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

2. 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 13-16 and 51? Explore lines 30-35.

3. 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.

4. 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 180-2 ironic? What are the clowns thoughts on genre at lines 188-90? Find references to magic and illusion in this section.

5. 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. ©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?

6. 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