1. The Taming of the Shrew: Old, New, and Native Comedy

2. What is the crucial defining feature that makes a Renaissance play a comedy?
A) lots of jokes
B) lots of slapstick
C) silly twists and turns in the plot
D) ends in marriage
E) no one dies

3. How many “comic” plots are there in The Taming of the Shrew?
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5

4. 1. Classical Tradition of Comedy
Traditions Influencing Shakespeare’s Comedy
1. Classical Tradition of Comedy
Classical Old Comedy
Greek Aristophanes, e.g. The Frogs
political
agonistic
dialectical
identity switching (disguisings)

5. Classical New Comedy
Greek Menander; Roman Terence and esp. Roman Plautus
intrigue plot based on marriage
comedy of manners or type characters
comedy of situation (disguisingsmix-ups)

6. 2. Native (English) Tradition of Comedy
Saturnalian festivals of misrule:
disguisings and identity switching
-e.g., Lord and Lady of Misrule
flouting of authority
scapegoating the anti-social or marginal (shrews, Jews, foreigners, etc.)
drunkenness

7. The Taming plots Reveal Classical Influences:
Old Comedy
Exchanges of wit
esp. initial “wooing” scene of Kate by Petruchio

8. Identity switching/disguising
New Comedy
Type characters – e.g. Gremio a “pantaloon” (pp. 16, 53)
Disguises and deceits by young lovers in order to get around “restraining” fathers
esp in Bianca Plot (based on George Gascoigne's Supposes, taken from Ariosto's Il Suppositi, based on Terence's The Eunuch and Plautus's The Captives)
And from both traditions
Identity switching/disguising

9. The Taming Plots also Reveal Native Influences:
Katherine/Petruchio plot:
Shrew taming popular in England
Sly Induction:
Introduces "game" of Saturnalian festivities
play called a "Christmas gambold" or "tumbling-trick" (p. 13); "let the world slip“ (p. 14)
Sly and Page are Lord and Lady of Misrule
watch play of identity switching/disguisings

10. How many characters change identity in the Bianca wooing plot?1 2 3 4 5

11. Why do they change their identities?

12. In switching identities do they move up or down the social scale?
A) up
B) down
C) some up and some down

14. How many characters change identity in the Induction plot?1 2 3 4 5

15. Why do they change their identities?

16. In switching identities do they move up or down the social scale?
A) up
B) down
C) some up and some down

18. Opening of Taming of the Shrew in Zeffirelli film of the play (clip)
What does Zeffirelli use as replacement for the Sly Induction?

19. How many characters change identity in the Kate and Petruchio plot?
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) none

20. Why do they change their identities?

21. In changing identities do they move up or down the social scale?
A) up
B) down
C) some up and some down