The Taming of the Shrew / Edition 1

by William Shakespeare

Overview

The comedy begins with an induction in which we follow a drunken tinker being tricked into believing he is a nobleman. He then watches a play depicting nobleman Petruchio's marriage with an outspoken, intelligent and bad-tempered shrew named Katherine. Petruchio manipulates and tames her until she is obedient to his will. The main subplot features the courting of Katherine's more conventional sister Bianca by numerous suitors. The content has become the subject of considerable controversy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780789160867
Publisher:	Perfection Learning
Publication date:	06/30/2004
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, greatest writer in the world's pre-eminent dramatist.

Table of Contents

Introduction; Note on the text; List of characters; The play; Textual analysis; Appendices; Reading list.

Editorial Reviews

"Thompson makes admirable use of the play's stage history to show that its depiction of the woman-tamer has always disturbed people. Hers remains the introductory essay I would most want my students to read." English

"A radically fresh and challenging view of the play." The Times Higher Education Supplement

From the Publisher

This is one in a series from "Graphic Shakespeare" adaptations. The chapter book is nicely organized with an introduction to the cast of characters in the beginning chapter followed by a brief description of where the story takes place. The story follows and is told in five acts/chapters. After the story there is a complete description of the plot, which might have worked better had they put it before the acts. There is information about William Shakespeare including additional works by him that have been adapted. A very brief summary about the illustrator and the adapted by author and a glossary for unfamiliar terms are at the end of the book. Unfortunately, the story, as written, is a little hard to follow. It will take the reader some time to get used to the ways of old English: "Marked you not how her sister began to scold and raise up such a storm that mortal ears might hardly endure the din?" The illustrations are okay but much of the art is covered by the conversation bubbles. The faces are not very engaging and the backgrounds bare. There are many fun adaptations of The Taming of the Shrew but this is not one of them. Reviewer: Loretta Caravette

Children's Literature - Loretta Caravette