The Taming of the Shrew

Use these links to supplement and complement students’ reading of the work and to increase their overall enjoyment of literature. Challenge them to discern parallel themes, engage through visual and aural stimuli, and delve deeper into the thematic possibilities presented by the title.

Recommended Texts for Pairing

Much Ado About Nothing

• a comedy by William Shakespeare
• The relationship of Beatrice and Benedick can be compared to that of Katherine and Petruchio.
• shares the themes of Marriage, Money, Femininity, Trickery, and Transformation
• Much Ado About Nothing on SuperSummary

The Comedy of Errors

• a comedy by William Shakespeare
• The character of Adriana can be compared to Katherine (and Adriana’s sister, Luciana, can be compared to Bianca) in tone, personality, circumstances, and temperament.
• shares the themes of Marriage, Femininity, Trickery, and Transformation
• The Comedy of Errors on SuperSummary

Other Student Resources

The Taming of the Shrew Painting

• an 1809 painting by Washington Allston
• features a scene between Katherine and Petruchio

The Taming of the Shrew

• the 1967 movie with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor (with trailer)
• relates the themes of Trickery, Money, and Femininity

Kiss Me, Kate

• the trailer of 1953 movie musical inspired by the play (title from Act II, Scene 1, Line 1186)
• relates the themes of Trickery, Money, and Femininity; shares the “play within a play” format