Taming of the Shrew Review Questions:

Intro

  1. Where does the action take place?
    2. Why do Christopher Sly and the hostess quarrel?
    3. Is Sly a modest person?
    4. Where is the Lord returning from when he finds Sly asleep?
    5. What does the Lord decide to do with Sly?
    6. Who arrives at the Lord’s dwelling while he is making preparations?
    7. What special instructions does the Lord give to the new arrivals?
    8. How does the Lord plan to use his page?
    9. What special instructions does the Lord send to his page?
    10. Why does the Lord want to be present when Sly awakens?

1. Where does Sly awaken?
2. How is Sly treated once he is awake?
3. How does Sly first respond to this treatment?
4. How does Sly describe himself?
5. What activities does the Lord suggest might be to Sly’s liking?
6. What classical text do the Lord and his servants allude to when they mention mythological characters, such as Adonis and Io?
7. How does the Lord ultimately convince Sly that he is a lord and not just dreaming?
8. Describe Sly’s reaction to his “wife.”
9. Does Bartholomew join Sly in bed?
10. What sort of play is announced to Sly?

Act 1

  1. Under what special circumstances does Act One begin?
    2. Where do Lucentio and Tranio arrive in the first scene, and why have they come to this town?
    3. Whom do Lucentio and Tranio witness quarreling?
    4. Why will Baptista not give away Bianca at present?
    5. How does Katharina treat the suitors of Bianca?
    6. What scheme does Hortensio concoct in order to marry Bianca?
    7. With whom has Lucentio fallen in love?
    8. How does Lucentio intend to woo Bianca?
    9. What is Tranio’s role in Lucentio’s plan?
    10. How does Sly like the play so far?

1.Why has Petruchio come to Padua?
2. Why does Petruchio box Grumio’s ears?
3. Whose house does Petruchio enter?
4. What does Hortensio suggest to Petruchio?
5. With whom does Gremio conspire to achieve Bianca?
6. What is Gremio’s attitude toward Petruchio’s attempt to marry Kate?
7. What does Grumio mean when he says that Petruchio will disfigure Kate so that she will not be able to see?
8. Why does Tranio appear at Hortensio’s home?
9. What is Lucentio doing in the meantime?
10. Why does Tranio go along with the men’s scheme?

Act 2

1.What color is Kate’s hair?
2. Why has Kate bound Bianca’s hands?
3. Who offers Baptista gifts?
4. Why do the men believe that Petruchio has successfully wooed Kate when she rejects him publicly?
5. How does Baptista resolve the strife between Gremio and Tranio, who both seek the hand of Bianca?
6. What does Gremio offer to give Bianca?
7. How does Tranio’s offer compare to Gremio’s?
8. When are Katharina and Bianca to be married?
9. How does Gremio react to Baptista favoring Tranio’s offer?
10. What does Tranio mean when he says that a “child shall get a sire”(408)?

Act 3

1.What does Cambio recite to Bianca?
2. Assess Lucentio’s control of Latin.
3. What lesson does Hortensio give to Bianca?
4. Why does Hortensio lose interest so suddenly in Bianca?
5. Why is Kate upset on her wedding day?
6. Why does Petruchio arrive underdressed for his own marriage?
7. What happens during the ceremony?
8. Why does Petruchio insist that he must leave immediately?
9. To which poet does Shakespeare allude in Petruchio’s speech about a wife’s duty to her husband?
10. How do the guests react to the newlyweds’ early departure?

Act4

  1. Why does Grumio arrive ahead of Petruchio and Kate?
    2. How was their journey from Padua?
    3. What do Kate and Petruchio eat when they arrive?
    4. Why does Petruchio reject the mutton?
    5. What plan does Petruchio concoct to tame Kate after he rejects their meal?
    6. Which Ovidian text does Lucentio name to Bianca?
    7. Why does Tranio swear not to court Bianca?
    8. What is the taming school to which Tranio refers?
    9. Why is origin of the pedant important to Tranio?
    10. Why does the pedant offer to play the part of Vincentio while in Padua?
    1. What does Grumio give to Kate for breakfast?
    2. How long has Kate slept on her wedding night?
    3. What reason does Petruchio give for rejecting the cap?
    4. Does Petruchio accept the gown?
    5. When was the last time Kate has eaten?
    6. Where did the pedant encounter Baptista twenty years ago?
    7. To whom does Baptista think he is giving away his daughter, Bianca?
    8. Why does Baptista not make immediate arrangements for Bianca’s dowry once he has met the pedant disguised as Vincentio?
    9. How will Lucentio be able to marry Bianca before the public ceremony with Tranio as groom to Bianca?
    10. To what two things does Biondello compare Bianca when speaking with Lucentio about her?

1. What time of day is it when Petruchio declares that the moon shines bright?
2. Whom do Kate and Petruchio encounter on their journey?
3. How does Kate give in to Petruchio?
4. Why is Vincentio headed to Padua?
5. To what does Petruchio refer when he mentions being crossed?
6. How does Petruchio greet Vincentio?
7. How does Kate earn Petruchio’s favor when meeting Vincentio?
8. How does Vincentio respond to their games with him?
9. Why is Hortensio with Kate and Petruchio?
10. What does Hortensio plan to do when he returns to Padua?

Act 5

1. Why is Gremio present in this scene?
2. Where is Tranio’s father from?
3. Why does Vincentio think that Lucentio has wasted his fortune while in Padua?
4. Why does Vincentio accuse Tranio of murdering Lucentio?
5. Why is Gremio eager to defend Vincentio?
6. Why does Tranio call for a constable?
7. Who finally gives away Lucentio’s scheme to marry Bianca privately?
8. How much time has passed since Petruchio and Kate were married?
9. How much money has Baptista lost on account of Petruchio’s bet with the husbands?
10. According to Kate, why should women obey their husbands?