will be coming in clutch for tuesdays seminar
June 4, 2023
Shakespeare was at least able to capture my attention with this play. The play revolves around the themes of revenge and forgiveness, there are elements of magic and spirits also. As with a lot of Shakespeare 's plays though , I felt like this was an unfinished work.
June 15, 2024
My favorite of Shakespeare’s comedies, almost entirely on the strength of the wickedly misanthropic Caliban. If rating on nostalgia alone, it’d be an easy 5 stars. I can’t say why Sharkspeare’s farewell didn’t grip me as tightly this time… maybe I just wanted more Caliban.
January 25, 2019
7/10. School read.
May 28, 2022
Wasn’t sure if this was hit the same like it did back in HS but it did!
January 9, 2023
I love the format of the No Fear Shakespeare series by Spark Notes. It’s an easy way to read (and somewhat understand) Shakespeare.
November 26, 2023
no fucking idea what i just read. still too dumb to understand shakespeare at 23. why was middle school me so jealous of everyone who got to read this
December 28, 2023
Odd but interesting play. And the documentary I watched about it (prior to reading) made it even better.
April 4, 2023
Another banger from Billy. Nice ending. Good themes of freedom, duty, justice, authority, what it means to be a human being, political citizenship, and what an ideal society looks like. Ending was pretty cute.
April 21, 2023
This play is overflowing with sick burns and ridiculous banter— truly a delight to read. "Mooncalf" is my new favorite term of gruff endearment (up there with "dingbat" and "noodlehead"), and I aspire to someday reach Prospero's levels of patience, cunning, and leadership.
August 10, 2021
A pretty great read. Even just the play is good. Glad I picked this to be my first No Fear Shakespeare.
May 23, 2020
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Critic Score: B
Reader Score: B-
Ok, I started to read only the plain English side about 50 pages in, but that allowed me to finish it in time for class.
I feel that all Shakespeare plays are the literary equivalent of shaking a bottle of water and sand to suspend the contents, then waiting a bit for things to settle, now the particles in new places but looking altogether still as a pile of sand.
Problematic towards women and anti climatic by a long shot, this play managed to keep me interested. Prospero takes what he wants and we’re supposed to love him by the end? All the island spirituals and magic is pretty racist if you see them as stand-ins for island people and their religions.
I certainly didn’t hate this book; it might be the most enjoyment I’ve had with Shakespeare thus far, and the first I read on my own (as in not through class readings). But of course I stuck to the plain English side, so there’s still improvements to be made.
Critic Score: B
Reader Score: B-
Ok, I started to read only the plain English side about 50 pages in, but that allowed me to finish it in time for class.
I feel that all Shakespeare plays are the literary equivalent of shaking a bottle of water and sand to suspend the contents, then waiting a bit for things to settle, now the particles in new places but looking altogether still as a pile of sand.
Problematic towards women and anti climatic by a long shot, this play managed to keep me interested. Prospero takes what he wants and we’re supposed to love him by the end? All the island spirituals and magic is pretty racist if you see them as stand-ins for island people and their religions.
I certainly didn’t hate this book; it might be the most enjoyment I’ve had with Shakespeare thus far, and the first I read on my own (as in not through class readings). But of course I stuck to the plain English side, so there’s still improvements to be made.
March 15, 2022
"How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world, that has such people in 't!" -John
The Tempest is about a wizard, Prospero, with a plan who carries it out flawlessly in an omnipotent fashion. It's when everything goes right after every had been done wrong so long ago before.
This is the simplest story I've read from Shakespeare and it's to the story benefit imo. Probably one of the most fun I've had reading Shakespeare of all things; I wasn't the biggest fan of just reading the script of books like Macbeth and Merchant of Venice but they did have an aesthetic to it that was appealing of 16th century Europe mostly. This was more fun because of the whimsical nature of it all.
The Tempest is far removed from European reality, the whole story takes place on an island with there being more nameless spirits playing wild magic at the command of the wizard, Prospero than humans. To the point that the first time Prospero's daughter had seen humans was when they shipwrecked on their island all according to Prospero's plan. There is a lot of moving parts, although that's common for today's standards, and the comedy hits just as hard as a joke from the 16th century would hit in the 21st.
Not a lot of complaints, a fun read, some quotable lines, however a bit of a lack of conflicts and threat, however that is to be expected of a comedy.
4/5 stars.
