The Taming of the Shrew
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 The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition Induction, Scene One Vocabulary anon: archaic shortly an’t: archaic if it baggage: archaic an immoral woman, especially a prostitute balm: archaic to bathe charge: order
rogue: a dishonest person stocks: an instrument of punishment in which arms and legs are confined swine: a person regarded with disgust (in context) want: lack 1. Describe Sly. What is he like, and how is this shown? Sly is drunk; surly and full of his own importance, he does not seem to fear consequences. As the play begins, he is unapologetic about breaking the hostess’s glasses and asserts that “the Slys are no rogues. Look in the chronicles, we came in with Richard Conqueror.” Not only does he come up with the wrong name for William the Conqueror, but he gets his Latin wrong with “paucas pallabris” and even invents a fake Latin imperative for “Cease” (“Sessa”). In trying to act more educated than the hostess, he ap- pears ridiculous. 2. Describe the dynamic between Sly and the hostess. The hostess is incensed by Sly’s behavior but unable to handle him without the help of (presumably male) authorities. Sly is disrespectful to the hostess, inferring that she is a prostitute. 3. How does the lord’s speech distinguish him from Sly? The lord speaks in verse while Sly speaks in prose. Sly’s language is characterized by the use of slang and insults, while the lord’s language is proper. SGT:12 The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition 4. What trick does the lord intend to play on Sly? Why might he want to do this? The lord intends to surround Sly with expensive possessions and servants who refer to him as their lord. He wants to make Sly believe he is a wealthy, important lord, a member of the upper class. The lord intends to entertain himself at Sly’s expense. 5. What role does the lord have in mind for his page, Barthol’mew? The lord wants Barthol’mew to pretend he is the lord’s submissive wife overjoyed by her husband’s recovery. He sets up rules for how the “farce” will be played, reminding everyone that the deception should be “husbanded with modesty.” 6. How does this scene introduce the idea of two separate productions? The lord devises a production to trick Sly into thinking he is someone else, and as a part of that, the lord’s players stage a play for Sly to watch. 7. What does the first scene suggest about the tone of the play? The first scene suggests the play will be fun and light. The lord seems fun-loving and mischievous, and the audience is excited to see whether Sly will fall for the trick or not. The audience is encouraged to laugh at the ridiculous Sly. They might also be curious as to whether or not he will learn anything from this trick. 8. What question does the lord set out to answer? What question might Shakespeare be asking? The lord is curious about whether or not a man can be convinced he is someone other than himself. Shakespeare might be asking his audience to consider how people determine their identities and if they can be transformed through experience. SGT:13
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition Induction, Scene Two Vocabulary Apollo: Greek mythology god of music bestraught: archaic out of my mind Cytherea: Greek mythology alternate name for Venus, goddess of love hawking: hunting with hawks tinker: a person who travels from place to place mending pans, kettles, and other metal utensils as a way of making a living
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The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition Act One, Scene One Vocabulary Aristotle: ancient Greek philosopher who established strict rules to keep tragedy and comedy separate bestow: to give in marriage dowry: a bride’s family’s gift to her bridegroom grave: archaic learned importune: to urge Minerva: goddess of wisdom mi perdonato: Italian pardon me Ovid: a Latin poet whose writing was both comedic and sophisticated pantaloon: a character in Italian comedy (a very thin man of advanced years who is easily tricked) plash: archaic pool stoic: noun someone who is unemotional, especially during adversity strange: archaic distant, unfriendly 1. Where is Lucentio from, and what is he doing in Padua? Lucentio is from Florence, and he is in Padua to study philosophy. 2. What is Lucentio’s family situation? Lucentio enjoys his father’s love and good wishes in his pursuits in Padua. Lucentio’s family is prosper- ous, well-known, and well-meaning. 3. Tranio, Lucentio’s servant, reminds him that “no profit grows where is no pleasure ta’en: / In brief, sir, study what you most affect...” What does he mean? Tranio means that Lucentio should not take himself or his studies too seriously. He suggests that if Lucentio pursues what he loves, he is more likely to be successful. 4. Describe Katherine (Kate). How is she different from her sister? How is the audience meant to interpret her behavior? Kate is fiery, outspoken, and intelligent. She does not back down from Hortensio’s attempts to demean her and instead insults him. She also challenges her father’s decision to subject her to others’ ridicule. Kate’s sister Bianca, in contrast, is meek and obedient, telling her father, “Sir, to your pleasure humbly SGT:15
