History Theatre / TheWintersTale

* MosesInTheBullrushes: Perdita

* YouFailGeographyForever: Ben Jonson's reaction to the "seacoast of Bohemia," was more or less this (Bohemia is more or less where the Czech Republic is right now). Debate rages about whether Shakespeare was trying to get someone's goat with that, or if he [[TheyJustDidntCare Just Didn't Care]]. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Winter%27s_Tale#The_seacoast_of_Bohemia The Other Wiki]] offers various explanations for this geographical error, one being that in the past the lands of Bohemia did border the Adriatic coast.

->--'''Mamillius''', ''The Winter's Tale'' II.i

[[TimeSkip Flashforward sixteen years!]] Time itself comes onstage to tell the audience that Florizel, Polixenes's son, has fallen for Perdita (who knows nothing of her royal heritage). His father is none-too-pleased and decides to spy on them at a sheep-shearing festival. Florizel, after being confronted by his father, flees with Perdita to Sicilia, and everyone (including LovableRogue Autolycus) pursues. There, Perdita's heritage is revealed. Father and daughter reunite, just as a statue of Hermione is brought onstage. Amazingly, the statue comes to life, and so the happy family is together once more. [[note]]Except Mamillius, he kinda gets screwed[[/note]] Autolycus becomes the servant of Perdita's foster father, and all loose ends are tied up nicely.

* OneMarioLimit: Readers new to the story for the past decade come with a strong association of the name "Hermione" to [[Literature/HarryPotter an altogether more modern piece of British literature]]. Many Shakespeare professors have noted that they have at least been relieved of the need to explain the pronunciation of the name to their students.
** In reality she was probably named after a character from Myth/ClassicalMythology, the daughter of Helen of Troy.

-->'''Polixenes''': "Nothing she does or seems
-->But smacks of something greater than herself,
-->Too noble for this place."

!!TropeNamer for
* ExitPursuedByABear

* ExitPursuedByABear: The most famous stage direction ever written is the TropeNamer.

* YouFailGeographyForever: Ben Jonson's reaction to the "seacoast of Bohemia," was more or less this (Bohemia is more or less where the Czech Republic is right now). Debate rages about whether Shakespeare was trying to get someone's goat with that, or if he [[TheyJustDidntCare Just Didn't Care]].
** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Winter%27s_Tale#The_seacoast_of_Bohemia The Other Wiki]] offers various explanations for this geographical error, one being that in the past the lands of Bohemia did border the Adriatic coast.

** In reality she was probably named after a character from ClassicalMythology, the daughter of Helen of Troy.

* MadOracle: Completely averted; oracles have never been so blunt.

* BreakTheHaughty: Hermione's death does this to Leontes. [[spoiler: Turns out it was intentionally invoked by Paulina and Hermione. [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane Maybe.]]]]

* FauxDeath: [[spoiler:Hermione. [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane Maybe.]]]]

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: If Paulina hadn't insisted on taking newborn Perdita to see her father in the hope that she would soften his heart, he may not have ordered her husband Antigonus to take Perdita and abandon her someone unpleasant, preventing both Antigonus' death and potentially [[spoiler:Hermione's]].

* BreakTheHaughty: Hermione's death does this to Leontes. [[spoiler: Turns out it was intentionally invoked by Paulina and Hermione.]]

* FauxDeath: [[spoiler:Hermione]]

The play is famous for a number of things: the vast difference in tone between the first part, which plays out like a tragedy, and the second part, which is more of a pastoral comedy; the MaybeMagicMaybeMundane scene at the end, where Hermione's statue comes to life; the name Hermione, which became famous in [[HarryPotter a certain book series]]; and of course, the proof that even Shakespeare knew BearsAreBadNews.

* OneMarioLimit: Readers new to the story for the past decade come with a strong association of the name "Hermione" to [[HarryPotter an altogether more modern piece of British literature]]. Many Shakespeare professors have noted that they have at least been relieved of the need to explain the pronunciation of the name to their students.

