Question
ANALYZE CRAFT AND STRUCTURE
from The Taming of the Shrew, Act V, Scene ii, William Shakespeare
The following passage is from the final scene of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. The main character, Petruchio, has married Katherina, whom he has grown to love. Bianca, Katherina’s younger sister, has married Lucentio, and Hortensio has married the Widow. Petruchio bets the two other men that Katherina is now more content and agreeable than their wives. Read this scene. Then, answer the question(s).
PETRUCHIO. Nay, I will win my wager better yet,
And show more sign of her obedience, Her new-built virtue and obedience.
Re-enter KATHERINA with BIANCA and WIDOW
See where she comes, and brings your froward wives
(5) As prisoners to her womanly persuasion.
Katherine, that cap of yours becomes you not: Off with that bauble, throw it underfoot. KATHERINA complies
[Bianca and the Widow both comment skeptically about the foolish request and the “duty” it demonstrates. Petruchio then asks Katherina to explain to the two “What duty they do owe their lords and husbands.” The others protest, but Katherina answers.]
KATHERINA. Fie, fie! unknit that threatening unkind brow,
And dart not scornful glances from those eyes
(10) To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor.
It blots thy beauty as frosts do bite the meads,
Confounds thy fame as whirlwinds shake fair buds,
And in no sense is meet or amiable.
A woman mov‟d is like a fountain troubled—
(15) Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty;
And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty
Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it.
Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,
Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee.…
(20) Come, come, you forward and unable worms!
My mind hath been as big as one of yours,
My heart as great, my reason haply more,
To bandy word for word and frown for frown;
But now I see our lances are but straws,
(25) Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare,
That seeming to be most which we indeed least are.
Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot,
And place your hands below your husband‟s foot;
In token of which duty, if he please,
(30) My hand is ready, may it do him ease.
PETRUCHIO. Why, there‟s a wench! Come on, and kiss me, Kate.
LUCENTIO. Well, go thy ways, old lad, for thou shalt ha‟t.
VINCENTIO. ‟Tis a good hearing when children are toward.
LUCENTIO. But a harsh hearing when women are froward.
(35) PETRUCHIO. Come, Kate, we‟ll to bed.
We three are married, but you two are sped.
[To LUCENTIO] ‟Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white;
And being a winner, God give you good night!
Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATHERINA
HORTENSIO. Now go thy ways; thou hast tam‟d a curst shrow.
(40) LUCENTIO. ‟Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tam‟d so.
Exeunt
The following question has two parts. Answer #1 first, and then #2.
Which term best describes Katherina‘s speech in lines 8–30?
Responses
aside
aside
monologue
monologue
soliloquy
soliloquy
epilogue
Which characteristic of these lines best supports the answer to #1?
Responses
It is an extended speech spoken by a character when alone onstage.
It is an extended speech spoken by a character when alone onstage.
It is an extended speech spoken by a character directly to the audience.
It is an extended speech spoken by a character directly to the audience.
It is an extended speech spoken by a character at the end of the play.
It is an extended speech spoken by a character at the end of the play.
It is an extended speech spoken by a character to others onstage.
from The Taming of the Shrew, Act V, Scene ii, William Shakespeare
The following passage is from the final scene of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. The main character, Petruchio, has married Katherina, whom he has grown to love. Bianca, Katherina’s younger sister, has married Lucentio, and Hortensio has married the Widow. Petruchio bets the two other men that Katherina is now more content and agreeable than their wives. Read this scene. Then, answer the question(s).
PETRUCHIO. Nay, I will win my wager better yet,
And show more sign of her obedience, Her new-built virtue and obedience.
Re-enter KATHERINA with BIANCA and WIDOW
See where she comes, and brings your froward wives
(5) As prisoners to her womanly persuasion.
Katherine, that cap of yours becomes you not: Off with that bauble, throw it underfoot. KATHERINA complies
[Bianca and the Widow both comment skeptically about the foolish request and the “duty” it demonstrates. Petruchio then asks Katherina to explain to the two “What duty they do owe their lords and husbands.” The others protest, but Katherina answers.]
KATHERINA. Fie, fie! unknit that threatening unkind brow,
And dart not scornful glances from those eyes
(10) To wound thy lord, thy king, thy governor.
