The Taming of the Shrew is an early Shakespeare comedy written in the early 1590s. It shares many characteristics with his other romantic comedies, such as Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, including lighthearted and slapstick humor, disguises and deception, and a happy ending in which most of the characters come out satisfied. But while the tone of the play is light and comic, its exploration of larger social issues such as the proper relation of the sexes in marriage and marriage as an economic institution lends much of the comedy a more serious tone.

Summary

Read one-minute Sparklet summaries, the detailed scene-by-scene Summary & Analysis, or the Full Play Summary of The Taming of the Shrew.

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in The Taming of the Shrew and in-depth analyses of Katherine, Petruchio, and Lucentio.

Literary Devices

Here is where you will find analysis of the main themes, motifs, and symbols in The Taming of the Shrew.

Quotes

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Quick Quizzes

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Deeper Study

Enchance your understanding of The Taming of the Shrew by reading about William Shakespeare and background on the play, an essay about the tailor's brief appearance in Act 4, and mini essays on key topics of the play.