The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare (Book Analysis): Detailed Summary, Analysis and Reading Guide

By Bright Summaries

Unlock the more straightforward side of The Taming of the Shrew with this concise and insightful summary and analysis!

This engaging summary presents an analysis of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare, a comedy which centres on the marriage of Katherine, a young woman who is considered quarrelsome and unpleasant, and Petruccio, who decides to ignore her reputation and marry her for her money. Over the course of the play, Petruccio subjects Katherine to increasingly cruel treatment, until she eventually declares her obedience to him. William Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest playwrights in English literary history, and the popularity of his works remains undiminished even today, several centuries after his death.

Find out everything you need to know about The Taming of the Shrew in a fraction of the time!

This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you:

• A complete plot summary
• Character studies
• Key themes and symbols
• Questions for further reflection

Why choose BrightSummaries.com?

Available in print and digital format, our publications are designed to accompany you on your reading journey. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.

See the very best of literature in a whole new light with BrightSummaries.com!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BrightSummaries.com
• Release date: Apr 3, 2019
• ISBN: 9782808016506

Book preview

ENGLISH PLAYWRIGHT AND POET

Born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564.

Died in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1616.

Notable works:

Venus and Adonis (1593), poem

Hamlet (1603), play

Macbeth (1623), play

William Shakespeare is regarded as the most influential writer in English history. His 37 plays have been performed countless times, and have been reproduced and adapted across a broad range of periods and cultural contexts. As well as the plays, which can be loosely divided into tragedies, histories and comedies, Shakespeare wrote a number of narrative poems and sonnets. He also had an indelible influence on the English language itself, bringing a huge variety of words and phrases – as varied as swagger, bubble, mind’s eye and heart of gold – into regular usage.

Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and had three children with her. Their only son, Hamnet, died at the age of 11. Very little else is known about Shakespeare’s life, which he spent between Stratford-upon-Avon and London. It is clear, however, that his literary talents were matched by a shrewd entrepreneurial spirit. He made a number of profitable investments in his lifetime, which gave him the financial freedom to devote himself to acting and writing. In 1599, Shakespeare and his acting company (The Lord Chamberlain’s