Commedia dell'Arte
Shakespeare's locating this play on this peninsula (now a unified country) may be a reference to the fact that commedia dell'arte originated there.
What (or where) is Italy?
These characters essentially swap identities, which leads to trouble down the line.
Who are Lucentio and Tranio?
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.
Who is Petruchio?
Although the ancient playwrights Terence and Plautus were the forefathers of the style of play that lead to part of its plot, The Taming of the Shrew is not considered one of this classification of plays by William Shakespeare.
What is a Roman play?
In what may be a reference to Queen Vashti, an important part of the plot (and a good bit of money) hinges on Katharina's willingness to do this.
What is come when called by her husband?
The ending of the play suggests a subversion of the "happily ever after" usually expected for the Innamorati types these characters were playing until then.
Who are Lucentio and Bianca?
It is his idea to trick the local drunkard into thinking he is a delusional member of nobility.
Who is the Lord?
If I be waspish, best beware my sting.
Who is Katherina (Kate)?
Shakespeare was probably making fun of poor actors when he had the Lord recommend his Page use an onion in a napkin if he could not do this.
What is cry on command?
Petruchio deprives Katharina (and himself) of these things in order to "tame" her.
What is food and sleep?
Tranio is of this group of stock commedia dell'arte characters, and so is typically asked to help a lover who faces obstacles.
What is zanni, or servants?
The schoolmaster from Mantua is convinced that his only recourse to stay safe in Padua is this action.
What is pretend to be Vincentio, Lucentio's father?
Tranio, I burn, I pine! I perish, Tranio,
If I achieve not this young modest girl.
Who is Lucentio?
Petruchio's rejection of the cap Katharina likes is on grounds that lampshade actors' routine breaking of these laws, which harken back to ancient Rome.
What are sumptuary laws, laws that restrict certain clothing to the upper classes?
While its usage in the "taming" plot of The Taming of the Shrew is debatable, it is very clear that "gaslighting" does occur to this character, causing him to believe what others around him say rather than trusting his own thoughts and memories.
Who is Christopher Sly?
Both Lucentio and the stage directions of some versions refer to this character as a "pantaloon" (Pantalone), one of the original four stock characters of commedia dell'arte, a wealthy, egotistical, and lecherous figure of advanced age.
Who is Gremio?
He pretends to be a music teacher in order to get close to Bianca to woo her.
Who is Hortensio?
Madam wife, they say that I have dreamed
And slept above some fifteen year or more.
Who is Christopher Sly?
It is thought that this may be a variant name for Taming of the Shrew, since Taming is not mentioned in Meres' 1598 listing of six of Shakespeare's comedies, but this title, never found elsewhere, is.
What is Love's Labour's Won?
Katharina finally agrees to "play along" with Petruchio in her willingness to misidentify this object.
What is the sun?
This characteristic of commedia dell'arte makes it very unlike The Taming of the Shrew, which has a set script preserved for us to enjoy to this day.
What is improvisation? Or, what is Grammelot?
This character fears a sinister reason for the lies of others, and is threatened with jail.
Who is Vincentio, Lucentio's father?
Only, good master, while we do admire
This virtue and this moral discipline,
Let’s be no stoics nor no stocks, I pray.
Who is Tranio?
This word is used several times by Shakespeare in this play to mean, not courageous or daring, but showy and splendid.
What is brave?
Though common (and legal) in other "shrew-taming" stories of the day, and perpetrated by Katharina and Petruchio against others several times, this abusive behavior is never found between them in the stage directions of the text, despite its inclusion in many acted versions.
What is physical violence?