Tuesday, 4/8 - Taming the Shrew in You

• P&P

• 20 minutes to work on your posters, which are due block day.

• Quick film overview of Taming of the Shrew  

HW: Work on your projects and do Shrew - J1 (by block day)

Shrew - J1 (Induction and Act 1)

1. What is the point of the two "induction" scenes with Christopher Sly? How do these scenes relate to the action of the main play?
2. What is the structure of Act 1? Why did Shakespeare arrange the scenes in this way?
3. Why has Lucentio come to Padua?
4. What is Tranio's advice? How does it fit with the two models of education discussed in Leithart?
5. What does Lucentio call Bianca when he first sees her and why is this significant?
6. What kind of character is Bianca?
7. What does Katherina mean by saying that her father has made her a "stale"? How does this help to explain her shrewish behavior?
8. Why is Petruchio in Padua? How are his reasons for coming different from AND similar to Lucentio's?
9. What kind of man is Petruchio?

 Shrew - J2 (Act 2)

1. Explain the structure of Act 2. Why is it significant that Katherina has tied Bianca's hands? What happens to Bianca's "hands" by the end of Act 2?
2. How does Petruchio approach Baptista? What does Baptista seem most interest in?
3. Why does Petruchio insist on calling Katherina "Kate"?
4. Give some biblical examples of the importance of names.
5. What is Petruchio's method for courting and taming Kate? Why does he approach her this way?
6. What does the relationship of Petruchio and Kate suggest about the importance and power of words?
7. Explain or illustrate the difference between "imagining" and "saying" something. What does it have to do with the play?
8. How does Petruchio constantly change Kate's meaning? How does this fit with his plan to tame her?
9. Are Petruchio and Kate in love? How do you know?

Shrew - J3 (Acts 3-4)

1. How does Petruchio dress for his wedding? Why? How do his actions reflect his attire?
2. Describe Bianca's education. Why is it significant that she has never heard of a "taming school"?
3. In what sense does Bianca "take her sister's room"?
4. Why does Petruchio constantly attack his servants? How does Kate react?
5. Explain the double meaning of "stoop."
6. Why is it significant that Petruchio refuses to le Kate eat or sleep?
7. What does Petruchio do with Kate's new clothes? Why? How does this fit with larger themes of the play?
8. How does Kate show that she has become submissive to Petruchio?
9. Does Kate's submission stifle her liveliness and creativity?
10. Explain the "sun" imagery in the last part of Act 4.