The Taming of the Shrew
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5. Describe the first confrontation between Kate and Petruchio as husband and wife. Who prevails, and how? The first confrontation between Kate and Petruchio occurs when Petruchio announces he is leaving, despite Kate’s protestations, and Kate says she will not go with him. She asserts her will, and she fails. Petruchio insults Kate in front of everyone: “I will be master of what is mine own: / She is my goods, my chattels, she is my house, / My household stuff, my field, my barn, / My horse, my ox, my ass, my anything.” He then draws his sword and forcibly takes Kate with him when he leaves. 6. How do the rest of the characters respond once Kate and Petruchio have left? The rest of the characters don’t seem upset that Kate essentially has been kidnapped from their pres- ence. They seem content to let her go, but they marvel at Petruchio’s brazenness. They had not previ- ously realized how volatile and abusive he can be. Tranio says, “Of all mad matches never was the like,” and Bianca reflects that Kate “being mad herself, she’s madly mated.” SGT:28
 The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition Act Four, Scene One Vocabulary bemoiled: covered with mud beseech: to implore, to entreat bolster: a long, thick pillow placed under other pillows for support choler: anger cock’s passion: by God’s passion (in context) continency: self-restraint, especially in sexual matters cony-catching: archaic trickery coverlet: a bedspread crupper: a strap used on horses to keep a saddle from sliding forward dresser: a kitchen table on which food is prepared (in context) inprimis: Latin first lure: noun something that tempts or is used to tempt a person or animal to do something miry: boggy rushes: marsh or waterside plants with slender leaves spruce: adjective neat or smart in appearance strewed: scattered trimmed: decked out, prepared (in context) unpinked: lacking ornamentation (in context) 1. What does Grumio tell Curtis happened on the journey home? Grumio tells Curtis that at one point in their journey, Kate fell off her horse and Petruchio used that as a reason to blame—and beat—Grumio. Kate picked herself up and came to Grumio’s defense. 2. When Grumio finishes telling Curtis his story about Kate and Petruchio, Curtis says, “By this reck- oning he is more shrew than she.” Grumio replies, “Ay, and that thou and the proudest of you all shall find when he comes home.” What does their exchange imply about Petruchio’s behavior? Why might Petruchio and Kate’s entrance be prefaced by this exchange? Grumio is likely implying that because Petruchio has been behaving so badly, the scene will be a vola- tile one when he gets home with Kate. This implication raises suspense, as the audience anticipates what else will happen between them. SGT:29 The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition 3. What are the four causes of Petruchio’s anger with his servants? He is angry that his servants didn’t meet him outside and that a servant tweaks his foot while pulling off his boots; he also is angry that a servant spills water on Kate and that the meat is not well cooked. 4. What does Petruchio’s servant Peter mean when he says of his master and his new bride, “He kills her in her own humour”? Kate has a reputation for being shrill and unkind, and Petruchio is using these very characteristics in order to quiet Kate. He is, in effect, out-shrewing the shrew. 5. Curtis says that because of Petruchio’s strange behavior, Kate “knows not which way to stand, to look, to speak, / And sits as one new-risen from a dream.” How does this comment relate to the Induction in the beginning of the play? Kate finds herself in a situation in which she is confused and baffled by the new world unfolding around her. Christopher Sly, in the Induction, feels the same way when he awakes from his sleep to find the lord and a bevy of servants treating him as a noble. 6. How does Petruchio intend to “kill a wife with kindness”? What is his plan for “taming” Kate? Is it working? Petruchio is not outwardly brutal with Kate; instead he plans to “tame” her by starving her and de- priving her of sleep. He denies her food on the pretext that the food is not suitable for her to eat. He deprives her of sleep by thrashing about and complaining that the bed has not been made properly enough for her. His plan does seem to be working, in that Kate has not seemed shrill or harsh, but rather confused and kind to the servants. 