Winter's Tale

Question 1

When was The Winter’s Tale first performed? First published?

Answer 1

Our earliest performance record is 1611. It was first published in the folio of 1623.

Question 2

What geographical quibble do many critics have with this play?

Answer 2

Bohemia has no sea coast

Question 3

Generically, how might we categorize the second half of the play?

Answer 3

Pastoral; festive, joyous, and comic.

Question 4

What do the festive scenes in Bohemia represent?

Answer 4

New life, beauty, the awakening of spring

Question 5

Who are the main characters in the play?

Answer 5

Leontes, Polixenes, Hermione, Paulina, Florizell, Perdita, Autolycus

Question 6

Where is Leontes ruler? Who is his queen?

Answer 6

Leontes is King of Sicilia. He is married to Hermione.

Question 7

What is the relationship between Leontes and Polixenes?

Answer 7

They are close childhood friends. The begin feuding because Leontes suspects Polixenes of having an affair with his wife, and plots to kill him.

Question 8

Where is Polixenes ruler?

Answer 8

He is King of Bohemia

Question 9

Who is Florizell?

Answer 9

Prince of Bohemia

Question 10

Who is Perdita?

Answer 10

Perdita is secretly the daughter of Leontes and Hermione, but she was raised by a kind Shepherd and his son.

Question 11

Who is Paulina?

Answer 11

Paulina is a Sicilian noblewomen who stands up for Hermione when Leontes accuses her of infidelity. She shows Leontes his newborn baby to try and get him to see the folly of his ways, but it doesn’t work.

Question 12

Who is Autolycus?

Answer 12

Autolycus is a notorious trickster in Bohemia and the instigator of many of the play’s comic scenes.

Question 13

What is the name of Hermione and Leontes’ son?

Answer 13

Mamillius

Question 14

What instigates Leontes’ suspicion of Hermione?

Answer 14

She is able to convince Polixenes to stay when Leontes is not. His suspicions are not based on good evidence.

Question 15

Who does Leontes enlist to poison Polixenes?

Answer 15

Camillo

Question 16

What is Camillo’s moral quandary early in the play?

Answer 16

He has always been faithful to his king, but now Leontes has ordered him to kill a man he believes is innocent. He ultimately decides to spare Polixenes’ life and warn him of the danger. He leaves for Bohemia with Polixenes.

Question 17

What time of year does the first part of the play take place?

Answer 17

Winter

Question 18

Where does the play take its title from?

Answer 18

Mamillus, after being asked to tell a story by his mother, says that “a sad tale’s best for winter.”

Question 19

Who is Antigonus? What act does he perform for the king?

Answer 19

He is Paulina’s husband and a nobleman of the court. Leontes commands him to take his newborn baby away and expose it.

Question 20

What does the report from the Oracle at Delphi say?

Answer 20

• Hermione is chaste
• Polixenes is innocent
• Camillo is “a true subject”
• Leontes is “a jealous tyrant”

Question 21

How does Leontes react to the report from Delphi?

Answer 21

He blasphemously says that it must be wrong, and intends continue on with his injustices. Immediately, there is news that Mamillius has died. Leontes repents, but it is too late.

Question 22

What happens to Antigonus?

Answer 22

He is killed by a bear (his ship is also wrecked)

Question 23

How much time passes between the first part of the play and the second?

Answer 23

Sixteen years

Question 24

What event is being celebrated at the Shepherd’s cottage?

Answer 24

A sheep-shearing festival

Question 25

What is Florizell’s alias?

Answer 25

Doricles

Question 26

Who attends the sheep-shearing festival in disguise?

Answer 26

Polixenes and Camillo

Question 27

What causes Polixenes to become angry with his son?

Answer 27

After learning (while in disguise) that Florizell intends to marry Perdita, he asks Flo if he intends to tell his father. Florizell responds in the negative, not seeming to care what his father thinks.

Question 28

What is Polixenes reaction to Florizell determining to marry Perdita?

Answer 28

He removes his disguise, disowns his son, and threatens to kill the Shepherd and Shepherd’s son

Question 29

What is Camillo’s reaction to the argument between Florizell and Polixenes?

Answer 29

He convinces Florizell and Perdita that they should flee to Sicilia. It is partly out of selfish motives, because he dearly wants to go home.

Question 30

What trick does Autolycus play on the Shepherd and the Shepherd’s son near the end of the play?

Answer 30

He promises to take them to Polixenes, and tells them that the king is on a boat. Really, however, he plans to take them to Florizell.