Home > The Lion in Winter Summary & Study Guide > The Lion in Winter Group > Question and Answer

Question:

Answers:

1. 
   ladyvols1 Teacher
   High School - 9th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   King Henry II of England is the "Lion in Winter."  The title  refers to the fact that the King who is also the "lion" is aging and does not have a son he trusts enough to succeed him on the throne. King Henry II is in the "winter" of his life and fears there is no son which can take his place, even though he has three sons, Richard, Geoffrey, and John.

   "In medieval times, however, a fifty-year-old man was regarded as being close to the end of his life. Henry, who is fifty, remarks at one point that he is the oldest living man he knows. Yet he is also aware of the fact that he is approaching death, which adds a sense of urgency to his need to decide on an heir."

    

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/lion-winter/characters

   http://www.enotes.com/lion-winter/plot-summary

   http://www.enotes.com/lion-winter/themes

   Rate answer:

   • Flag as inappropriate

   Posted by ladyvols1 on Saturday March 7, 2009 at 11:14 PM
   
   

2. 
   ms-mcgregor Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   The lion is the tradition ruling symbol of the English King. Thus, the lion is probably a symbol of Henry II. The fact that the play takes place during Christmas is another reference to Winter in the title. However, the word "lion" could also be a play on the word "lie". In spite of their love for one another, both Henry and Eleanor lie to constantly to keep each other off guard and compete for the power to name the next king. Thus they are both "lion" to each other in a power struggle that has evidently gone on for quite a while. That's why Eleanor is brought in from exile at the beginning of the play and why she is sent back at the end of the play.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/lion-winter

   Rate answer:

   • Flag as inappropriate

   Posted by ms-mcgregor on Sunday March 8, 2009 at 11:21 AM