The Winter’s

Tale

Act 4 Scene 4

(Lines 1 – 442)

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Lines 1 – 52 ...stand you auspicious’)

• This is the bit where…• We are introduced to Florizel

and Perdita, who love each other. A lot.

• Preparations are being made for the sheep-shearing festival, for which Perdita is dressed as a royal princess.

• Florizel is dressed as a rustic swain and calling himself ‘Doricles’.

• Perdita voices her fears that there will be no future for them once the King discovers the truth.

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• How would you classify the genre of these lines?

• We are never allowed to forget the events of Acts 1 – 3. How?

• How is the theme of fate developed in lines 13-16 and 51?

• Explore lines 30-35.

Lines 53 – 167 (‘See your guests …

Come, strike up!’)

• This is the bit where…• Perdita greets the guests

(Camillo and Polixenes in disguise) with flowers, and has discusses nature/art with Polixenes. She speaks well, and Polixenes says she ‘smacks of something greater than herself’.

• Florizel praises Perdita for being so brilliant and perfect: ‘all your acts are queens’.

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• Compare and contrast lines 54 & 67.

• In what ways is the theme of nature / nurture developed in this section?

• Explore the imagery in lines 129 – 132.

• Highlight places where Perdita is referred to as royalty.

Lines 168 – 212(‘Pray, good

shepherd… go about to think.’)

• This is the bit where...• Polixenes quizzes the

Shepherd on the relationship between Perdita and Florizel;

• The Shepherd hints at Perdita’s ‘inheritance’;

• A servant brings news of a peddlar who has arrived (Autolycus in disguise.)

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• What do the opening lines of this section remind you of? What effect does this have?

• In what ways are lines 180-2 ironic?

• What are the clowns thoughts on genre at lines 188-90?

• Find references to magic and illusion in this section.

Lines 213 - 305 (‘Lawn as

white… men’s a ware-a.’)

• This is the bit where…• Autolycus enters dressed

as a peddlar and selling ballads;

• We discover that there is some kind of love triangle going on between the Clown, Mopsa and Dorcas;

• They sing one of the ballads.

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• In what ways is the character of Autolycus important to the play?

• Why do you think Shakespeare includes the conversation between M, D and the C?

Lines 306 - 442 (‘Master, there

is… To die when I desire.’)• This is the bit where…• There is a dance of satyrs;• Polixenes quizzes Florizel

about his love for Perdita and attempts to persuade him to tell his father of his intention to marry her;

• Florizel refuses and Polixenes reveals his true identity, threatening the Shepherd with hanging, Florizel with disinheritance and Perdita with… a scratched face.

• In what ways does Shakespeare create tension/fear in this section?

• Look at Polixenes language in this section. In what ways is it reminiscent of Leontes’?

©JeannineNorth2011