Page 336 - SpringBoard_ELA_Grade6_Flipbook

Plot Summary: The Taming of the Shrew
Shakespeare wrote the comedy The Taming of the Shrew toward the beginning of his career (1590). The play is set in Padua, Italy, where a wealthy old man, Baptista, has two daughters of marriageable age. His younger daughter, Bianca, is beautiful and well-mannered, so men such as Gremio and Hortensio, suitors for her hand in marriage, are attracted to her. His older daughter, Katherine, is also beautiful, but she is ill-tempered and a shrew (a woman of violent temper), so men are not as attracted to her. Baptista will not allow Bianca to get married until someone marries Katherine. Petruchio, an arrogant young man from Verona, decides he will marry Katherine for her money—whether she likes it or not—and her father agrees to the match. Petruchio then manages to woo and win Kate’s heart and obedience so that they live happily ever after.
Cast of Characters
My Notes
AcTIvITy 4.13
continued
Character
Pronunciation
Description
Baptista Minola
[bap-TEES-tuh]
Katherine and Bianca’s father, a wealthy old man
Katherine
[kat-ah-REE-nuh]
Baptista’s older daughter; the shrew
Bianca
[bee-AN-kuh]
Baptista’s younger daughter
Petruchio
[peh-TROOK-ee-oh]
A young man from Verona who wants t
o marry Katherine
Grumio
[GROOM-ee-oh]
Petruchio’s servant
Lucentio
[loo-CHEN-see-oh]
A rich young man from Pisa who wants disguised as the teacher Cambio)
to marry Bianca (later
Tranio
[TRAH-neeoh]
Lucentio’s servant (later disguised as Lucentio)
Biondello
[bee-yawn-DELL-oh]
Lucentio’s servant
Hortensio
[hor-TEN-see-oh]
A young man who wants to marry Bianca (later disguised as the teacher Litio); friend of Petruchio
Gremio
[GREEM-ee-oh]
A rich and ridiculous old man who wan
ts to marry Bianca
3. Define comedy as the opposite of tragedy.
4. Why do you think “taming” a shrew would be a comedy?
Unit 4 • The Final Act 309
© 2017 College Board. All rights reserved.