Gender and Power in The Taming of the Shrew

Lesson 23
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ELA

Unit 5

9th Grade

Lesson 23 of 29

Objective


Analyze Kate's behavior and final speech in the play and what that reveals about how she has changed since the start of the play.

Readings and Materials


  • Play: The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare  — Act 5, Scene 5

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

If Kate's speech at the end of the play is to be taken as sincere, then explain how Kate has changed since the start of the play. Provide specific evidence from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

Sample Response

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Key Thinking


Close Read Questions

Analyze the power dynamics in this scene—between men and men, women and women, men and women. Provide specific evidence from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

Examine the language the men use to talk about women, and explain how it further develops Shakespeare's satirical commentary on courtship. Provide specific evidence from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

What does the language and tone of Kate's final speech reveal about her attitudes towards marriage and the relationship between a husband and wife? Provide specific evidence from the text and carefully explain your thinking.

Homework


Read "I Want a Wife" by Judy Brady.

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Who is the speaker?

  • What are some of the specific duties of the wife Brady describes?

  • What are some of the specific characteristics of a husband?

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Standards


  • L.9-10.5 — Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
  • RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
  • RL.9-10.4 — Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).

Supporting Standards

L.9-10.1
L.9-10.6
RL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.1
SL.9-10.6
W.9-10.9

Next

Analyze how Brady uses humor to develop her argument in "I Want a Wife."

Lesson 24
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