The Winter's Tale Facts for Kids

The Winter's Tale is a famous play written by William Shakespeare. It was first published in 1623. This play is often called one of Shakespeare's "late romances." These are plays that mix serious drama with a happy ending.

Some people also call it a "problem play." This is because the first half is very dramatic and sad. But the second half becomes funny and ends happily. Even with these changes in mood, The Winter's Tale has always been popular. Many versions of it have been performed on stage over the years.

Story of the Play
About the Play's Creation
Images for kids
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Story of the Play

Polixenes, the King of Bohemia, visits his old friend Leontes, the King of Sicilia. Leontes wants Polixenes to stay longer. At first, Polixenes wants to go home. But Leontes's wife, Queen Hermione, convinces him to stay.

Leontes's Jealousy

Leontes then starts to believe that Hermione and Polixenes are in love. He gets very angry and jealous. Leontes orders his loyal helper, Lord Camillo, to poison Polixenes. But Camillo does not want to do this. Instead, he warns Polixenes, and they both escape to Bohemia.

Leontes is furious when he finds out. He accuses his wife, Hermione, of betraying him. He throws her into prison. He sends two lords, Cleomenes and Dion, to visit the Oracle. An Oracle is a wise person believed to know the future.

A New Baby and a Prophecy

Hermione gives birth to a baby girl while in prison. Leontes believes the baby is Polixenes's daughter. He orders Lord Antigonus to take the baby far away and leave her. Hermione is then put on trial. Cleomenes and Dion return with the Oracle's message. Leontes does not want to hear it. But they read it aloud.

The Oracle says that Hermione and Polixenes were never in love. It also says that Camillo is an honest man. Most importantly, it says Leontes will not have a child to take his place until his lost daughter is found.

Sad News and a New Hope

Right after this, sad news arrives. Leontes's only son, Mamillus, has died. He became sick after seeing his mother accused by his father. Hermione then collapses and is told to have died. Leontes is left heartbroken. He promises to fix his mistakes and find his lost daughter.

Meanwhile, Antigonus has a dream about Hermione. She tells him to name the baby Perdita. He leaves the baby on a faraway coast. He also leaves some jewelry to show she comes from a noble family. Then, a bear chases Antigonus away, and he is likely killed. A kind shepherd later finds baby Perdita.

Years Pass and Love Blooms

Sixteen years go by. Camillo is still living with Polixenes. But he misses Sicilia and wants to go home. Polixenes believes his son, Prince Florizel, has fallen in love with a shepherd girl named Perdita. Polixenes and Camillo dress up in disguises. They go to a shepherd's party to see if this is true.

They watch Florizel and Perdita get engaged at the party. Polixenes then reveals who he is. He angrily tells his son never to see Perdita again. Camillo steps in to help. He takes Florizel and Perdita to Sicilia. The shepherd's family also joins them.

A Happy Reunion

Back in Sicilia, Leontes is still sad about his family. Cleomenes and Dion want the king to marry again. But Leontes believes no woman could be as good as Hermione. His servant, Paulina, agrees with him.

Florizel arrives and tries to hide why he has come. But the truth is revealed when Polixenes and Camillo also arrive. After all the past troubles, everyone becomes friends again. Leontes learns that the shepherds raised Perdita. He decides to make them important lords in his kingdom. Paulina then takes them to see a statue of Hermione. The statue suddenly comes to life! Hermione is alive once more. Everyone celebrates this amazing miracle.

About the Play's Creation

Like many of Shakespeare's plays, The Winter's Tale was based on an older story. It mainly comes from a 1588 play called Pandosto by Robert Greene. Shakespeare did not change the story as much as he usually would. The biggest difference is that he changed the sad ending of Pandosto to a happy one.

Shakespeare made other small changes too. All the characters have different names. Also, the countries of Bohemia and Sicilia are swapped around.

Play Structure and Time

The play has five "acts" or parts. The first three acts are full of serious drama. A character called "Time" briefly appears. This character announces that sixteen years have passed between the third and fourth acts. The last two acts are much lighter and happier. They are like "pastoral" plays that were popular back then. These were light plays set in the countryside. Even though the play has a happy ending, some sad things cannot be undone. Mamillus is still gone, and the bad things that happened in the past are not forgotten.

Unrealistic Settings

It seems Shakespeare did not try to make the play realistic. Many things in the play suggest it is set in Europe during Shakespeare's time. But the "Oracle of Delphos" sounds like the Oracle of Delphi in Ancient Greece. The real Oracle was in the mountains, not on an island.

In the play, it is also said that Bohemia has a coastline and deserts. The real Bohemia was located where the Czech Republic is now. It never had a coastline or deserts. Shakespeare might have made it unrealistic on purpose. This could have made the play feel more like a fantasy story.

The Famous Bear Scene

The play also has a famous moment when Antigonus is chased by a bear. In the stage directions, it simply says: "Exit, pursued by a bear." We do not know if Shakespeare used a real bear on stage. It might have been an actor dressed as a bear.

Hermione's Return

It is not completely clear how Hermione comes back to life at the end. The play hints that it might be magic. But it also suggests that Hermione was alive all along.

Images for kids

Autolycus by Robert Leslie, 1836
Act II, scene 3: Antigonus swears his loyalty to Leontes, trying to save Leontes' young daughter's life. From a painting by John Opie.
John Fawcett as Autolycus in The Winter's Tale (1828) by Thomas Charles Wageman.
An engraving of Florizel and Perdita by Charles Robert Leslie.
The first page of The VVinters Tale, printed in the Second Folio of 1632.
Perdita by Anthony Frederick Augustus Sandys.
A fun 1896 map by Gelett Burgess showing Bohemia's seacoast.
An 1807 print of Act III, Scene iii: Exit Antigonus chased by a bear.
A picture of Mrs. Mattocks as Hermione, from a 1779 show.