Exit Pursued by a Bear Shakespeare Funny Bookish Garment-Dyed T-Shirt, Literary Quote Tee

Exit Pursued by a Bear T-Shirt Specifications

This tee covers fabric composition, construction method, print placement, and available sizing.

• 🫧 Wash inside out cold
• 🌀 Tumble dry low
• 🚫 No bleach
• 🚫 No fabric softener

The Quote on This Shirt

“Exit, Pursued by a Bear” – William Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale, 1611

“Exit, pursued by a bear” is a stage direction from Act III, Scene 3 of William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, written circa 1610–11 and first performed at the Globe Theatre. The direction instructs the character Antigonus to flee the stage while being chased by a bear – one of the most debated and darkly comedic moments in the Shakespearean canon. Scholars have argued for four centuries whether Shakespeare intended a live bear, a costumed actor, or pure theatrical absurdity. The line endures because it is simultaneously the strangest and most honest thing a playwright ever wrote into a script. Part of the Literary Quote Shirts collection.

Who Wears the Exit Pursued by a Bear Shirt

The Exit Pursued by a Bear tee is popular with:

• Shakespeare readers and enthusiasts – readers who have encountered The Winter’s Tale or the broader Shakespearean plays and recognize the stage direction on sight.
• Classic literature fans – readers who collect apparel referencing canonical English literature from the early modern period.
• English teachers and literature students – educators and students of British literature who wear the reference as a classroom conversation piece.
• Readers who collect funny book-themed apparel – readers who seek humor-forward literary designs that reward recognition without requiring explanation.
• Gift buyers – shoppers looking for a specific, gift-ready item for birthdays, teacher appreciation, book club exchanges, and graduation gifts for literature lovers.

Browse the full Shakespeare Shirts collection for more designs.

Exit Pursued by a Bear Shirt as a Book Lover Gift

The Exit Pursued by a Bear shirt is a specific, recognizable gift for readers with a background in Shakespeare or classic English literature. The design references a single documented source – The Winter’s Tale, 1611 – which makes it a targeted gift rather than a generic book-lover item. The shirt fits these gift occasions:

• Birthday
• Teacher Appreciation
• Book Club Exchange
• Christmas
• Graduation

Readers who know the source laugh before the shirt is fully unfolded from the gift bag.

More options: Book Lover Gifts for Teachers

Why Comfort Colors for a Bookish Shirt

Comfort Colors is a Hanes Brands label established in 1979. The Style 1717 uses 100% ring-spun cotton at 6.1 oz/yd², dyed after full garment construction. The post-construction dye process pre-shrinks the fabric, resulting in less than 3% shrinkage after home washing. The soft-washed surface produces a matte, broken-in texture across the fabric face. Garment-dyeing produces surface tone variation across individual units – no two shirts carry an identical shade. A bookish tee that looks factory-pressed misses the point entirely.

We print all our Book Lover Shirts on the Comfort Colors 1717 garment-dyed tee in the USA.

T-Shirt Size Guide

The Comfort Colors 1717 fits true to size with a relaxed silhouette. Size up 1 for an oversized fit. The table below lists chest width and body length in inches for all 7 available sizes.

Double-needle stitched sleeves and bottom hem maintain shape after repeated washing. Side-seam construction prevents fabric twisting common in tubular-knit tees.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What fabric is this shirt made from?

  The shirt is 100% ring-spun cotton at 6.1 oz/yd², garment-dyed after construction with less than 3% shrinkage after home washing.
• Does the print fade or crack after washing?

  The design is applied using direct-to-garment (DTG) printing. Wash inside out in cold water and tumble dry low to maintain print quality. Avoid bleach and fabric softeners.
• Does this shirt run true to size?

  The Comfort Colors 1717 fits true to size with a relaxed silhouette. Size up 1 for an oversized fit. Available in S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, and 4XL.
• What colors does this shirt come in?

  Available in 8 garment-dyed colorways: Pepper, Ivory, Blue Jean, Moss, Berry, Mustard, Chalky Mint, and Orchid.
• What is the shipping and return policy?

  Free shipping on every order. 1–2 business days handling, 4–7 business days delivery. 60-day hassle-free returns – items must be unworn and unwashed for a full refund.
• What exactly is printed on the Exit Pursued by a Bear shirt?

  The front chest center of the shirt features the text “Exit, pursued by a bear” in literary quote typography, accompanied by a bear illustration. The design references the stage direction from Act III, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale (1611). The graphic is printed via direct-to-garment (DTG) on garment-dyed Comfort Colors 1717 heavyweight cotton.

• Is this a good gift for an English teacher or literature student?

  The Exit Pursued by a Bear shirt is a recognized gift for English teachers and literature students familiar with the Shakespearean canon. The design references a specific, documented source text – making it a precise gift rather than a general book-lover item. Free shipping is included on all US orders, and the 60-day return window covers unworn, unwashed items. Browse Book Lover Gifts for Teachers for additional options.

• Is this shirt appropriate for an English teacher to wear in the classroom?

  The Exit Pursued by a Bear shirt carries no profanity and references a canonical Shakespeare text studied in secondary and university curricula. The design is appropriate for classroom wear by English teachers and literature educators. The humor is literary rather than disruptive – the joke is the stage direction itself.

• What kind of reader is this shirt for?

  The Exit Pursued by a Bear shirt is designed for readers with a connection to Shakespeare or classic English literature – particularly those who have encountered The Winter’s Tale or study early modern drama. The design also appeals to readers who collect humor-forward literary apparel, where the joke is legible only to those who recognize the source. Non-readers see a bear graphic; Shakespeare readers see four centuries of theatrical absurdity on a cotton tee.