The Taming of the Shrew Study Guide

• The Taming of the Shrew Study Guide
• The Taming of the Shrew Study Guide Act 3-5

The Renaissance Marriage

The Taming of the Shrew - Study Questions

Answer the following questions in complete sentences; be specific and use quotes from the play to support your work where possible.

INDUCTION

1.  What trick is played upon Christopher Sly?  Why?
 
 
 

2.  Why is "The Taming of the Shrew" considered a play within a play?
 
 

ACT I,  scene 1

3.  Why has Lucentio come to Padua?
 
 

4.  Of what is Baptista resolved concerning the marriage of his two daughters?
 
 

5.  What is Katherine's reputation?  Bianca's?
 
 
 

6.  What is Hortensio's plan to more quickly be able to win and marry Bianca?
 
 
 

7.  What is Tranio's plan for Lucentio?  What metamorphosis does this involve?
 
 
 

ACT I, scene 2

8.  What is Petruchio's motive in coming to Padua?
 

9.  How are Katherine's and Bianca's reputations further clarified?  What words/phrases are used to describe both women throughout the scene?
 
 
 
 
 
 

10. What does Petruchio's monologue (l.197-208) reveal about him?
 
 
 

11.  What is the suitors' (Gremio and Hortensio) reaction to Lucentio joining them as rivals to Bianca?
 
 
 
 
 

12. What specific images are used to describe the wooing of Katherine?
 
 
 
 
 

13. At the end of Act I, why are Bianca's suitors friendly with one another and indebted to Petruchio?
 
 
 
 

14. What role do the servants play?
 
 
 

Act II

1.  What information does Katherine hope to gain by tying Bianca's hands and questioning her?
 
 

2.  What type of language does Petruchio use to describe Katherine during his discussion with Baptista? (l. 42-65)  What does this tell us about his character?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

3.  What names do Hortensia and Lucentio assume?  What roles will they play?
 
 
 
 

4.  What character does Tranio assume?  How does Baptista react to him?  Please quote from the text.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

5.  Summarize the content of Petruchio and Baptista's conversation (l. 111-141)--be brief.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

6.  How is Hortensia injured?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

7.  When Katherine and Petruchio meet how do they get along?  Particularly, what is the pervading attitude in lines 182-196, 209-220, and in Petruchio's lines 264-277
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

8.  What does Petruchio claim about his and Katherine's interaction?  How does Baptista react?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

9.  At the end of Act II what are Tranio, Gremio, and Baptista discussing?  What decision is made?  What must Tranio do in light of this decision?

The Taming of the Shrew Study Guide Act 3-5

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Q&A: Question: (11/5/2009) what is the worst thing petruchio could do to kate Question: (10/8/2009) what is tranio father name? Question: (10/6/2009) What is Tranio's plan for Lucentio? What metamorphosis does this involve? Answer: (11/3/2009) pretend as Tranio Answer: (10/19/2009) that lucentio will disguise himself as a tutor for bianca. he becomes cambio, the latin tutor Question: (10/6/2009) What is Hortensio's plan to more quickly be able to win and marry Bianca? Question: (9/28/2009) When Katherine and Petruchio meet how do they get along? Particularly, what is the pervading attitude in lines 182-196, 209-220, and in Petruchio's lines 264-277 Answer: (11/19/2009) love Answer: (10/19/2009) they argue and insult each other Question: (9/13/2009) who wins the battle of the sexes? Answer: (10/19/2009) petruchio Question: (8/30/2009) what us Hortensio's plan to be able to win and marry Bianca more quickly? Answer: (10/19/2009) to find a man who would be willing to marry katherina first....for the right price Answer: (9/13/2009) to marry off Katherina first Question: (8/26/2009) what role do the servants play ? Answer: (9/13/2009) they highlight the true characteristics of their masters. Question: (7/27/2009) what is biancas response to luciento and hortensios argument over who will tutor bianca first? Answer: (10/19/2009) she is in charge of choosing who will tutor her first Answer: (9/13/2009) She makes it clear that she is in charge of the decision (unlike Katherina!) Question: (7/22/2009) What specific images are used to describe the wooing of Katherine? Answer: (9/13/2009) animal imagery. ...More Questions/Answers...		Comments: flor (5/26/2009) what role do the servants play