The Winter’s Tale

William Shakespeare, c. 1611

Shakespeare’s play of Leontes, King of Sicilia, whose sudden jealousy of his wife Hermione and his friend Polixenes of Bohemia leads him to cast off his newborn daughter; sixteen years later the story moves to Bohemia.

Start reading15 scenes, about 26,000 words

Famous quotes

The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades, when speaking fails.
Act II, Scene II, spoken by PaulinaIn context
- Talking
What’s gone and what’s past help,
Should be past grief.
Act III, Scene II, spoken by PaulinaIn context
- Emotion
- Wisdom
My father named me Autolycus; who being, I as am, littered under Mercury, was likewise a snapper-up of unconsidered trifles.
Act IV, Scene III, spoken by AutolycusIn context
- Comedy
Jog on, jog on, the footpath way,
And merrily hent the stile-a:
A merry heart goes all the day,
Your sad tires in a mile-a.
Act IV, Scene III, spoken by AutolycusIn context
- Happiness
When you do dance, I wish you
A wave o’ th’ sea, that you might ever do
Nothing but that
Act IV, Scene IV, spoken by FlorizelIn context
- Dancing
- Love
Though I am not naturally honest, I am sometimes by chance.
In context
- Truth & Lies

Act I

Scene ISicilia. An Antechamber in Leontes’ Palace
Scene IIThe same. A Room of State in the Palace

Act II

Scene ISicilia. A Room in the Palace
Scene IIThe same. The outer Room of a Prison
Scene IIIThe same. A Room in the Palace

Act III

Scene ISicilia. A Street in some Town
Scene IIThe same. A Court of Justice
Scene IIIBohemia. A desert Country near the Sea

Act IV

Scene IPrologue
Scene IIBohemia. A Room in the palace of Polixenes
Scene IIIThe same. A Road near the Shepherd’s cottage
Scene IVThe same. A Shepherd’s Cottage

Act V

Scene ISicilia. A Room in the palace of Leontes
Scene IIThe same. Before the Palace
Scene IIIThe same. A Room in Paulina’s house