The Winter's Tale

The Winter’s Tale features strong female characters who are unafraid to speak up, even in the presence of kings. Who are these characters and what are their roles? How does sexism shape the plot?

Antigonus sees Hermione in a dream, in which she tells him to name her child “Perdita,” a name that means “lost.” What is the significance of this name?

Time is an important aspect of the play, with it being personified as “Time.” What effect does this personification have on the plot?

What is the significance of Leontes wanting to murder Polixenes by poisoning? Why does he choose this method and how does it tie into the play’s use of illness and infection?

Like most of his plays, Shakespeare based The Winter’s Tale on an older story. In what ways does he make the story his own and portray contemporary values?

Shakespeare’s plays often include a “clown” character, yet the Clown himself suits this archetype less than the roguish Autolycus. In what ways does this subversion tie into the play’s use of deceit and disguises?

The Winter’s Tale shares similarities with Shakespeare’s earlier comedy Much Ado About Nothing. In what ways do the plays’ key messages differ?

Though The Winter’s Tale begins in winter, it ends in summer. What is the significance of the play’s title? What does the transition from winter to summer symbolize?