The Taming of the Shrew

Tasks on the Induction and Acts 1-5

Mr Nicholson-Ward
Induction, Scene 1
Read the dramatic opening of this scene a few times (up to line 31 when the Lord discovers
Christopher Sly) and think about how it might be staged in a performance.

•How would the stage be set and what props might be used?

•What advice would you give to the actors playing Christopher Sly and the Hostess about the way
they are to speak, move and interact on stage?

Focus on the role of the Lord throughout this scene.

• What kind of man does he seem to be?

• Do you agree with his plan to convince Christopher Sly that he is actually a lord?

• Are the ideas being applied to Sly relevant to Petruchio and Katherina?

The arrival of the actors signals the movement into the world of imagination and playing.

• Why might Shakespeare have chosen to introduce the main plot in this way?

• What themes are being introduced?

‘What is’t your honour .. known her love?’ The Page’s ‘script’ exemplifies the attitude of a
socially conventional wife, yet it is clear that he will only be acting a part.
• What might Shakespeare be saying here?
Induction, Scene 2
Think about the role of the servants in elaborating the plan to convince Sly
that he is a rich lord.
• What strategies do they use to convince him?

• Which seem most effective?

The Lord joins in with the deception and seems to be acting like another
servant.
• What elements of this scene contribute to the theme of identity and disguise
that is developing?

Analyse the language used by the Lord’s servants as they speak to Sly and
to the language Sly uses in return.
•What difference do you see in Sly’s language towards the end of the scene?

•How do you explain the changes you notice?

Act 1, Scene 1
1. Baptista’s two daughters squabble in public and it seems that Katherina is the aggressor
and Bianca is the victim. What other clues do you find about:

•Their characters?

•Their relationship to each other?

•Their relationship to their father?

2. Baptista and Bianca leave together and Katherina leaves by herself.

• How would you direct actors to achieve this?

• What might Katherina do to make Gremio say, ‘You may go to the devil’s dam!’?

3. Make notes on Shakespeare’s characterisation of Katherina in this scene:

• How is Katherina presented on stage?

• How is she described by other characters?

• How do you think the above, as well as her experience of living as a woman in Padua, have
shaped her personality?

4. Lucentio has fallen in love with Bianca.

• What words and phrases make him sound like a stereotypical lover?

• How does his plan to study in Padua conflict with his desire for Bianca?
Act 1, Scene 2
Grumio provides much of the comedy from the opening exchanges with
Petruchio to his humorous asides later.

•Analyse what Grumio adds to this scene.

•What does he contribute to your understanding of the other characters?

Tranio’s entrance (dressed up as Lucentio) adds to the complicated plans

to woo Bianca and get Katherina married off.

•How do these plans reflect on the theme of power and desire in relationships?
Act 2, Scene 1
In this scene Baptista and the other men are negotiating the terms of marriage with
regard to both Katherina and Bianca.
• What does this say about love, money, power and relationships?

• Analyse Petruchio’s method of wooing Katherina.

What methods of persuasion has he used to get her attention in terms of:
• What he says?

• What he does?

• Which internal stage directions indicate the latter?

The exchange between Petruchio and Katherina once alone has sometimes been
called a battle of wits. Look at their use of language and find examples of:
• Puns

• Word play

• Repetition

• Hyperbole

• Alliteration and assonance.

• Who would you say had the upper hand in the exchange?
Act 3, Scene 1
Shakespeare uses a number of asides to provide drama and develop
character in this scene.
• What do you learn about their characters from Hortensio’s and Lucentio’s
asides?

• How do these asides contribute to the drama of this scene?

Hortensio is suspicious of Bianca and Lucentio, becoming increasingly

concerned as he spies on them.
• What does this, and his final comments, tell you about his expectations of
women and marriage?
Act 3, Scene 2
The disguises taken on by the characters involve lies and deception at many
levels:
• Lucentio and Hortensio (as tutors in Act 2 Scene 1, Act 3 Scene 1)

• Tranio (as Lucentio)

• Petruchio (as a mad-man)

• How do these disguises contribute to your understanding of each character’s

personality and motivation?

Clothing, especially Petruchio’s eccentric outfit, is described in great detail in this

play.

•How does clothing relate to identity and social status?

The ‘mad marriage’ is a source of much comedy to the guests, but not to
Katherina or her family
•What is Petruchio’s intention?

•How successful do you think he has been by the end of the scene?

•How does this marriage develop the theme of order and disorder?
STARTER TASK
Summary

• Take 10 minutes to bullet point a

summary of what has happened
in The Taming of the Shrew so
far.

• Try to be specific about what has

happened in each scene.
Act 4 Scene 1
• Petruchio and Kate are about to arrive at Petruchio’s country house. Grumio arrives first,
however, complaining that he has been sent ahead to ensure that the servants prepare for
the arrival of their master and his new wife. Curtis, another servant, greets him and hears
his tale of the journey from Padua—Kate fell into the mud, Petruchio flew into a rage, and
the horses ran away. Grumio then orders Curtis to assemble all the other servants,
properly attired and on good behavior. Curtis calls for them, and a few arrive just as
Petruchio and Kate return.

