Taming of the Shrew Trivia Quiz Questions and Answers

Trivia quiz with answers about Shakespeare's play Taming of the Shrew

Taming of the Shrew Trivia Quiz Questions and Answers

What is the “Taming of the Shrew”?
A: The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592.

The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which what happens?
A: A mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Christopher Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself.

The nobleman then has the play performed for what?
A: Sly's diversion.

The main plot depicts the courtship of whom?
A: Petruchio and Katherina, the headstrong, obdurate shrew.

Initially, Katherina is an unwilling participant in the relationship; however, Petruchio does what?
A: Tames her with various psychological torments, such as keeping her from eating and drinking, until she becomes a desirable, compliant, and obedient bride.

The subplot features a competition between the suitors of whom?
A: Katherina's younger sister, Bianca, who is seen as the "ideal" woman.

The question of whether the play is misogynistic or not has become the subject of what?
A: Considerable controversy, particularly among modern scholars, audiences, and readers.

What 1999 high school comedy film is loosely based on the play?
A: “10 Things I Hate About You”.

Prior to the first act, an induction frames the play as a what?
A: A kind of history played in front of a befuddled drunkard named Christopher Sly.

Sly is tricked into believing that he is what?
A: A lord.

The play is performed in order to distract Sly from whom?
A: His "wife," who is actually Bartholomew, a servant, dressed as a woman.

In the play performed for Sly, who is the shrew?
A: The shrew is Katherina, the eldest daughter of Baptista Minola, a lord in Padua.

Numerous men, including Gremio and Tranio, deem Katherina what?
A: An unworthy option for marriage because of her notorious assertiveness and willfulness.

On the other hand, men such as Hortensio and Gremio are eager to marry whom?
A: Her younger sister Bianca.

However, Baptista has sworn Bianca is not allowed to marry until what?
A: Until Katherina is wed.

This motivates Bianca's suitors to work together to find what?
A: Katherina a husband so that they may compete for Bianca.

The plot thickens when Lucentio, who has recently come to Padua to attend university, falls in love with whom?
A: Bianca.

Overhearing Baptista say that he is on the lookout for tutors for his daughters, Lucentio devises a plan in which he what?
A: Disguises himself as a Latin tutor named Cambio in order to woo Bianca behind Baptista's back.

Meanwhile has his servant Tranio do what?
A: Petend to be him.

In the meantime, who, accompanied by his servant Grumio, arrives in Padua from Verona?
A: Petruchio.

What does he explain to Hortensio, an old friend of his?
A: That since his father's death he has set out to enjoy life and wed.

Hearing this, Hortensio recruits Petruchio as a what?
A: A suitor for Katherina.

He also has Petruchio present Baptista a music tutor named what?
A: Litio (Hortensio in disguise).

Thus, Lucentio and Hortensio, attempt to woo Bianca while pretending to be whom?
A: The tutors Cambio and Litio.

To counter Katherina's shrewish nature, Petruchio pretends that any harsh things she says or does are actually what?
A: Kind and gentle.

Katherina agrees to marry Petruchio after seeing that he is the only man willing to what?
A: Counter her quick remarks.

At the ceremony, Petruchio makes an embarrassing scene when he does what?
A: Strikes the priest and drinks the communion wine.

After the wedding, Petruchio takes Katherina where?
A: To his home against her will.

Once they are gone, Gremio and Tranio (disguised as Lucentio) formally bid for whom?
A: Bianca, with Tranio easily outbidding Gremio.

However, in his zeal to win he promises much more than what?
A: More than Lucentio actually possesses.

When Baptista determines that once Lucentio's father confirms the dowry, Bianca and Tranio (i.e. Lucentio) can marry, Tranio decides that they will need someone to do what?
A: To pretend to be Vincentio, Lucentio's father.

Meanwhile, Tranio persuades Hortensio that Bianca is what?
A: Not worthy of his attentions, thus removing Lucentio's remaining rival.

In Verona, Petruchio begins what?
A: The "taming" of his new wife.

She is refused food and clothing because nothing – according to Petruchio – is what?
A: Good enough for her.

He claims that perfectly cooked meat is what?
A: Overcooked.

He claims a beautiful dress doesn't what?
A: Fit right, and a stylish hat is not fashionable.

He also disagrees with what?
A: Everything that she says, forcing her to agree with everything that he says, no matter how absurd.

On their way back to Padua to attend Bianca's wedding, she agrees with Petruchio that what?
A: That the sun is the moon, and proclaims "if you please to call it a rush-candle, Henceforth I vow it shall be so for me".

Along the way, they meet whom?
A: Vincentio, who is also on his way to Padua.

Katherina agrees with Petruchio when he declares that Vincentio is a what?
A: A woman and then apologises to Vincentio when Petruchio tells her what that he is a man.

Back in Padua, Lucentio and Tranio convince a passing pedant to do what?
A: To pretend to be Vincentio and confirm the dowry for Bianca.

The man does so, and Baptista is happy for Bianca to do what?
A: To wed Lucentio (still Tranio in disguise).

Bianca, aware of the deception, then does what?
A: She secretly elopes with the real Lucentio to get married.

However, when Vincentio reaches Padua, he encounters whom?
A: The pedant, who claims to be Lucentio's father.

Tranio (still disguised as Lucentio) appears, and the pedant does what?
A: Acknowledges him to be his son Lucentio.

In all the confusion, the real Vincentio is set to be arrested, when the real Lucentio appears with his what?
A: His newly betrothed Bianca, revealing all to a bewildered Baptista and Vincentio.

Lucentio explains everything, and all is forgiven by whom?
A: The two fathers.

Meanwhile, Hortensio has married whom?
A: A rich widow.

In the final scene of the play there are three what?
A: Newly married couples; Bianca and Lucentio, the widow and Hortensio, and Katherina and Petruchio.

Because of the general opinion that Petruchio is married to a shrew, what breaks out?
A: A good-natured quarrel breaks out amongst the three men about whose wife is the most obedient.

Petruchio proposes a wager whereby each will do what?
A: Send a servant to call for their wives, and whichever comes most obediently will have won the wager for her husband.

Katherina is the only one of the three who what?
A: Who comes, winning the wager for Petruchio.

She then hauls the other two wives into the room, giving a speech on what?
A: Why wives should always obey their husbands.

The play ends with Baptista, Hortensio and Lucentio marvelling at what?
A: How successfully Petruchio has tamed the shrew.