The Taming of the Shrew Study Guide
INDUCTION
1. What trick is played upon Christopher Sly? Why?
While Christopher Sly is drunk, the nobleman pretends he is also a nobleman and gives him a
fake wife to get a laugh out of poor Christopher Sly.
2. Why is The Taming of the Shrew considered a play within a play?
Christopher Sly and his wife (the induction/ separate play) go to watch the Shakespeare play
“The Taming of the Shrew”.
ACT I, Scene 1
3. Why has Lucentio come to Padua?
To study philosophy at a university in Padua.
4. What has Baptista decided concerning the marriage of his two daughters?
Kate must get married before Bianca.
5. What is Katherine's reputation? What about Bianca’s?
Katherine is known for her scolding tongue, and Bianca is known for her beauty.
6. What is Hortensio's plan to be able to win and marry Bianca more quickly?
To find someone for Kate so he can pursue Bianca.
7. What is Tranios plan for Lucentio? What metamorphosis does this involve?
Lucentio becomes a tutor named Cambio, and Tranio becomes Lucentio
ACT I, Scene 2
8. What is Petruchio’s motive in coming to Padua?
Petrucio came for love
9. What does Petruchio’s monologue (l.195-206) reveal about him?
(I can’t find this)
10. What are the suitors’ (Gremio and Hortensio) reactions to Lucentio joining them as rivals to
Bianca?
They don’t care because they want to find a suitor for Kate first, and then they can fight for
Bianca after.
11. At the end of Act I, why are Bianca’s suitors friendly with one another and indebted to
Petruchio?
Because they want Petrucio to pursue Kate so they can get Bianca.
Act II, Scene 1
1. What information does Katherine hope to gain by tying Bianca’s hands and questioning her?
Which pursuer she likes the most.
2. What type of language does Petruchio use to describe Katherine during his discussion with
Baptista? (Lines 45-65) What does this tell us about his character?
Petrucio uses kind words in the hope to kill Kate’s anger with kindness.
3. What names do Hortensio and Lucentio assume? What roles will they play?
Their both tutors, Lucentio (Cambio) and Hortnesio (Litio).
4. What character does Tranio assume? How does Baptista react to him?
Lucentio, Baptista asks who his father is.
5. What does Baptista tell Petruchio that he must do before he can marry Katherine? What is
Petruchio is most concerned with the? (Lines 114-139)
(I can’t find the quote in the play)
6. How is Hortensio injured?
Kate struck him while he was tutoring her.
7. What is Petruchio’s plan to “woo” and “win” Katherine? (Lines 170-181)
Kill her anger with kindness.
8. How do Petruchio and Kate get along when they first meet?
Kate is angry and Petrucio is saying nice things to her.
9. What does Petruchio claim about his and Katherine’s interaction? How does Baptista react?
Petrucio claims that Kate likes him and Baptista is happy.
10. At the end of Act II what are Tranio, Gremio, and Baptista discussing? What decision is
made?
Baptista is seeing who has more to provide for Bianca.
What must Tranio do in light of this decision?
Bring in his father Vincentio so Baptista can verify what Lucentio has.
Act III, Scene 1
1. What is Bianca’s response to Lucentio’s (Cambio’s) and Hortensio’s (Litio’s) argument over
who? will you tutor Bianca first? (Lines 16-22) What does this reveal about her character?
Bianca doesn’t care who tutors her first, this shows maturity in not fighting over little things.
2. What is Lucentio’s translation of his lesson? (Lines 31-36) What is Bianca’s translation of the
same passage? (Lines 40-43)
Lucentio tells Bianca the truth about his and Tranio’s plan, she falls in love with the real
Lucentio.
3. What message to Bianca does Hortensio (Litio) encode in the gamut (scales)? What is her
response? (Lines 71-78)
Hortensio expresses his love for Bianca, but Bianca isn’t interested.
4. Contrast Hortensio’s statement in Line 76 with his statement in lines 89-90. What does this
reveal about his character?
(I can’t find)
Act III, Scene 2
5. Why does Kate weep (line 18)? What aspect of her character does this reveal?
Kate thinks the whole marriage is a setup for people to get a laugh out of her, this shows
vulnerability.
