 There are numerous references to William Shakespeare (I) (qv): the  gravedigger scene is from Hamlet, Telemacher quotes Shakespeare  twice, and the storyline contains elements from A Midsummer Nights  Dream (with the two confused couples exchanging lovers) and The  Tempest (with a magic storm stranding the lovers, the gods (in the  form of stone lions) blessing the couple, and a character named  Ariel).