English 432G
Dr. Desmet
Summer 1996
1. In Taming, clothing is important on both a verbal and visual level, since we see characters put on and take off clothing so often in the play. Using the first Wordcruncher exercise, determine if the play suggests that clothing is or is not a useful index to rank, worth, or even identity. (See Wordcruncher #1.)
2. One question that is open to debate is whether Kate is actually a shrew, in the specific cultural sense outlined in Lynda Boose's essay on shrew-taming. There are three interrelated sets of imagery: that associated with shrews and devils, that associated with horses and bridles, and that associated with hawks and hunting. Using these sets of images, determine whether Kate, even before her "taming," actually qualifies as a shrew. (See Wordcruncher #2.)
3. One critic claims that the word "father" appears more often in this play than in any other Shakespeare play, with the exception of the very long King Lear. What is the relationship between the thematic contrast between old and young people in the play and the father's symbolic role? (See Wordcruncher #3.)
4. At 2.1.132 Petruchio refers to himself as "two raging fires." Check uses of the word "fire*" in the play to determine the symbolic role of fire in the play. (See Wordcruncher #4.)
5. Part of being a shrew is being a non-stop talker. Who is associated with speech and who with silence? What does that tell you about the symbolic importance of speech in the play? (See Wordcruncher #5.)
6. Using Wordcruncher #5, see if you could argue that Petruchio, who is associated with talking, could be generally considered as a shrew by virtue of his overall behavior?
7. Analyzing the way characters in Taming talk about wives and husbands, as possessions or as persons, discuss the significance of the cultural roles of wife and husband for this play. (See Wordcruncher #6.)