In this study guide:

• Introduction
• Timeline
• Author(s)
  • Shakespeare, William
    • 1564 - 1582: William Shakespeare's Stratford Beginnings
    • 1582 - 1592: William Shakespeare's Marriage, Parenthood and Early Occupation
    • 1592 - 1594: William Shakespeare's Life In London, part 1
    • 1594 - 1611: William Shakespeare's Life In London, part 2
    • 1594 - 1611: William Shakespeare's Life In London, part 3
    • 1611 - 1616: William Shakespeare - Back to Stratford
• The context of The Winter's Tale
  • Social / political context
    • Henry VIII and The Winter's Tale
    • The Stuart monarchy
      • More on James' mother, Mary Queen of Scots
    • City and country
  • Religious / philosophical context
    • Divine right of kings
    • The Renaissance
    • The Reformation
  • The Theatre
    • Mystery and morality plays
    • Permanent theatres
    • Design of theatres
    • The role of women
• The Winter's Tale Synopses
  • Act I
    • Act I, Scene i
    • Act I, Scene ii
  • Act II
    • Act II, Scene i
    • Act II, Scene ii
    • Act II, Scene iii
  • Act III
    • Act III, Scene i
    • Act III, Scene ii
    • Act III, Scene iii
  • Act IV
    • Act IV, Scene i
    • Act IV, Scene ii
    • Act IV, Scene iii
    • Act IV, Scene iv
  • Act V
    • Act V, Scene i
    • Act V, Scene ii
    • Act V, Scene iii
• Shakespeare's language
  • The evolution of the language
  • Thee, thou and you
  • The royal plural
  • Blank verse, prose and rhyme
  • Variations from the norm
  • Verse and prose
  • Language in action
• The structure of The Winter's Tale
  • The time scale
  • Contrasts and divisions
  • Romance plays
  • Juxtaposition
  • Dramatic irony
  • The surprise ending
• Themes and significant ideas in The Winter's Tale
  • Ideas of nature
  • Nature
  • The pastoral tradition
  • The seasons
  • Natural and unnatural development
    • Birth and growth
    • Children
    • Sin and innocence
    • Parents and children
    • Time
  • The nature of humanity
    • The chain of being
    • The state as a body
    • Reason and passion
    • Disease and healing
  • The higher powers
  • Spiritual re-creation
  • The plays and playing
• Characterisation
  • Leontes
  • Hermione
  • Camillo
  • Paulina
  • Perdita
  • Polixenes
  • Florizel
  • Mamillius
  • Antigonus
  • Autolycus
  • Old Shepherd
  • Clown (Young Shepherd)
  • Mopsa and Dorcas
  • Cleomenes and Dion
  • The importance of women
• Critical analysis of The Winter's Tale
  • How to approach the question
  • A worked example
• Approaching exams and essays
  • What makes a good English exam answer
  • How to plan an essay
  • Possible essay questions on The Winter's Tale
  • Engaging with The Winter's Tale
• Resources and further reading
  • Booklist
  • Theatre and Media
  • Internet