7. In a famous metaphor, Petruchio compares “taming” Kate to training a falcon, a hunting hawk: “My falcon now is [hungry] and [extremely] empty, / And till she [fly to the lure] she must not be full- gorged, / For then she never looks upon her lure.” How is Kate like the falcon? What does it suggest about Petruchio that he compares her to one? Like the falcon, Kate is being kept hungry and won’t be fed until she has been trained to do what is ex- pected of her; falcons are expected to hunt for their masters, and Kate is expected to obey Petruchio. A falcon won’t hunt unless it is hungry, implying that Kate won’t learn to obey Petruchio unless he with- holds her food. Through the metaphor, Petruchio attempts to employ logic to justify starving her. In comparing Kate to a falcon, Petruchio indicates that he sees her as if she were an animal with the sole purpose of obeying and serving him. The falcon, however, is a noble animal of prestige that attracted a great deal of attention in Shakespeare’s age and was respected for its power and fierce nature. Thus Petruchio’s comparison honors Kate in a subtle way, implying that he recognizes those same qualities in her. SGT:30
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition Act Four, Scene Two Vocabulary credulous: showing too great a readiness to believe things cullion: archaic a contemptible person durst: archaic dared fancy: verb to feel a desire for forswear: archaic to reject lusty: full of energy marry: archaic an expression of surprise or indignation mercatante: archaic an Italian merchant quarrel: an angry argument or disagreement repute: verb to consider wonderful: extraordinary (in context) 1. How does Tranio trick Hortensio into giving up his pursuit of Bianca? Tranio, in the guise of Lucentio, pretends to be shocked and dismayed that Bianca would show affec- tion towards Cambio, a mere schoolmaster. He makes a deal with Hortensio, who comes forward with his true identity, that neither of them will marry Bianca. Of course, Tranio can easily make and keep this promise because he is not actually Lucentio. 2. According to Tranio, who is the master of the taming school? Why? Petruchio is the master of the taming school. Given Petruchio’s odd yet commanding behavior at the wedding, Petruchio is likely finding success at taming Kate. 3. How does Tranio trick the pedant into assuming the identity of Vincentio? Tranio finds out the pedant is from Mantua and then concocts a story about those from Mantua not being permitted in Padua, the result of political bickering. Once the pedant becomes fearful for his life, Tranio tells him not to worry; because the pedant bears a resemblance to Vincentio from Pisa, Tranio explains, he can assume Vincentio’s identity for the duration of his stay in Padua. 4. How is Tranio’s character further developed in this scene? What does the audience learn about him? Tranio is incredibly clever. He makes quick work of getting Hortensio out of the competition for Bian- ca, and he also convinces a stranger to assume the identity of another man. Tranio does all of this for Lucentio, demonstrating his loyalty to him. SGT:31
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition Act Four, Scene Three Vocabulary adder: a small, venomous snake alms: money or food given to poor people amort: dispirited (in context) apace: quickly belike: archaic perhaps braved: archaic defied deluding: deceiving entreat: to ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something ere: archaic before ergo: Latin therefore
frolic: verb to be joyous gallant: archaic a man who pays special attention to women habiliments: archaic mean, humble clothes lewd: vile, cheap loose-bodied: loose-fitting mar: to ruin paltry: small or meager porringer: archaic a porridge bowl repast: a meal spite: the desire to hurt or annoy someone 1. How is food used in this scene? Food is used to torture—and thus tame—Kate. Knowing how hungry she must be, Grumio speaks of a variety of meats he might procure for Kate, but he then tells her they are not good for her temperament. Petruchio actually does produce meat for Kate, but he insists she thank him before he will give it to her. SGT:32
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition Finally, Petruchio contrives to have Hortensio eat all of the meat so that Kate cannot have any. 2. Kate says, “But I, who never knew how to entreat, / Nor never needed that I should entreat, / Am starved for meat.” What does this suggest about Kate’s upbringing? Kate’s comment reflects that she has never had to ask for anything in her life. She has not known de- privation, which undoubtedly makes her predicament more challenging for her. 3. Toward what purpose is clothing used in this scene? Like food, clothing is used as a means to tame Kate. Just as Petruchio presented food to Kate only to prevent her from eating it, he presents a hat and dress only to keep it from her. When Kate compli- ments the clothing, her meaning is deliberately misconstrued. Though she says the hat Petruchio pres- ents to her is nice and fashionable, he responds, “Why, thou say’st true. It is a paltry cap.” In this way, Petruchio renders Kate silent. 