The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare | Brief Plot Summary

William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale explained with scene summaries in just a few minutes! Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe explains the plot summary of William Shakespeare’s play The Winter’s Tale. Download the free study guide and infographic for The Winter’s Tale here: In The Winter’s Tale, a jealous king brings tragedy to his family when he suspects that his wife has bore a son to his friend, king of a neighboring country. Though his suspicions are unwarranted, King Leontes unfairly puts his wife, Hermione, on trial for adultery and sends his baby daughter to her death. He orders the child to be left in the wilderness, but a shepherd finds her and raises her as his own. Meanwhile, his elder son dies and the combined trauma results in the death of his wife. Years later, Leontes regrets his actions. When the rescued daughter comes of age, she falls in love with the son of her real father’s former friend. The play dr