Main Characters Leontes-King of Sicilia Mamillius-Prince of Sicilia Camillo, Antigonus, Cleomenes, Dion-Lords of Sicilia Polixenes-King of Bohemia Florizel-Prince of Bohemia Shepherd-Perdita's adopted father Clown-shepherd's son Autolycus-rogue Hermione-Leontes' wife Perdita-Leontes' daughter Paulina-Antigonus' wife Emilia-Hermione's attendant Mopsa and Dorcas-shepherdesses
A (Very) Brief Plot Summary
Act I Scene I: Archidamus invites Camillo to Bohemia.Scene II: Leontes is jealous of Hermione's relationship with Polixenes and sends Camillo to murder Polixenes. Camillo and Polixenes plan to escape Sicilia.
Act II Scene I: Leontes takes Mamillus away from Hermione, accuses her of adultery, and says Camillo has conspired against him. Hermione is sent to prison. Scene II Hermione has given birth to a daughter. Scene III: Paulina brings the baby to Leontes, who orders Antigonus to leave the infant in the wilderness.
Act III Scene I: Cleomenes and Dion have returned from Delphi. Scene II: The oracle has decreed that Hermione, Polixenes, and Camillo are innocent, and Leontes will die without an heir if the baby is not found. Mamillus dies. Paulina announces that Hermione is dead. Scene III: Antigonus leaves the baby in the desert and is killed by a bear. A shepherd finds the child.
Act IV Sixteen years have passed. Scene I: Prince Florizel has fallen in love with a shepherd's daughter. Camillo and Polixenes disguise themselves to visit the shepherd.Scene II: Autolycus meets the clown. Scene III: Perdita welcomes Camillo and Polixenes. Florizel says he can't tell his father of his engagement. Polixenes reveals himself, but Florizel will not break his oath. Camillo tells the couple to flea to Sicilia. The clown wants the shepherd to tell the king that Perdita was a foundling. Autolycus pretends to be a courtier.
Act V Scene I: Leontes swears he will not remarry without Paulina's permission. Florizel and Perdita arrive in Sicilia. Leontes is told that the couple has fled from Bohemia.. Scene II: A gentleman announces that the King's heir has been found. Polixenes and Leontes are reconciled. Scene III: Hermione reveals that she is alive.
Glossary Feodary -a confederate Blench -to swerve or be inconsistent Barne -a young child Hoxes -hamstrings Gest -a place of rest Jar o' the clock -a tick of the click Toaze -to straighten out or untangle Troll-my-dames -a game Three-pile -the best kind of velvet Tod -twenty-eight pounds of wool
The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale contains what is widely described as the most famous stage direction in all of Shakespeare: Exit, Pursued by a bear. You can't really blame Antigonus-I'd be exiting, too! Here we find another of Shakespeare's famous geographical gaffs. He has Antigonus abandon Perdita on the seacoast of Bohemia-a land-locked country. Now, Bohemia is located in the western past of what used to be called Czechoslovakia and did not exist before 700 A.D.-fifteen hundred years after the Oracle at Delphi, so I guess the Bard failed history, too.
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