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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Petruchio tells Katharina in Act III, Scene II, “Fear not, sweet wench, they shall not touch thee, Kate: / I'll buckler thee against” what?

2. Petruchio uses what adjective meaning “pretty” to describe his bride in Act III, Scene II?

3. After Petruchio and Katharina exit in Act III, Scene II, Baptista says, “Nay, let them go, a couple of” what?

4. What does Grumio say “have eaten the horses” in Act III, Scene II?

5. Katharina tells Petruchio in Act III, Scene II, “You may be jogging whiles your boots are” what?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Lucentio go about revealing his identity in Act III, Scene I? How does Bianca respond?

2. Characterize the relationship between Katharina and Petruchio in the narrative. How is their relationship commonly approached in performance?

3. Why is Bianca sought after by so many suitors in the play? How does Bianca’s characterization relate to Katharina’s?

4. What does Petruchio announce after the wedding in Act III, Scene II?

5. How does Petruchio describe his treatment of his bride in the end of Act IV, Scene I?

6. What conversation takes place between Tranio, Lucentio, and Bianca in Act IV, Scene II?

7. What disagreement takes place about the time of day in Act IV, Scene III?

8. How does Tranio convince the Pedant to agree to his disguise in Act IV, Scene IV?

9. Whom do Petruchio and Katharina encounter along their travels in Act IV, Scene V?

10. How does Baptista respond to Petruchio’s appearance in Act III, Scene II? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of appearance versus reality in the play. How does this theme apply to societal expectations? How does the theme relate to the theme of gender roles? In what ways does Petruchio illustrate this theme in Act III?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the setting of Padua and the cities of Pisa and Lombardy described in Act I, Scene I. How big is the city of Padua? Why has Lucentio stopped here in his travels? What clues from the text indicate the time period in which the narrative is set?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the importance of dowers and dowries in the marriage contracts of sixteenth and seventeenth century Europe. How accurate is Shakespeare’s depiction in the play? What is the dowry agreed upon for Katharina? How much does Petruchio offer as a dower?

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