English 2

The Taming of the Shrew Unit Plan

Overview: Shakespeares play, The Taming of the Shrew is one of his most
famous and is therefore an important part of understanding the beauty and
mastery of his storytelling. Other works of literature through the ages have
borrowed through the themes, lines, and characters of this play. This is a
Shakespearian comedy, so students will learn that comedy is ageless and
timeless. Rather than read through the play in its entirety, our class will learn
the overall story and then look at specific scenes in detail. We will focus on the
most famous moments in the play in order to have an understanding of the
language and its power to influence our culture.

Objectives:
Interpret Shakespearean language
Identify and explain puns, metaphors, and humor as they are used in
the play.
Analyze characters and create symbolic representations.
Make and defend inferences and conclusions
Make personal connections to the plot and characters

Essential Questions:
Is this play sexist or is it merely a product of its times?
How is the individual shaped by his/her society, especially in
regards to gender roles and expectations?
How have gender roles changed throughout history?
How does culture impact a text?
How does an author use writing techniques to establish voice?

Tentative Schedule:
Week of January 4: Introduction to Shakespeare, Shakespearian Theater, and
Elizabethan England, group projects
Week of January 11: Acts I and II, understanding the language, and
nonfiction articles related to themes in the play, Quiz #1

Week of January 18: Acts II and III, characterization, gender roles, sexism
imagery, figurative language, making modern day connections, Quiz #2
Week of January 25: Acts IV and V, characterization, motivation, changing of
gender roles, societal expectations, and related nonfiction articles, Quiz #3
Week of February 1: Test and final writing assessment
Week of February 8: Film adaptations