W3L2 The Taming of the Shrew

The Taming of the Shrew

* 'De Getemde Feeks' 

* 1590 / 1592

* What is 'a shrew'?

Shrew

'An unpleasant, angry woman' (Oxford)

'An unpleasant woman who is easily annoyed and who argues a lot' (Cambridge)

The Taming of the Shrew

• Frame story (story within a story)
  
• 3 interwoven storylines 
• Frame: The tale of Christopher Sly 
• a play is arranged for him = a play within a play = the story of the taming of the shrew

The Taming of the Shrew

What is the difference?

Tragedy

Comedy

History

comedy:

full of slapstick comedy, flat characters

instead of happily ever after, this play focuses on what it's like to be married. 

frame story, there is a play within a play

Comedies

A dramatic work that is light and often humorous or satirical in tone and that usually contains resolution of the thematic conflict.

disguise

- Christopher Sly (drunkard) dressed up as a nobleman and tricked into believing that he is married to a beautiful wife

- Lucentio who dresses up as Bianca's tutor and they fall in love. 

- Kate also "dresses up" by changing personality throughout the play. 

Shakespeare's comedies

• As You Like It
• Much Ado About Nothing
• The Taming of the Shrew
• Two Gentlemen of Verona
• A Midsummer Night's Dream

Tragedies

A work in which the main character is brought to ruin especially in consequence of a tragic flaw or moral weakness. It has an unhappy, but meaningful ending.

Shakespeare's tragedies

• "the Scottish Play"
• Hamlet
• King Lear
• Othello
• Julius Caesar
• Romeo and Juliet

Histories

Based on the life of a historic (British) King.

In his histories, Shakespeare explores the issue of kingship: What is a good king? What is a rightful king? How do you deal with a rightful king that is not a good king?

(deposing of a king was seen as a sin against God because a king was seen as God's temporal representation on earth)

Shakespeare's histories

• Richard I
• Henry IV (pt. 1 and 2)
• Henry V
• Henry VI (pt. 1 and 2)

Plays during this time were meant ...

1. to teach a lesson
2. to entertain
3. as a classy outing

The Taming of the Shrew is a..........

1. tragedy
2. comedy
3. history

Bianca's and Katherine's father

Bianca's suitor

the Shrew

the nice girl

the tamer of the shrew

Gremio

Baptiste

Katharina

Bianca

Lucentio

Hortensio

Alquin - Taming of the Shrew 

Read p. 33-36 

Which of the following best explains what a 'shrew' is in Shakespeare’s era?

1. a woman who complains a lot
2. a woman who is strong-willed and bad-tempered
3. a woman with a drinking problem
4. a woman who wants to have everything she desires

Why does Petruccio agree to marry Katherine?

1. For money/dowry
2. For land
3. For the estate
4. For love

What does Katherine mean when she says.
"a woman moved is like a fountain troubled, muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty" ?

1. A woman should be dumb and uneducated
2. A woman should be strong enough to move a fountain but loud like water
3. A woman should flow her words like a fountain because everyone wants to hear her talk
4. A woman should remain calm and pleasing so more people will like her

Who do you think said:
"If I be waspish, best beware my sting"

1. Katherine
2. Bianca
3. Baptista
4. Christopher Sly

Alquin - Taming of the Shrew 

Read p. 33-36 

Answer the following questions 

1-3-4-6 

Links

https://www.rsc.org.uk/shakespeare-learning-zone/the-taming-of-the-shrew/character/whos-who

https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/shrew/summary/

https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/the-taming-of-the-shrew/read/