4. How does Petruchio continue to kill Kate with kindness? His words to Kate are sweet, as he calls her names like “my honey love,” yet he willfully ignores what she says or tries to communicate, acting as if she agrees with him. His actions and his words are com- pletely at odds; though Kate speaks, she is essentially voiceless. 5. Describe Kate’s spirit. Is she “tamed,” or is she the same as she was when the audience first meets her? Kate still exhibits some of the fire she showed before she married Petruchio. She tells him, “Speak I will. I am no child, no babe. / Your betters have endured me say my mind, / And if you cannot, best you stop your ears.” She still contradicts her husband, but she is weakened. She says, “I pray you let it stand,” so that Petruchio will not take away the meat he has brought; at his command she says, “I thank you sir,” so that she might eat. 6. Why does Kate accuse Petruchio of making her a puppet? How does Petruchio respond to this accusation? Kate understands that Petruchio is trying to bend her to his will so that she will say only what he wants her to say and will do only what he commands her to do. Clearly speaking to Petruchio, she says, “Belike you mean to make a puppet of me.” Petruchio responds by pretending to misunderstand her, suggesting that she is accusing the tailor of trying to make a puppet of her. 7. Describe the conversation about the time of day between Kate and Petruchio. What point is Petru- chio making? Petruchio claims it is seven o’clock even though it is only two. When Kate tells him the correct time, he responds, “Look, what I speak, or do, or think to do, / You are still crossing it.” Petruchio is making the point to Kate that no matter how wrong he is, nor how solid the proof that he is wrong, she must agree with him anyway. SGT:33
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition 8. How might this scene be played in different ways? This scene could be played seriously, its tone disturbing. Kate is starving and suffering, and Petruchio’s, Hortensio’s, and Grumio’s behavior toward her seems sadistic. They are physically stronger than she is, and they outnumber her. In Shakespeare’s day, however, this scene might have been played success- fully as comedy, with Petruchio’s deliberate misunderstandings of Kate’s wishes generating laughter. SGT:34
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition Act Four, Scene Four Vocabulary affied: archaic formally engaged appendix: an appendage; a book (both definitions apply in context) austerity: sternness countenance: the face or an expression curious: archaic particular, awkward dally: to waste time dissemble: to conceal expound: to present and explain haply: archaic perhaps hie: archaic hurry ‘longeth (belongeth): archaic belongs pittance: a very small amount (in context, a very small amount of food) schooled: trained in a particular skill scriv’ner (scrivener): archaic a scribe authorized to draw up legal documents tall: archaic fine tokens: signals warrant: verb to guarantee 1. What does the pedant fear about Baptista? The pedant met Baptista years before; he fears Baptista will recognize him and know he is not Vincentio. 2. Does the pedant do a convincing job acting as Vincentio? Why or why not? The pedant does do a convincing job acting as Vincentio. He gives an eloquent speech about the love between Lucentio and Bianca and graciously offers his support of the union. Baptista fully believes the pedant is Vincentio. 3. What does Biondello think Lucentio—who is still disguised as Cambio—should do immediately, and why? Biondello thinks Lucentio should find a priest and marry Bianca that afternoon. Biondello’s urgency is SGT:35 The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition due to the fact that plans for Tranio (who is still pretending to be Lucentio) and Bianca’s wedding are moving forward quickly, and Bianca may find herself married to Tranio if she hasn’t married the real Lucentio first. 4. Biondello refers to Bianca as an “appendix” in this chapter. What does he mean, and what connotation does it have? Biondello is casting Bianca as merely an appendage to Lucentio, which discredits her worth. Another interpretation could be that he sees Bianca as an empty book that Lucentio will fill with pages as he sees fit. SGT:36
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition Act Four, Scene Five Vocabulary beseem: archaic befit bias: the weight in a ball that enables it to be bowled in a curve (in context) entitle: to give a legal right evermore: always goodly: archaic attractive grandsire: archaic grandfather have to: archaic now for rush-candle: archaic a candle dipped in wax spangle: to sprinkle with shiny particles untoward: inappropriate