6. How is Petruchio dressed for his wedding (lines 43-64)? Give at least 4 specific details. What
is the reaction of Baptista?
Petrucio had a weird outfit and Baptista didn’t like it
7. How does Petruchio respond when asked to change his clothes? (Lines 110-115) Why is he
dressed so poorly?
He doesn’t want to change because Kate isn’t marrying his clothes.
8. What do you learn of Lucentio’s plan to marry Bianca in lines 132-136?
He’s not worried to come out as a fake schoolmaster in front of the world.
9. How does Petruchio behave during the wedding ceremony? (Lines 152-177) Why does he
behave this way?
He misbehaves and takes his wedding as a joke.
10. How does Petruchio leave the wedding feast? What does Katherine do?
Petrucio wants to leave, Kate refuses but Petrucio forces her because shes married to him.
ACT IV, Scene 1
1. What happened to Kate on her way to Petruchio’s house? How did Petruchio respond? (Lines
56-66)
Kate fell of her horse and Petrucio gets mad at horses and servants.
2. How does Petruchio treat the servants? What is Kate’s reaction?
He abuses his servants and treat them poorly.
3. Which of Petruchio’s insults to the servants is your favorite?
“You peasant swain” (4.1.111)
4. According to his soliloquy (lines 165-188), what is Petruchio’s plan?
To not let Kate eat or sleep.
Act IV, Scene 2
5. Summarize Tranio and Hortensio’s conversation concerning Bianca. What do they both
decide? What is ironic about this?
They both dont want her (Perfect for Tranio because he wanted Lucentio to persue her)
6. What are Hortensio’s plans for marriage? (Lines 37-39)
To marry Widow.
7. What role does the Pedant play in Tranio’s plot? How does Tranio get him to play along?
He tells the Pedant that Padua is dangerous and if he plays as Vincentio they’ll keep him safe.
Act IV, Scene 3
9. What must Kate do before Petruchio feeds her? (Lines 38-47)
Apologize.
10. What is Petruchio’s plan regarding Kate’s new hat and dress?
Get a tailor and hatmaker to customize a hat to wear to Baptista’s.
Act IV, Scene 4
11. How did Tranio distract Baptista for the evening?
Tranio brings in Vincentio.
12. What does Biondello tell Lucentio (Cambio) to do while Baptista feasts with Tranio?
To marry Bianca now since Baptista is gone.
Act IV, Scene 5
13. Why does Hortensio say ‘’the field is won” in line 23? Who has won and how?
Because Kate kissed Petrucio.
ACT V, Scene 1
1. Who arrives unexpectedly at the beginning of this scene?
Vincentio.
2. What does Vincentio think has happened to his son?
He thought Tranio murdered him.
3. Why does the appearance of Tranio cause him to believe this?
Because Tranio is dressed as Lucentio
4. Why do Lucentio and Bianca ask for the pardon of their fathers in lines 95-110?
They got married without Baptista’s confirmation
5. How do the fathers react to the news of Bianca and Lucentio’s wedding?
They agree to the marriage.
6. What do Petruchio and Kate do at the end of the scene? What does this show about their
relationship? What has caused this change?
They kiss and Kate obeys him now.
Act V, Scene 2
7. What offensive remark does the widow make to Kate and what does it imply? What does
Petruchio tells Kate to do?
Widow calls Kate a shrew and Petrucio wants Kate to stand up for herself.
8. Describe the bet. What does the majority expect will be the outcome? What is the outcome?
The bet was to see who’s wife would come the quickest, people thought Bianca would win but
Kate won.
9. What is the message of Kate’s final monologue? Do you think she is sincere? Has she been
tamed or is she only acting?
I think she is sincere and has been tamed.
10. How has Bianca changed since the beginning of the play? What evidence shows this?
Bianca slowly becomes the shrew and doesn’t listen to Lucentio.
11. Which couple has the best chance at happiness? What evidence do you have of this?
Petrucio and Kate because they went through the most development together and because
Kate obeys Petrucio.
