The Winter’s Tale Act 4 Scene 4 (Lines 1 – 442) ©JeannineNorth2011

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. ©JeannineNorth2011 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 and 51? Explore lines

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’. ©JeannineNorth2011 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.) ©JeannineNorth2011 What do the opening lines of this section remind you of? What effect does this have? In what ways are lines ironic? What are the clowns thoughts on genre at lines ? Find references to magic and illusion in this section.

Lines (‘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. ©JeannineNorth2011 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 (‘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