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition I subscribe: . . .” The other characters criticize Kate, and Gremio even compares her to hell. Though by modern standards Kate’s repartee seems witty and her willfulness admirable, Shakespeare’s audience was more likely to view her outspokenness as a character flaw. 5. Lucentio observes of Bianca, “But in the other’s silence do I see / Maid’s mild behaviour and sobriety.” What does this suggest about the view of a woman’s ideal role in Shakespeare’s era? In addition to her physical attractions, Bianca is appealing to Lucentio because she is silent. In Shake- speare’s era, a woman’s mild manner helped make her desirable. 6. Why does Gremio feel Baptista is treating Bianca unfairly? Baptista will not allow Bianca to marry until Kate is married. Since Kate is outspoken and unlikely to attract a husband, Gremio feels that Baptista’s plan is grossly unfair to Bianca, who must suffer for her sister’s sins. 7. Hortensio believes that it is possible to find a husband for Kate, despite her outspoken nature. What type of man does he think would accept Kate? Hortensio thinks that men who are attracted to Kate’s fortune could be compelled to marry her. 8. What comes over Lucentio as he watches Bianca? Lucentio falls into a trance as he watches Bianca; he is in love at first sight. 9. Lucentio and Tranio come up with an elaborate scheme that will enable Lucentio to woo Bianca. What is that scheme? How is it further embellished with the arrival of Biondello? Lucentio will pretend to be a schoolmaster and present himself as an instructor to Bianca. Tranio will step into Lucentio’s place and study philosophy; he will present himself as Lucentio to Bianca’s father. They switch their clothes to signal their new identities. When Biondello arrives, Lucentio claims that he has killed someone and can be identified by a witness; Tranio is pretending to be him so that Lucentio can escape. Biondello does not believe this story, but he goes along with it anyway. 10. Using supporting evidence from the text, characterize Lucentio’s relationship with his servants, Tranio and Biondello. Lucentio has an easy, friendly relationship with his servants. Tranio does not hesitate to advise his employer, such as when he counsels him not to take his studies too seriously or determines to break Lucentio out of his love struck trance. He is also clearly fond of Lucentio, agreeing to impersonate him because “I am content to be Lucentio, / Because so well I love Lucentio.” The fact that Tranio could so easily step into Lucentio’s shoes suggests that the class difference between them is not unbridgeable. Though Biondello appears only briefly, he is straightforward with Lucentio. When Lucentio asks if he be- lieves his story, Biondello says, “I, sir? Ne’er a whit,” but he agrees to go along with the ruse regardless. SGT:16
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition 11. Throughout the scene, Lucentio makes a plethora of classical allusions, among them references to Minerva, the Queen of Carthage, and Agenor. For what purpose might Shakespeare have included these allusions in Lucentio’s dialogue? During the Renaissance, knowledge of classical Greek and Roman history and literature was generally confined to those of the upper classes in the social hierarchy. Lucentio’s use of classical allusions shows that he is well educated, suggesting that he is a member of an upper class in society. 12. What is achieved by Sly’s reappearance at the end of the scene? What themes do Sly’s story and the story that is beginning in Padua have in common? Sly reappears to remind members of the audience they are watching a play-within-a-play; the reap- pearance of his foolish character and the fact that he would be quite happy for the show he is watch- ing to end both emphasize the elements of comic farce. Both stories develop themes of disguise and dishonesty; also, in both stories various characters assume different identities. SGT:17
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition Act One, Scene Two Vocabulary brawl: to fight noisily chide: scold or rebuke come roundly: to speak plainly compound: archaic to settle ere: before fray: noun a situation of intense activity
irksome: annoying knock: to hit repeatedly; to strike with a hard blow Leda’s daughter: Helen of Troy, thought to be the most beautiful woman in the world liberality: generosity scold: noun a person who rebukes others trow: archaic to know, to believe vent: to release strong feelings
