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The Winter’s Tale · Chapter

Scene I explained

Cleomenes and Dion return from their journey to the oracle of Apollo, describing the sacred island and the solemn ceremony.

What happens

Cleomenes and Dion return from their journey to the oracle of Apollo, describing the sacred island and the solemn ceremony. They express hope that the oracle's pronouncement will prove favorable to Queen Hermione, though they are troubled by the accusations against her.

Themes in this chapter

  • Faith and Oracles

    The characters place their trust in the oracle of Apollo, seeking divine intervention to resolve the crisis surrounding Hermione's innocence.

Characters to notice

  • Cleomenes

    Describes the island's climate and the oracle's overwhelming voice, and expresses unease about the accusations against Hermione.

  • Dion

    Reports on the celestial habits and reverence of the priests, and hopes the oracle's outcome will be successful for the queen.

Key passages

  • “The climate’s delicate, the air most sweet, Fertile the isle, the temple much surpassing The common praise it bears.”

    The island has a mild and pleasant climate, the air is sweet, the land is fertile, and the temple exceeds its ordinary reputation.

    Cleomenes describes the beauty and fertility of the island where the oracle resides.

  • “If the event o’ the journey Prove as successful to the queen—O be’t so!— As it hath been to us rare, pleasant, speedy, The time is worth the use on’t.”

    If the outcome of this journey proves as favorable for the queen as our journey has been rare, pleasant, and swift, then the time spent will have been worthwhile.

    Dion expresses hope that the oracle's verdict will benefit Hermione as much as their travel has been smooth.

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