The Winters Tale Trivia Quiz

Answer: to mingle friendship far

Leontes thinks that his wife Hermione is having an affair with his friend and fellow king, Polixenes. Struck down by a sudden madness, he orders Polixenes killed and Hermione imprisoned. He then humiliates his wife by forcing her to go on trial, and despite proof of her innocence from Apollo's Oracle, declares her guilty. Of course, he soon regrets this when he is told that she is 'dead'.

Answer: King of Bohemia

King of Bohemia, the country where Antigonus takes Perdita. Antigonus is Leontes' most trusted adviser, but unfortunately meets an untimely end when on his mission for the King - see the next question!

Answer: False

Actually, it's Antigonus who exits! After depositing the baby Perdita in the storm, a large bear comes and mauls him to pieces. The only witness to this is the shepherd's son, who is known only as 'Clown' in the play. This is the last line of the first half. The second half, set sixteen years later, is far more cheerful!

Answer: Mamillius

Leontes is her father, Florizel her fiancee and Camillo a servant of King Polixenes of Bohemia. Her brother is of course Mamillius, although he dies not long after his sister's birth. It is the news of his death (which is broken during Hermione's trial) that makes Leontes repent and Hermione collapse and nearly die. Nearly, but not quite, although Leontes, her husband, thinks that she is dead.

Answer: divorce

Divorce! Polixenes says this to Prince Florizel on hearing his intention of wedding Perdita without his father's consent. Outraged, Perdita and Florizel go to Sicilia on Camillo's advice, where they plead with King Leontes to try and convince Florizel's father, Leonte's former best friend, to marry him.

It is here that the secret of Perdita's birth is revealed. The happy couple go to visit a statue of Perdita's mother, Hermione, which has been cleverly aged... When Leontes repents, she 'magically' walks off her pedestal and the King and Queen are reunited.