The play is famous for a number of things: the vast difference in tone between the first part, which plays out like a tragedy, and the second part, which is more of a pastoral comedy; the MaybeMagicMaybeMundane scene at the end, where Hermione's statue comes to life; the name Hermione, which became famous in [[HarryPotter a certain book series]]; and of course, the proof that even Shakespeare knew EverythingsWorseWithBears.

* EverythingsWorseWithBears

''The Winter's Tale'' is a tragicomedy (or romance, depending on your point of view) by Creator/WilliamShakespeare.

* SecondHandStorytelling: Perdita's reunion with her father as well as the resolving of many of the plots takes place entirely off screen, and instead we have a conversation between a few gentlemen, one of which notes how amazing it was and how it would have been a shame to miss it.

''The Winter's Tale'' is a tragicomedy (or romance, depending on your point of view) by WilliamShakespeare.

The plot is thus: King Leontes of Sicilia unreasonably suspects his wife, Hermione, of having an affair with his best friend, King Polixenes of Bohemia. Believing his newborn daughter Perdita is illegitimate, he sends Hermione to prison and orders his manservant Antigonus to abandon Perdita in the wilderness. Hermione pleads for reason, to no avail.

[[TimeSkip Flashforward sixteen years!]] Time itself comes onstage to tell the audience that Florizel, Polixenes's son, has fallen for Perdita (who knows nothing of her royal heritage). His father is none-too-pleased and decides to spy on them at a sheep-shearing festival. Florizel, after being confronted by his father, flees with Perdita to Sicilia, and everyone (including LovableRogue Autolycus) pursues. There, Perdita's heritage is revealed. Father and daughter reunite, just as a statue of Hermione is brought onstage. Amazingly, the statue comes to life, and so the happy family is together once more. [[hottip:*:Except Mamillius, he kinda gets screwed]] Autolycus becomes the servant of Perdita's foster father, and all loose ends are tied up nicely.

** In reality she was probably named after a character from ClassicalMythology, the daughter of Helen of Troy.

Leontes' other child, prince Mamillius, dies because he has been separated from his mother, and soon after, Hermione dies as well. Leontes realizes his error, and decides to grieve his family for the rest of his life. Meanwhile, Antigonus bemoans his job, but leaves the infant Perdita in a wild area of Bohemia, before being devoured by a bear. A shepherd and his son find the baby and resolve to care for her.

YouFailGeographyForever: Ben Jonson's reaction to the "seacoast of Bohemia," was more or less this (Bohemia is more or less where the Czech Republic is right now). Debate rages about whether Shakespeare was trying to get someone's goat with that, or if he [[TheyJustDidntCare Just Didn't Care]].

The play is famous for a number of things: The vast difference in tone between the first part, which plays out like a tragedy, and the second part, which is more of a pastoral comedy; the MaybeMagicMaybeMundane scene at the end, where Hermione's statue comes to life; the name Hermione, which became famous in [[HarryPotter a certain book series]]; and of course, the proof that even Shakespeare knew EverythingsWorseWithBears.

* YouHaveWaitedLongEnough: The courtiers try this on Leontes, arguing that he needs a heir.
* YouFailGeographyForever: BenJonson's reaction to the "seacoast of Bohemia," was more or less this (Bohemia is more or less where the Czech Republic is right now...). Debate rages about whether Shakespeare was trying to get someone's goat with that, or if he [[TheyJustDidntCare Just Didn't Care]].
** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Winter%27s_Tale#The_seacoast_of_Bohemia TheOtherWiki]] offers various explanations for this geographical error, one being that in the past the lands of Bohemia did border the Adriatic coast.

-->''A sad tale's best for winter...''
-->'''Mamillius''', ''The Winter's Tale'' II.i

-->''[[ExitPursuedByABear Exit, pursued by a bear.]]''
-->--The most famous stage direction in history (''The Winter's Tale'' III.iii)

* YouHaveWaitedLongEnough: Paulina and Camillo, matched after Leontes realizes that Antigonus isn't coming back.

* KangarooCourt: Hermione's trial