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The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition 4. Why is Petruchio willing to take on a difficult wife, while Hortensio is not? Of the two, Petruchio is much more motivated by money; he indicates that Hortensio is foolish not to be. Hortensio feels that Katherine’s faults are too heavy a load to bear and says he wouldn’t marry her even if he were more desperate for money: “That, were my state far worser than it is, / I would not wed her for a mine of gold.” Petruchio replies, “Hortensio, peace! Thou know’st not gold’s effect.” It may also be that Petruchio is not as well off as he lets on and needs a wealthy wife more than Hortensio does. 5. Hortensio claims that he raised the subject of the wealthy but difficult potential wife for Petruchio “in jest,” but he says that he will offer more details if Petruchio is really interested. Why is it likely that Hortensio was not joking when he raised the subject, and what does this claim reveal about him? Hortensio is being disingenuous when he says he raised the subject as a joke, which further empha- sizes the shadiness of his character. He said in the previous scene that he believed certain men would be enticed by Katherine’s money, and Petruchio made his monetary goals clear from the start of their conversation. Logically, then, and in order to advance his own goals, Hortensio wanted to present Katherine as a suitable wife for Petruchio. 6. How does Lucentio deceive Gremio? Lucentio pretends to be a schoolmaster who will court Bianca on Gremio’s behalf. In actuality, he is pretending to be a schoolmaster so that he might court Bianca on his own behalf. 7. Describe Grumio. What might his purpose be in this scene? Grumio offers comic relief in this scene. He is silly in his literal interpretation of Petruchio’s request to knock on Hortensio’s door, yet his refusal to hit Petruchio also shows his loyalty, as does the way he boasts to the others about Petruchio’s cleverness. Grumio is also outspoken about the events unfolding around him. 8. Why does Petruchio feel so confident he can withstand Kate’s sharp tongue? Petruchio boasts of all of the difficult predicaments he has survived, which were much more daunting than the mere words of a woman. He declares, “Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? / Have I not in my time heard lions roar? / . . . . Have I not in a pitchèd battle heard / Loud ’larums, neighing steeds, and trumpets’ clang?” A woman’s shrill voice would seem to be no match for the obstacles he has overcome, and Petruchio is confident in his ability to tolerate Kate’s. 9. What reason does Tranio (as Lucentio) offer for why the other men should not care about his desire to court Bianca? Tranio explains that Bianca’s father is a noble gentleman who will choose fairly and that the right hus- band for Bianca will have her. He puts their rivalry in historical context, arguing that Leda’s daugh- ter—a reference to Helen of Troy, reputedly the most beautiful woman in the world—had a “thousand wooers”; thus it can’t hurt if Bianca has just one more. SGT:19
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition 10. What compels the rivals for Bianca to join forces? The rivals all realize that they have a shared objective: facilitating the marriage between Katherine and Petruchio. They also are enticed by Tranio’s suggestion that they relax together as friends over food and drinks. SGT:20
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition Act Two, Scene One Vocabulary affability: state of being good-natured chafe: to annoy conformable: compliant, obedient crave: to demand (in context) cuff: to hit
flout: to show contempt for a law or convention by openly disobeying it fret: noun a ridge on a fingerboard such as that of a guitar or sitar haste: great speed hilding: archaic good-for-nothing lusty: archaic lively lute: a plucked string instrument pate: archaic head peremptory: insisting on immediate attention or obedience petitioners: suitors petticoat: a woman’s light, loose undergarment worn under a dress or skirt ply thy needle: to sew or embroider preferment: precedence
sounded: archaic proclaimed sportful: lively swain: a country youth turn: purpose (in context) vile: extremely unpleasant SGT:21
volubility: the ability to speak incessantly whence: archaic from where 1. Describe the exchange between Kate and Bianca. What is Bianca’s predicament, and how does Kate respond? How does Kate appear to the audience? Bianca’s hands are tied, and Kate will not untie her. She is bound because of Kate, both literally and metaphorically, because she is not free to marry until Kate has a husband. Kate wants Bianca to tell her which suitor she prefers, and Bianca says she’d gladly let Kate have the man of her choosing. Kate becomes angry and strikes Bianca, which seems unfair and mean. She appears to fit well the role of the untamed shrew. Yüklə 274,55 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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