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The Taming of the Shrew facts for kids

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Taming of the Shrew
A scene from the play showing a cap and gown (from Illustrated London News, 1886)

The Taming of the Shrew is a famous play written by William Shakespeare. It is a comedy, which means it's a funny story with a happy ending. The play tells the story of a man named Petruchio and a strong-willed woman named Katherina.

About the Play

The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's most well-known comedies. It explores themes of love, marriage, and how people change. The play is still performed often today.

What's it About?

The story begins with a rich man in Padua, Italy, who has two daughters. The younger daughter, Bianca, is sweet and has many admirers. But her father says she cannot marry until her older sister, Katherina, gets married first. Katherina is known for being very fiery and difficult. People call her "the shrew."

Then, Petruchio arrives in Padua. He is looking for a rich wife. He hears about Katherina and decides he will marry her, no matter what. Petruchio uses unusual methods to "tame" Katherina. He tries to make her agree with everything he says, even if it seems silly. For example, he might say the sun is the moon, and he expects her to agree.

In the end, Katherina seems to change her ways. She gives a famous speech about how wives should obey their husbands. The play leaves audiences wondering if Katherina truly changed, or if she found a clever way to get what she wanted.

Who Wrote It?

The play was written by the famous English writer William Shakespeare. He probably got some ideas for the story from an older Italian play called Suppositi by Ludovico Ariosto. Another English play, Supposes by George Gascoigne, might have also given him ideas.

When Was It First Performed?

The Taming of the Shrew was likely first performed around the years 1593 to 1594. It was first printed in a collection of Shakespeare's plays in 1623. This collection is known as the First Folio. It was the first time many of Shakespeare's plays were put together in one book.

Famous Adaptations

This play has been very popular for hundreds of years. It has been made into other forms of entertainment:

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: La fierecilla domada para niños

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