The Winter’s Tale

Year written: 1610

Context of the writing (Shakespeare’s career, political events it was responding to): xx

Plot in a paragraph: King Leontes accuses his pregnant wife Hermione of cheating with his old friend, King of Bohemia Polixenes.  The Delphic Oracle tells Leontes he is wrong, but it’s only the death of their son that makes him wake up. Meanwhile Hermione is “dead” and the baby that was sent to die of exposure has been rescued (though the guy who left her with loads of gold and an explanation gets eaten by a bear). Flash forward 16 years and the daughter, raised by a shepherd, has caught the eye of Polixenes’ son.  Everyone gets together, all is explained/resolved and a “statue” of Hermione comes to life.

Things that worked well: The bear!

Things that didn’t work well: The lame fifth act. We don’t see Leontes meet Perdita, and the final scene – I mean, wtaf.

Favourite character: Paulina. And Antigus, I guess

Words I learnt: 

Word	Definition
Bawcock	Bawcock – fine fellow or good chap
Collop	Collup – thin slice of meat
Hoxes	Hoxes  hamstrings/hindquarters
Callat	Callat – scold, prostitute
Lozel	Lozel – despicable person, scoundrel
Heigh	Heigh – expressing encouragement or inquiry.
Pugging	Pugging – 1. work (clay) into a soft, plastic condition suitable for making bricks or pottery, without air pockets. “clay that has been more consistently pugged will have a finer, denser body”2. pack (a space) with pug, sawdust, or other material in order to deaden sound or make something fireproof.
Caparison	Caparison A caparison is a cloth covering laid over a horse or other animal for protection and decoration. In modern times, they are used mainly in parades and for historical reenactments. A similar term is horse-trapper.[1] The word is derived from the Latin caparo, meaning a cape
Gillivor	Gillyvor – another name for gillyflower. A gilliflower or gillyflower (/ˈdʒɪliˌflaʊ.ər/)[1] is the carnation or a similar plant of the genus Dianthus, especially the Clove Pink Dianthus caryophyllus.[2] Its botanical name is Matthiola incana, also known as stock.
Dibble	Dibble -a pointed hand tool for making holes in the ground for seeds or young plants.
Featly	Featly – suitably skillfully or “neatly and elegantly”
Tabor	Tabor – a small drum, especially one used simultaneously by the player of a simple pipe.
Cadisses	Cadisses??
Saultiers	Saultiers – group of people who perform a specific dance
Pomander	Pomander – fragrant ball made of aromatic substances, often encased in a decorative holder
Toze	Toze – to pull about, tease or comb

Lines worth knowing: 

Act scene lines	Character	Lines	Comment
Act 1, scene 2	Leontes	It is a bawdy planet
Act 1, scene 2	Camillo	Good my lord be cured of this diseased opinion
Act 1, scene 2	Camillo	But I am sure ‘tis safer to avoid whats grown than question how ‘tis born
Act 2, scene 1	Leontes	How blest am IIn my just censure, in my true opinion!Alack, for lesser knowledge! How accursedIn being so blest!
Act 3, scene 2	Leontes	Go on, go on.Thou canst not speak too much. I have deservedAll tongues to talk their bitt’rest.
Act 4, scene 4	Polixenes	Thou, old traitor,I am sorry that by hanging thee I canBut shorten thy life one week
Act 4, scene 4	Shepherd	I cannot speak, nor think,Nor dare to know that which I know
Act 4, scene 4	Camillo	O my lord,I would your spirit were easier for adviceOr stronger for your need.
Act 5, scene 1	Paulina	Sir, my liege,Your eye hath too much youth in ’t

Marc’s entirely subjective verdict and score out of 5 bards (ymmv): 3

Will I be tracking down movies of this? : no

How far would I travel to see a good production of this? Xx

Limericks

Once the king’s thinks he’s been cucked

Then his wife and bezzie are fucked

His smuggled female heir

Is not snacked by a bear

Ensues a fifth act, all are Pucked

AND

Hermionie’s honour is doubted

By the king all justice is fluted

There’s nonsense with babies

The plotter has rabies

A stature that …. talks is touted??

AND

Loentes doeth Hermy defame

Her pureness oracles proclaim

All credibility fled

She’s back from the dead

And nothing will ever be the same

AND

The Sicilian king’s super life

Includes a traduced wife

Their baby daughter

He sends to her slaughter

From this point doth he suffer some strife.