It blots thy beauty as frosts do bite the meads,
Confounds thy fame as whirlwinds shake fair buds,
And in no sense is meet or amiable.
A woman mov‟d is like a fountain troubled—
(15) Muddy, ill-seeming, thick, bereft of beauty;
And while it is so, none so dry or thirsty
Will deign to sip or touch one drop of it.
Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper,
Thy head, thy sovereign; one that cares for thee.…
(20) Come, come, you forward and unable worms!
My mind hath been as big as one of yours,
My heart as great, my reason haply more,
To bandy word for word and frown for frown;
But now I see our lances are but straws,
(25) Our strength as weak, our weakness past compare,
That seeming to be most which we indeed least are.
Then vail your stomachs, for it is no boot,
And place your hands below your husband‟s foot;
In token of which duty, if he please,
(30) My hand is ready, may it do him ease.
PETRUCHIO. Why, there‟s a wench! Come on, and kiss me, Kate.
LUCENTIO. Well, go thy ways, old lad, for thou shalt ha‟t.
VINCENTIO. ‟Tis a good hearing when children are toward.
LUCENTIO. But a harsh hearing when women are froward.
(35) PETRUCHIO. Come, Kate, we‟ll to bed.
We three are married, but you two are sped.
[To LUCENTIO] ‟Twas I won the wager, though you hit the white;
And being a winner, God give you good night!
Exeunt PETRUCHIO and KATHERINA
HORTENSIO. Now go thy ways; thou hast tam‟d a curst shrow.
(40) LUCENTIO. ‟Tis a wonder, by your leave, she will be tam‟d so.
Exeunt
The following question has two parts. Answer #1 first, and then #2.
Which term best describes Katherina‘s speech in lines 8–30?
Responses
aside
aside
monologue
monologue
soliloquy
soliloquy
epilogue
Which characteristic of these lines best supports the answer to #1?
Responses
It is an extended speech spoken by a character when alone onstage.
It is an extended speech spoken by a character when alone onstage.
It is an extended speech spoken by a character directly to the audience.
It is an extended speech spoken by a character directly to the audience.
It is an extended speech spoken by a character at the end of the play.
It is an extended speech spoken by a character at the end of the play.
It is an extended speech spoken by a character to others onstage.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
### Analysis of Katherina's Speech
#### Part 1: Term That Best Describes Katherina‘s Speech (Lines 8–30)
**Best Term:** monologue
#### Part 2: Characteristic Supporting the Answer
**Best Characteristic:** It is an extended speech spoken by a character to others onstage.
### Explanation
Katherina’s speech in lines 8–30 is a direct address to the other characters present onstage, particularly to Bianca and the Widow. This is characteristic of a monologue, where a single character speaks at length, expressing their thoughts and opinions directly to other characters in the scene. Unlike a soliloquy, in which a character speaks alone to reveal inner thoughts, or an aside, which is directed to the audience and not meant to be heard by other characters, Katherina's speech is a clear articulation of her perspective in front of an audience of characters.
The content and structure of her speech aim to showcase her acceptance of her role and advocate for obedience and duty from wives towards their husbands, fulfilling the thematic elements of the play, particularly in its exploration of gender roles and relationships. Thus, the term "monologue" accurately captures the essence of her speech, as it is performed in the context of the ongoing dialogue with other characters.
#### Part 1: Term That Best Describes Katherina‘s Speech (Lines 8–30)
**Best Term:** monologue
#### Part 2: Characteristic Supporting the Answer
**Best Characteristic:** It is an extended speech spoken by a character to others onstage.
### Explanation
Katherina’s speech in lines 8–30 is a direct address to the other characters present onstage, particularly to Bianca and the Widow. This is characteristic of a monologue, where a single character speaks at length, expressing their thoughts and opinions directly to other characters in the scene. Unlike a soliloquy, in which a character speaks alone to reveal inner thoughts, or an aside, which is directed to the audience and not meant to be heard by other characters, Katherina's speech is a clear articulation of her perspective in front of an audience of characters.
The content and structure of her speech aim to showcase her acceptance of her role and advocate for obedience and duty from wives towards their husbands, fulfilling the thematic elements of the play, particularly in its exploration of gender roles and relationships. Thus, the term "monologue" accurately captures the essence of her speech, as it is performed in the context of the ongoing dialogue with other characters.