©JeannineNorth2012 The Winter’s Tale Act 1 Scene 2

Lines 1 – 27 (‘Nine changes…Farewell, our brother.’) ©JeannineNorth2012 Lines 1 – 27 (‘Nine changes…Farewell, our brother.’) Explore the change in rhythm at line 10. What is significant about lines 19-21? This is the bit where… Leontes attempts to persuade Polixenes to stay a bit longer. Polixenes refuses.

Lines 27 – 86 (‘Tongue-tied… He’ll stay, my lord.’) ©JeannineNorth2012 Lines 27 – 86 (‘Tongue-tied… He’ll stay, my lord.’) What is the significance of lines 39-44? ‘A lady’s ‘verily’’s/As potent as a lord’s’ (49 – 50). Is it? What is ironic in l. 51? Explore lines 66-85. This is the bit where… Hermione attempts to persuade Polixenes to stay a bit longer. She succeeds.

Lines 86 – 107 (‘At my request…while a friend.’) ©JeannineNorth2012 Lines 86 – 107 (‘At my request…while a friend.’) Does Leontes believe in the affair at this point? If so, when, exactly? How do you know? Do we experience pity and fear in this section? Why/not? This is the bit where… Leontes reminds Hermione of her marriage vows, and they compare these ‘words’ (i.e. their marriage vows) to those she has just spoken to Polixenes. This is a bit weird.

Lines 107 – 208 (‘Too hot, too hot!...thou’rt an honest man.’) ©JeannineNorth2012 Lines 107 – 208 (‘Too hot, too hot!...thou’rt an honest man.’) This is the bit where… Leontes’ becomes overtaken by a delusion of Hermione’s unfaithfulness. His language and behaviour reflect his growing ‘conviction’ of this notion. Explore the imagery in 107-119 and 183-205. What do you notice about Leontes’ speech in 119-145? What do 148, 168-9 and 171 have in common ?

Lines 209 – 360 (‘Camillo …Here comes Bohemia.’ ©JeannineNorth2012 Lines 209 – 360 (‘Camillo …Here comes Bohemia.’ This is the bit where… Leontes tells Camillo that Hermione is ‘slippery’ and orders him to poison Polixenes. Camillo refuses to believe Leontes’ assertions, yet says that he will obey Leontes’ commands. In a soliloquy, he reveals that he feels torn, and leaves the decision up to to fate: ‘Happy star reign now!’ Look at 209-30. In what ways do Camillo’s words arouse ‘pity and fear’? Based on 264-329, what do you consider to be Leontes’ hamartia? How does Camillo act as a foil here?

Lines 360 – 460 (‘This is strange … Come sir, away.’) ©JeannineNorth2012 Lines 360 – 460 (‘This is strange … Come sir, away.’) This is the bit where… Camillo tells Polixenes everything. He is not surprised but, on the contrary had guessed that something was up. Camillo agrees to help Polixenes flee Sicilia immediately. What impact would 360-407 have on a live theatre audience? Explore the imagery in 412-426. Do you consider the end of this scene to be part of the play’s peripeteia?