The Tempest is about a wizard, Prospero, with a plan who carries it out flawlessly in an omnipotent fashion. It's when everything goes right after every had been done wrong so long ago before.
This is the simplest story I've read from Shakespeare and it's to the story benefit imo. Probably one of the most fun I've had reading Shakespeare of all things; I wasn't the biggest fan of just reading the script of books like Macbeth and Merchant of Venice but they did have an aesthetic to it that was appealing of 16th century Europe mostly. This was more fun because of the whimsical nature of it all.
The Tempest is far removed from European reality, the whole story takes place on an island with there being more nameless spirits playing wild magic at the command of the wizard, Prospero than humans. To the point that the first time Prospero's daughter had seen humans was when they shipwrecked on their island all according to Prospero's plan. There is a lot of moving parts, although that's common for today's standards, and the comedy hits just as hard as a joke from the 16th century would hit in the 21st.
Not a lot of complaints, a fun read, some quotable lines, however a bit of a lack of conflicts and threat, however that is to be expected of a comedy.
4/5 stars.
September 26, 2019
3.5/5 stars
I love the No Fear Shakespeare series. You get all the joy and information of a Shakespearean play in modern, plain English. Plus, the modern English is right next to the original text so you can compare. It is a very neat idea.
The play itself was okay. The 2nd best play of Shakespeare I read, but some things about this play I wasn't a fan of. Like Prospero his character to me is so unlikeable. He acts like a cold-hearted dictator who thinks everything should be his, even though he ignored his duty as duke and stole the island from it rightful owner. Additionally, he treats the people that serve him as slave and is very rude and harsh to them, for no good reason.
Other than that the play was quite nice. The subplot with Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo the best. To read about these drunken fools plot to kill Prospero was pretty entertaining. This was the only funny part in the book
You have to take into account that this play was written 100+ years ago and the comedy doesn't transfer that well to the modern era, but despite its flaws the Tempest is a charming and interesting story. I would recommend if you want to read Shakespeare in modern English.
I love the No Fear Shakespeare series. You get all the joy and information of a Shakespearean play in modern, plain English. Plus, the modern English is right next to the original text so you can compare. It is a very neat idea.
The play itself was okay. The 2nd best play of Shakespeare I read, but some things about this play I wasn't a fan of. Like Prospero his character to me is so unlikeable. He acts like a cold-hearted dictator who thinks everything should be his, even though he ignored his duty as duke and stole the island from it rightful owner. Additionally, he treats the people that serve him as slave and is very rude and harsh to them, for no good reason.
Other than that the play was quite nice. The subplot with Caliban, Stephano, and Trinculo the best. To read about these drunken fools plot to kill Prospero was pretty entertaining. This was the only funny part in the book
You have to take into account that this play was written 100+ years ago and the comedy doesn't transfer that well to the modern era, but despite its flaws the Tempest is a charming and interesting story. I would recommend if you want to read Shakespeare in modern English.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2023
O brave new world, That has such people in it!
No Fear Shakespeare: The Tempest: Act 5, Scene 1, stanza 185
Transliterated as:
Oh, what a wonderful new world, That has such people in it!
Though on occasion transliteration on the opposing page can clarify the original wording, it can just as easily obscure the original meaning.
The “No Fear” intention is not to annotate but transliterate so one does not spend time looking at footnotes or holding a dictionary in one’s hand.
Naturally, the magic or feel of the play is lost in place of an understanding made by one person’s interpretation.
It may be better to watch one of the movie presentations or take a class before reading this book.
There are some blank pages for taking notes.
No Fear Shakespeare: The Tempest: Act 5, Scene 1, stanza 185
Transliterated as:
Oh, what a wonderful new world, That has such people in it!
Though on occasion transliteration on the opposing page can clarify the original wording, it can just as easily obscure the original meaning.
The “No Fear” intention is not to annotate but transliterate so one does not spend time looking at footnotes or holding a dictionary in one’s hand.
Naturally, the magic or feel of the play is lost in place of an understanding made by one person’s interpretation.
It may be better to watch one of the movie presentations or take a class before reading this book.
There are some blank pages for taking notes.
Read
November 29, 2020With a classic like Shakespeare there is always a good time to be had. Twists and turns and lots of confrontation packed into one play. Throughout the book each character interacts with several different plot lines involving other characters. Each individual plot line mixes with others to make an intricate web of characters. As with several other Shakespearean plays this is a comedy and it has that somedic undertone even among the dark times. Whether it be dark humour or blatant laughs it is funny nonetheless. I truly enjoyed this writing and appreciated the humour with this classic work of art.
