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

What is the crucial defining feature that makes a Renaissance play a comedy?

A) lots of jokesB) lots of slapstickC) silly twists and turns in the plotD) ends in marriageE) no one dies

Generally, how funny would you rate The Taming of the Shrew?

A) Hysterically FunnyB) Very FunnyC) Moderately FunnyD) Not FunnyE) So Not Funny

How many “comic” plots are there in The Taming of the Shrew?

A) 1B) 2C) 3D) 4E) 5

Traditions Influencing Shakespeare’s Comedy

1) Classical Tradition of ComedyOld Comedy (Greek Aristophanes, e.g. The Frogs)

• political• agonistic• dialectical• identity switching (disguisings)

New Comedy (Greek Menander; Roman Terence and esp. Roman Plautus)

• intrigue plot based on marriage• comedy of manners or type characters• comedy of situation (disguisingsmix-ups)

Traditions Influencing Shakespeare’s Comedy

2) Native (English) Tradition of ComedySaturnalian 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

Taming plots reveal Classical influences:

Old Comedy– exchanges of wit

• esp. initial “wooing” scene of Kate by PetruchioNew 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/disguisings

Taming plots 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

– identity switching/disguisings

How many characters change identity in the Bianca wooing plot?

A) 1B) 2C) 3D) 4E) 5

Why do they change their identities?

In switching identities do they move up or down the social scale?

A) upB) downC) some up and some down

How many characters change identity in the Induction plot?

A) 1B) 2C) 3D) 4E) 5

Why do they change their identities?

In switching identities do they move up or down the social scale?

A) upB) downC) some up and some down

How many characters change identity in the Kate and Petruchio plot?

A) 1B) 2C) 3D) 5E) none

Why do they change their identities?

In changing identities do they move up or down the social scale?

A) upB) downC) some up and some down

A question for tonight’s film screening:

What does Zeffirelli use as replacement for the Sly Induction?