• Petruchio immediately becomes enraged, claiming that his servants fail to attend him
properly. They do their best, but clearly he is not pleased by anything. He demands
dinner, and they prepare it as quickly as possible, but he claims that the meat is burned
and pushes the whole meal off the table.

• In the meantime, Kate, visibly tired and hungry, pleads with him to be more patient with
the servants. Petruchio cheerfully tells her that he demands much of them for her benefit
—his new bride will receive nothing short of perfection, he says, pretending to ignore the
fact that his new bride simply needs a hot meal. After taking her off to bed without food,
Petruchio returns to the stage alone and announces his intentions.

• All his actions have been calculated to aggravate Kate and to keep her wanting, for he
refers to her as a wild falcon that he must train to obey his call. He intends to prevent her
from sleeping by making a fuss about the way the bed is made, just as he did with the
food. This, he says, is the best way to “curb her mad and headstrong humour” (IV.i.190).
Act 4, Scene 1
Consider Petruchio’s treatment of Katherina.
• Why does he treat her so harshly?

• What effect does this have on her?

• As a director, how would you advise an actor to play Petruchio’s role?

Read Petruchio’s soliloquy at the end of this scene. Make notes on:
• The content of his soliloquy

• The delivery of his soliloquy

• His attitude towards Katherina

• His relationship with the audience

Make a mind map or spider diagram of all the different strands of plot
which have been introduced in the play so far.
• What elements of the ‘taming’ plot reflect on the themes and issues raised in
the rest of the play?
Act 4, Scene 2
What light is shed on the audience’s perception of Bianca by:
1. The suitors’ comments about her?

2. The dialogue which involves her?

Tranio’s role is to knock Bianca’s other suitors out of the running so that
his master Lucentio can woo her and win her.
3. What techniques does he employ to do this in Act 4 Scene 2?

4. ‘If he be credulous .. alone.’ What does this short speech tell us about
Tranio’s character/status?
Act 4, Scene 3
What is the effect of introducing Grumio into the ‘taming’ process?

•Does he have the same intentions as Petruchio?

•How does he compare to Petruchio?

Katherina is denied food, clothes and words.

•Why does Petruchio choose such an extreme way of relating to her and is there
any evidence that his plan to ‘tame’ her is working?

Read Petruchio’s speech to Katherina on clothing at the end of the scene.

•Do you agree that it is ‘the mind that makes the body rich’?

•How do you think Katherina responds to this speech after the way in which she
has been treated in this scene?
Act 4, Scene 4
The Pedant (merchant pretending to be Vincentio) acts his part very
effectively. What might Shakespeare be saying about people’s behaviour here?

Consider the implications of Lucentio and Bianca’s deception on their

relationships with their fathers and with each other.

Lucentio seems to be insecure in his last lines in this scene.

What do you understand about his relationship and character from his words?

Act 4, Scene 5
Petruchio’s Tactics
• What tactics is Petruchio using in this scene to continue his plan to ‘tame’
Katherina?

• Does he intend to brain-wash her or is he inviting her to join in his game?

• How does their relationship develop in this scene?

• What role does Hortensio play in this scene?

• How do his comments contribute to the themes of the play?

Read Hortensio’s final rhyming couplet.

• What is he learning about relationships from watching Petruchio ‘tame’
Katherina?

• What do you think his relationship with the widow will be like?
Act 5, Scene 1
Although The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy, more serious social issues
are introduced, including reference to war and personal safety, filial
respect and mental health. 

• Which of these issues emerge in this scene and where?

• How do these issues reflect upon broader themes in this play?

• How has Tranio’s assumed identity influenced his behaviour and attitude to
others?

• How would you suggest to a director/the actor playing Tranio that he behaves,
from his initial appearance until his departure, so as to maximise the comic
reversal of his fortunes? 

Act 5, Scene 2
• How do you interpret Kate's final speech? 

• What evidence would you select to suggest that her tone is a) sincere or b)
sarcastic? 

• Would you advise the mood of actress playing the role to be beaten down,
mischievous or serious? Explain why.

• How would you want each character to act before, during and after Katherina’s
speech?

• According to the views upheld in this scene, what attitudes and behaviours
lead to a healthy relationship?

ESSAY - Some critics consider the ending of “The Taming of the

Shrew” to be problematic. Discuss.
• Write an essay (minimum of 2 sides of A4) analysing the ending of the play.

• Consider the following:

• What do you make of Katherine's speech?

• What does it say about attitudes to love and marriage?

• Is the ending predictable or shocking?

• What do you think about the future of Lucentio and Bianca's marriage? Is it
salvageable, or doomed because Bianca is not tamed?

• You can use your notes to help you. You can refer to the text as a whole (apart
from the induction - which we will look at later).

• USE QUOTATIONS, LANGUAGE ANALYSIS AND REFER TO CONTEXT!