Act I:
- At the end of Camillo’s speech at 1.1.18 ff., speaking of the bond between Polixenes and Leontes, he says that “the heavens continue their loves.” What is the history between these two kings? How does Polixenes describe their past at 1.2.69 ff.? What ended their innocent boyhood friendship?
- Note how long Polixenes says he has been in Sicilia at the beginning of 1.2. What is the significance of this period of time?
- What is the cause of the change that comes over Leontes at 1.2.110?
- Why is Leontes so concerned with the apparent similarity between his appearance and that of his son, Mamillius?
- What does Leontes order Camillo to do? Does he follow this command?
Acts II and III:
- Why is Leontes “glad [Hermione] did not nurse” Mamillius? Your note will help with this strange comment. What is significant about the name “Mamillius”? What does Leontes have done to the boy?
- Where does Leontes have Hermione sent?
- Why does Leontes send messengers to the oracle at Delos? (see 2.1.185)
- How does Paulina attempt to convince Leontes that the newborn baby is his? What does Leontes have done with the “female bastard” (2.3.175)?
- In 3.2, Leontes (finally) comes to the realization that he has acted rashly. What leads him to admit he was wrong? What does Paulina tell him to do to repair the damage he has caused?
- What makes Antigonus decide to leave the babe on the shore?
- Don’t miss what is perhaps the most outrageous stage direction in all of Shakespeare at 3.3.57!!
- How do you understand the Old Shepherd’s line at 3.3.104-5: “Thou metst with things dying, I with things new-born.”
- What do the Old Shepherd and Clown do with the box of gold they discover?
Act IV:
- What is the point of the Chorus that appears at the beginning of 4.1? What information does it share?
- Autolycus shares with the Clown that he has been robbed of his clothes. Who did this deed (4.3.79 ff.)?
- Track all the disguises during the sheep shearing festival in 4.4. Who is is disguised as what? What seems to be troubling Perdita about these disguises
- Make sure you read through the notes about flowers in Perdita’s confusing discussion about “nature’s bastard’s” in 4.4. We’ll try to make some sense of this in class!
- What makes Polixenes so enraged that he takes off his disguise at 4.4.405? What does he threaten Florizel with if he insists on seeing “this knack” (Perdita)? Does Florizel seem to care about his father’s threats?
- Why do the Old Shepherd and the Clown want to prove that Perdita is not in their family? How do they plan to do this?
Act V:
- Whom does Florizel enlist to help him with his angry father in 5.1?
- How does Autolycus manage to find his way to Sicilia?
- Note the line at 5.2.73-4: “The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings and princes, for by such it was acted.” To what is the “First Gentleman” referring? Why do you think Shakespeare chose not to stage all of these amazing reunifications?
- How are the Old Shepherd and the Clown dressed in 5.2? What does the Clown report at l. 125?
- Leontes is amazed at the statue of Hermione, and its likeness to the former Queen, but there is one difference he notes. What is it?
- Once Hermione is revivified, to whom does she address her first words? What does she say?
- How is Paulina compensated for the loss of Antingonus?
