The Tempest

About this book

Shakespeare's late romance strands the exiled sorcerer Prospero and his daughter Miranda on an island, where Prospero conjures a storm to wreck the ship of those who wronged him and engineer his revenge — and, ultimately, his forgiveness. Often read as Shakespeare's farewell to the stage, it also invites discussion of power and colonialism. A common grades 9-12 and AP text.

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See all books like The Tempest→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This Drama title, typically at grades 9–12. Written in the 1610s; pairs with curriculum units on power and forgiveness; cited across 6 curriculum frameworks.

Where this book is assigned

• AP English Literature & Composition

  • recommended·11th gradesource: AP Lit drama representative text
  • recommended·12th gradesource: AP Lit drama representative text

• AQA GCSE English Literature (8702)

  • required·9th gradesource: Set text in the AQA GCSE English Literature (8702) specification, component: Shakespeare. Specification for first teaching in 2015. Read 2026-10-03.
  • required·10th gradesource: Set text in the AQA GCSE English Literature (8702) specification, component: Shakespeare. Specification for first teaching in 2015. Read 2026-10-03.

• Cambridge AS & A-Level English Literature (9695)

  • required·11th gradesource: Prescribed set text for Cambridge International AS & A Level Literature in English (9695), Paper 1 Section A (Drama), for examination in 2027. Transcribed from the official Cambridge International syllabus (721410-2027-2028-syllabus.pdf). Set texts rotate
  • required·12th gradesource: Prescribed set text for Cambridge International AS & A Level Literature in English (9695), Paper 1 Section A (Drama), for examination in 2027. Transcribed from the official Cambridge International syllabus (721410-2027-2028-syllabus.pdf). Set texts rotate

• Cambridge IGCSE English Literature (0475)

  • required·9th gradesource: Prescribed set text for Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English (0475), Paper 2 Section A (Drama), for examination in 2028. Transcribed from the official Cambridge International syllabus (743282-2028-2030-syllabus.pdf).
  • required·10th gradesource: Prescribed set text for Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English (0475), Paper 2 Section A (Drama), for examination in 2028. Transcribed from the official Cambridge International syllabus (743282-2028-2030-syllabus.pdf).

• IB Diploma Programme — English A: Literature

  • recommended·11th gradesource: William Shakespeare is on the IB Diploma Programme English A: Literature Prescribed Reading List (author-eligible; schools select from the full PRL). Verified via independent author-roster cross-reference, 2026-09-04.
  • recommended·12th gradesource: William Shakespeare is on the IB Diploma Programme English A: Literature Prescribed Reading List (author-eligible; schools select from the full PRL). Verified via independent author-roster cross-reference, 2026-09-04.

• Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Literature (1ET0)

  • required·9th gradesource: Set text in the Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Literature (1ET0) specification, component: Shakespeare. Specification Issue 2, June 2019. Read 2026-10-03.
  • required·10th gradesource: Set text in the Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Literature (1ET0) specification, component: Shakespeare. Specification Issue 2, June 2019. Read 2026-10-03.

Common questions

What grade level is The Tempest?

The Tempest is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 9–12. It appears on 6 school reading lists. Exact placement varies by school and district.

How long does it take to read The Tempest?

It takes about 5h 35m to read The Tempest (304 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 335 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

What curricula assign The Tempest?

The Tempest appears on reading lists for AP English Literature & Composition, AQA GCSE English Literature (8702), Cambridge AS & A-Level English Literature (9695), and 3 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is The Tempest banned in schools?

The Tempest has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 1 state (TX) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.

What themes does The Tempest explore?

Central themes in The Tempest include power, forgiveness, colonialism, freedom.