October 26, 2024
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September 21, 2020
Great story and this edition was fun because you had Shakespeare on the left side of the page and a modern translation on the right. It wasn't like reading a Cliffs Notes summary, it was the actual whole play.
It was fun to go back and forth and see how much you were grasping of the Shakespearean English. I admittedly read mostly the modern English because hey, it was easier and I got more out of it. I liked the story, the loss and redemption and forgiveness. I enjoyed the fantasy and the character insights. A bit weird in places, but hey, that's okay, too.
It was fun to go back and forth and see how much you were grasping of the Shakespearean English. I admittedly read mostly the modern English because hey, it was easier and I got more out of it. I liked the story, the loss and redemption and forgiveness. I enjoyed the fantasy and the character insights. A bit weird in places, but hey, that's okay, too.
July 21, 2022
Interesting short Shakespeare story, my second one after Romeo and Juliet. Loved the three different groups of characters and thought it was fresh and original. I feel after reading both The Tempest and R&J, I like The Tempest more due to how much more original it felt to me. R&J just seems shoved down everyones throats, if you're a book fan, since you get into reading and The Tempest is a slightly less known Shakespeare among book readers. The Tempest is just an interesting and enjoyful read, not amazing by any stretch of the imagination, but just...good.
September 12, 2023
(My star review is referring to the No Fear Shakespeare modern English translation. I don’t feel the need to rate Shakespeare himself.)
I enjoyed reading The Tempest with the modern translation to help. I’d never read this particular play before—my previous exposure to it was an episode of Wishbone (for which reason I couldn’t help imagining Wishbone in his silly costume as Ariel). The modern translation was pretty good. I thought the translator was at his best when rendering all the humorous bits.
I enjoyed reading The Tempest with the modern translation to help. I’d never read this particular play before—my previous exposure to it was an episode of Wishbone (for which reason I couldn’t help imagining Wishbone in his silly costume as Ariel). The modern translation was pretty good. I thought the translator was at his best when rendering all the humorous bits.
January 12, 2023
Where's my actual revenge??? Prospero ex duke builds up the whole thing and then he's like nahhh all good, just bring me home ok bye.
No catharsis :( probably good reason for it
I loved the simplified text -- it closes the loop on a lot of my basic questions about the text. My reading style was stay on the original as long as I could, but switch to simplified when i got confused. Funny though, the footnotes seem to provide no helpful info at all haha.
No catharsis :( probably good reason for it
I loved the simplified text -- it closes the loop on a lot of my basic questions about the text. My reading style was stay on the original as long as I could, but switch to simplified when i got confused. Funny though, the footnotes seem to provide no helpful info at all haha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2021
I did a thing. I read a Shakespeare play for the pure delight of it. Not for anyone or anything else. Now mind you I know Shakespeare well, through stage and screen, but reading Shakespeare with J has lead me to be brave and seek out a play to enjoy for myself.
I have long longed to read The Tempest, I didn't love it, but am contented in having read it. I loved the language, just not the story.
I have long longed to read The Tempest, I didn't love it, but am contented in having read it. I loved the language, just not the story.
January 15, 2021
I read this version, and look to read another version soon after seeing a performed version of it. There were times that I glanced over for to better understand the text and found it. Sometimes I did not find help there and had to look online.
My rating doesn't reflect on the Bard's work, but the accompanying text.
My rating doesn't reflect on the Bard's work, but the accompanying text.
June 25, 2023
Wow. What a disappointment.
If you want a version of The Tempest that is actually epic (with real monsters, storms, magic, and heroes you can actually root for), read the retelling Summon the Light!
If you want a version of The Tempest that is actually epic (with real monsters, storms, magic, and heroes you can actually root for), read the retelling Summon the Light!
October 24, 2023
I love this idea of having the original and unabridged play on one side of the page, and a modern rendition on the other to translate as needed. I am glad to be reading Shakespeare at last!
This was quite enjoyable. Antonio's and Sebastian's commentary when they first came ashore was hysterical, definitely my favorite part.
This was quite enjoyable. Antonio's and Sebastian's commentary when they first came ashore was hysterical, definitely my favorite part.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 57 reviews