Betrayals and Exile
Felix is fired from the Makeshiweg Festival just before directing The Tempest. What excuse does the board use to remove him?
Budget Concerns/The Need for New Leadership
Felix forces the inmates to follow a classroom rule regarding swearing. What is the rule?
They can only curse using Shakespearean language
What is Felix’s long-term goal for directing The Tempest at Fletcher Correctional?
To use it as a trap to humiliate Tony and Sal while regaining his own power?
Felix repeatedly talks to Miranda as if she is still alive. What does this reveal about his psychological state?
He cannot fully accept her death and uses his imagination to keep her present
This vocabulary word is an adjective and means to be in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.
Despondent
While in self-imposed exile, Felix imagines Miranda growing up. What milestone does he pretend she reaches?
Teenage Years
Why is the in-prison theatre program particularly meaningful to the inmates beyond just being an educational course?
It allows them to express themselves, see their own struggles in The Tempest, and feel empowered.
Felix’s plan requires careful timing. What major upcoming event in Tony and Sal’s political careers makes them particularly vulnerable to his scheme?
The announcement of government funding for prison programs, which they want to use to boost their public image
Felix describes directing a play as a kind of "magic." How does this compare to Prospero’s magic in The Tempest?
Both manipulate others through illusion and storytelling to achieve a goal
In the Haunting of Hill House Mrs. Montague appears towards the end of the book with an eccentric, gun-wielding, womanizing man. What was his name, and what did he do for a living?
Arthur, Headmaster at an all boys school.
Felix chooses to live in isolation in a shack. How does his self-imposed exile parallel Prospero’s in The Tempest?
both are powerful men overthrown by a usurper, retreat to a remote place, and plot revenge.
What assignment does Felix give the inmates that helps them personally connect to their roles?
Writing out a backstory and motivation for their character, or imagining what would happen after their death.
Felix slowly begins preparing the inmates for their involvement in his revenge plan. What are some steps he takes to gain their trust?
Treating them with respect, allowing them creative freedom, and making the play enjoyable. He also bribes them with cigarettes!
The prisoners begin seeing themselves in the characters of The Tempest. What does this reveal about the universality of Shakespeare’s work?
Themes of power, betrayal, and redemption apply across all backgrounds
In A Raisin in the Sun, what did Walter Younger do for work? (I am not talking about what he potentially could do for work given any investments)
Chauffeur for a wealthy family
Felix reinvents himself as "Mr. Duke." What is the strategic purpose behind this alias?
To hide his true identity while waiting for the right moment to return
Some inmates struggle to understand Ariel’s role in The Tempest. How does Felix help them interpret his character in a way they can relate to?
By comparing Ariel’s servitude to being trapped in the prison system, always obeying orders to survive
Or
Having them imagine him as a superhero/alien/someone with superpowers.
How does Felix use the character of Caliban to his advantage when discussing him with the inmates?
By reclaiming him as a source of power for the inmates and a reminder of betrayal and justice. He also explains Caliban's other sides that aren't fully explored in Hag-Seed.
Felix believes his revenge will not be complete unless it happens in a theatrical setting. Why?
Because his downfall occurred through theater, so he sees it as the only way to reclaim his power?
Our Homesick Songs takes place in a village called Big Running. In which country is Big Running located, and what is their economy based on?
Canada, fishing.
Felix learns that Tony and Sal will be visiting Fletcher Correctional. What is the specific reason for their visit, and why does it matter to Felix?
To evaluate the prison literacy program as part of a political agenda, giving Felix the opportunity for revenge
What role does 8Handz take in The Tempest and why does it fit his personality?
Ariel, because of his skills with technology and hacking
At the start of Hag-Seed, Felix is betrayed and dismissed from his position. What is the immediate personal consequence for Felix after losing his job at the Makeshiweg Festival?
He retreats into self-imposed exile and begins to plan his revenge
Felix tells the inmates they must come up with alternative endings for The Tempest. Why is this significant to the play’s themes?
It reinforces the idea of rewriting fate and reclaiming control over one’s narrative
This custom, which originated in Song Dynasty China, was a status symbol for upper class women.
Foot Binding