Which Shakespeare play includes the famous stage direction Exit pursued by a bear?
Rachel Newton
Updated on March 14, 2026
In respect to this, which Shakespeare play included the famous stage direction Exit pursued by a bear?
III of The Winter's Tale
Also Know, what is the most famous stage direction? Exit, pursued by a bear
Secondly, why is Exit pursued by a bear so famous?
In Shakespeare's play, The Winter's Tale, there is a famous stage direction where the character Antigonus exits the stage but the written directions in the play state that he is to “exit, pursued by a bear.” So in performance, this character exits as a bear, seemingly from nowhere, arrives to chase him off the stage
Where does Exit pursued by a bear come from?
Perhaps one of the most famous, or infamous of Shakespeare's stage directions, 'Exit, pursued by a bear' in Act III of The Winter's Tale, sees Antigonus meet death in the most unlikely of ways: at the hands – or rather the claws – of a bear.
Related Question Answers
Why is it called Winter's Tale?
The term Tale suggests a story handed down through time, bearing a lesson of value. Of sprites and goblins. Whether Shakespeare means the audience to notice this particularly and pay attention to this comment that his "winter's tale" is a "sad" one "of sprites and goblins" is certainly worth considering.Why does Shakespeare use stage directions?
Stage directions written by Shakespeare are usually like this: short, sweet, and to the point, if present at all. The reason for this is pretty simple: he didn't really need to write down stage directions when he himself was the director! Most of the time, they appear to be more notes, or reminders.Why did Camillo and Polixenes flee to Bohemia?
Leontes, meanwhile, has become possessed with jealousy—convinced that Polixenes and Hermione are lovers, he orders his loyal retainer, Camillo, to poison the Bohemian king. Instead, Camillo warns Polixenes of what is afoot, and the two men flee Sicilia immediately.How many plays did Shakespeare write in total?
Shakespeare's WorksShakespeare wrote at least 38 plays and over 150 short and long poems, many of which are considered to be the finest ever written in English.
