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
Based on the ending of the passage, choose the answer that correctly describes the dramatic category of The Taming of the Shrew.
Responses
tragedy: all is lost for the characters at the end
tragedy: all is lost for the characters at the end
comedy: happiness is obtained and social order reaffirmed
comedy: happiness is obtained and social order reaffirmed
romance: great loss has been overcome to allow the characters happiness
romance: great loss has been overcome to allow the characters happiness
history: the great events of the ages are brought to life on the stage
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
Based on the ending of the passage, choose the answer that correctly describes the dramatic category of The Taming of the Shrew.
Responses
tragedy: all is lost for the characters at the end
tragedy: all is lost for the characters at the end
comedy: happiness is obtained and social order reaffirmed
comedy: happiness is obtained and social order reaffirmed
romance: great loss has been overcome to allow the characters happiness
romance: great loss has been overcome to allow the characters happiness
history: the great events of the ages are brought to life on the stage
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer that describes the dramatic category of *The Taming of the Shrew* based on the ending of the passage is:
**comedy: happiness is obtained and social order reaffirmed.**
In this scene, Petruchio's belief that he has successfully "tamed" Katherina and her compliance to his demands indicate a restoration of traditional social roles and order, often characteristic of comedic resolutions in Shakespeare's works. The play concludes with marriages and a sense of harmony among the characters, typical of comedic endings.
**comedy: happiness is obtained and social order reaffirmed.**
In this scene, Petruchio's belief that he has successfully "tamed" Katherina and her compliance to his demands indicate a restoration of traditional social roles and order, often characteristic of comedic resolutions in Shakespeare's works. The play concludes with marriages and a sense of harmony among the characters, typical of comedic endings.