(“Thus the bowl should run”). How does each of these comparisons objectify her? Kate is a passive object in both of these metaphors. The “field” refers to a field of battle, the ground which Petruchio has overrun and captured. When Petruchio invokes the game of bowling, he also makes Kate a passive object; she is either the ball being directed towards the pins or the pins standing still, waiting to be knocked down. 3. How does Petruchio make Vincentio a prop in his taming of Kate? Petruchio refers to Vincentio as a young maiden, even though clearly he is not. Kate agrees with him despite all the facts indicating that Vincentio is not a young maiden; when Petruchio ridicules her for her mistake, she again agrees with his narrative and says she was just mistaken. SGT:37 The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition 4. While Kate is agreeing with Petruchio that Vincentio is a young maiden, she addresses Vincentio with the following speech: Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet, Whither away, or where is thy abode? Happy the parents of so fair a child; Happier the man, whom favourable stars Allot thee for his lovely bedfellow! Why might Kate make such an embellished speech, instead of merely acknowledging Vincentio is a maiden as Petruchio has said? What might the speech suggest about her? The content and tone of Kate’s speech suggests that a change has occurred in her; her “Young budding virgin, fair and fresh and sweet” address to Vincentio is enthusiastic, poetic, and playful. For the first time, she exceeds one of Petruchio’s demands; she seems to treat his behavior in regard to Vincentio as a game and to enter into the fun of it. Together they break the social convention of honoring an older person by teasing Vincentio. At this moment, they are equally ridiculous, and Kate appears to be enjoying herself. 5. Why is Vincentio angered to hear about Lucentio’s impending marriage? Why doesn’t he believe Petruchio’s account? Vincentio is angry because he has not given consent for Lucentio to marry, and he is appalled that his son would go forward without his blessing. Even so, Vincentio is reluctant to believe Petruchio because Petruchio has behaved so strangely and falsely in pretending that Vincentio was a young maiden. 6. What effect has Petruchio had on Hortensio? Hortensio is impressed by the way Petruchio has tamed Kate and vows to do the same with his new love, a widow. SGT:38
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition Act Five, Scene One Vocabulary bleared: archaic made dim copatain: archaic high-crowned cozen: to cheat crack-hemp: a rogue who deserves to be hanged (in context) dotard: an old fool doublet: a man’s short-fitting padded jacket forthcoming: ready when wanted (in context) haven: a place of safety or refuge spoiled: ruined thither: archaic toward that place withal: archaic in addition 1. How does Biondello greet Vincentio? Why? Biondello swears that he does not recognize Vincentio. Biondello knows that Vincentio has the power to unravel their complicated web of lies, so he must render Vincentio powerless by making him seem like a liar. 2. What is Vincentio’s response to Tranio’s clothing, and why? Vincentio is appalled by Tranio’s fine clothing, as he is clearly not dressed in an appropriate manner given his status as a servant: “A silken doublet, a velvet hose, a scarlet cloak and a copatain hat! O, I am undone, I am undone!” He also assumes that Tranio and Lucentio have spent lavishly: “While I play the good husband at home, my son and my servant spend all at the university.” 3. What assumption does Vincentio make about why Tranio is pretending to be Lucentio? What does Tranio do in response? Vincentio assumes that Tranio must have killed Lucentio in order to assume his identity. Tranio must get Vincentio out of the way, and so he calls the police to apprehend him. 4. Gremio thinks he recognizes Vincentio to be who he says he is, but he can’t help Vincentio. Why? What does this say about Gremio? Though Gremio recognizes Vincentio, he also believes that Tranio is Lucentio; it doesn’t make any sense to Gremio that a son would lie about his father’s identity. It does not occur to him that just as SGT:39
The Taming of the Shrew
Study Guide - Teacher Edition the pedant is lying about being Vincentio, Tranio might be lying about being Lucentio. This gap in logic suggests that Gremio is not very intelligent. Yüklə 274,55 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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