The Taming of the Shrew: Key Questions & Answers: 18 MCQs with answers

William Shakespeare

The play is a comedy by William Shakespeare, written around 1590–1592.

Padua

The main action is set in Padua, a centre of learning and wealth in Renaissance Italy.

Christopher Sly

Christopher Sly is the drunkard tricked into believing he is a lord in the induction.

Katherina

Katherina (Kate) is the elder daughter; Bianca is the younger.

Baptista decrees it

Their father Baptista decrees that Bianca cannot wed until her elder sister Katherina is married.

Verona

Petruchio arrives from Verona seeking a wealthy wife.

Wealth

Petruchio arrives in Padua seeking a rich wife.

True

The Taming of the Shrew was written between 1590 and 1592, making it one of Shakespeare's early comedies.

It frames the main story as a play-within-a-play

The induction frames the main story as a play-within-a-play, emphasising theatre and illusion.

By disguising himself as a tutor

Lucentio disguises himself as a tutor to get close to Bianca.

Physical force

Petruchio uses psychological tactics — praise, contradiction, deprivation, and mirroring — not physical force.

Kate comes immediately when called

Kate comes immediately and delivers her obedience speech, so Petruchio wins the wager.

Wifely obedience

Kate's final speech urges wifely obedience, telling women to submit to their husbands.

It can be read as sincere or ironic

The speech can be read as either sincere submission or ironic performance, which is why it is hotly debated.

It is a performance, not a moral lesson

The induction frames the main story as a play-within-a-play, suggesting the whole thing is a performance, not a moral lesson.

Through psychological conditioning

Petruchio uses psychological conditioning — praise, contradiction, deprivation, and mirroring — rather than physical force.

Contradiction and mirroring

The correct option is 'Contradiction and mirroring' because these tactics are central to Petruchio's strategy of undermining Kate's confidence and forcing her to conform to his expectations.

Her compliance is a strategic performance, highlighting the theme of societal roles.

The correct option is 'Her compliance is a strategic performance, highlighting the theme of societal roles' because it suggests that Kate's actions may be a calculated response to the expectations placed upon her, thus engaging with the play's exploration of performance versus reality.