"Whose (Is)land is This?": topics in Immigration and The Tempest

Class members compare the ways the subject of immigration is treated in The Tempest, Act I, scene ii, Act II, scene i and Act III, scene ii with patterns in American history. After tracing their own family’s journey, a series of activities gets learners thinking about the reasons behind immigration, the dreams and plans of new immigrants, and the denial of access many groups faced. The final discussion focuses on the ways The Tempest can be seen as a warning to modern audiences.