The Taming of the Shrew

Title of the short story : The Taming of the Shrew
Author : Shakespeare
Number of pages : 17

Characters :
Baptista (a rich gentleman of Padua)
Katharine (the shrew) & Bianca : daughter of Baptista
Hortensio & Lucentio (Bianca’s husband) : in love with Bianca
Petrichio
Vicentio (father of Lucentio)

Setting : Padua, a beautiful city of Italy
Time : long time ago

Useful Vocabulary

• Scold : to speak angrily to somebody, esp a child because they have done something wrong.


• Virtuous : claiming to have or show better behaviour or higher moral principles than others.


• Rust : a reddish – brown substance that forms on iron or steel by the action of water and air.


• Resist : to use force in order to prevent something happening or being successful.

The Facts
This story is about a girl who always scold to all. Because of her attitude there was no man who wanted to marry her. But she had to marry as soon as possible because if she had not married, her younger sister could not married with Lucenio. So, Kat’s father asked Petrucio to marry her. Eventhough Kat had a very bad temper, Petruchio was very patient to give her some lessons. Finally, Kat was not a shrew anymore. Petruchio had tamed her and made her very wise, gently, kind and dutiful wife and Petruchio lived proudly and happily.

The Impressions
This is a such good story which has a background culture seems as Indonesian culture. The younger sister/ brother cannot marry when she/he still ahs an elder sister who is still single.

The second point of this story is that by a patience and wisdom, husband can win his wife become a dutiful wife, loving, kind, and gently.

Ika

Questions and Answers

• Questions


1. Why did Petruchio accept Katharine as his wife?
2. Is Petruchio a beggar?
3. Is Lucentio regret to marry with Bianca?
4. What is the most impression of this story?
5. Why did Lucentio say that Bianca was the sweetest girl?


• Answers


1. • Because he wanted to tame her shrew and he was sure he could do it well.
   • He wanted to prove that Kat could change her bad temper.
2. No, he isn’t. He only pretend to be a beggar by wearing a beggar’s dress.
3. Yes, he is. Because he finally knew that Bianca is the spoiled girl.
4. That the elder sister has to marry before the younger sister.
5. Because as he knew, Bianca was the sweet and calm girl from the outside. She was different from her elder sister who had a bad temper.