taming of the shrew, the
B2Literary, Cultural
Definition
Meaning
The title of a famous comedy play by William Shakespeare, written circa 1590–1592.
Refers to Shakespeare's play and its story of a strong-willed woman (Katherina, the "shrew") who is courted and married by a man (Petruchio) who attempts to tame her spirited nature. It also refers broadly to adaptations of the play (films, ballets, musicals) and, idiomatically, to any situation where an assertive or unmanageable person is subdued or domesticated.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a proper noun (the title of a specific work). When used idiomatically to describe a situation, it carries strong cultural and historical connotations from the play, often involving themes of gender roles, power dynamics, and domestication.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a canonical title, usage is identical. However, references to the play's central theme ('taming a shrew') might be more immediately recognized in British cultural contexts due to Shakespeare's central place in the UK curriculum.
Connotations
In modern discourse, the phrase and the play's plot are often viewed critically for their perceived misogyny, leading to discussions about historical context versus modern values. This critical lens is prominent in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday conversation except in literary, theatrical, or educational contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
refer to {The Taming of the Shrew}study {The Taming of the Shrew}watch {a production of The Taming of the Shrew}compare {something} to {The Taming of the Shrew}Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It was like 'The Taming of the Shrew' in our office after the new manager arrived.”
- “Their relationship reminded me of a modern 'Taming of the Shrew'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in HR or management discussions about changing team dynamics ('It's not about a 'Taming of the Shrew' approach to leadership').
Academic
Common in literature, drama, gender studies, and history departments. Used to analyze Renaissance theatre, gender politics, and adaptation theory.
Everyday
Low frequency. Used when discussing culture, theatre, or in metaphorical descriptions of relationships.
Technical
Used in dramaturgy, theatre history, and literary criticism as a specific work title and reference point.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We are reading a story by Shakespeare.
- 'The Taming of the Shrew' is a famous play.
- In our English class, we watched a film adaptation of 'The Taming of the Shrew'.
- The play is a comedy about a man who tries to change a strong woman.
- Many modern productions of 'The Taming of the Shrew' attempt to reinterpret or critique its central relationship.
- The phrase 'taming of the shrew' is sometimes used metaphorically to describe overpowering someone's personality.
- Scholars continue to debate whether 'The Taming of the Shrew' ultimately reinforces or subverts patriarchal norms of its era.
- Her analysis framed the corporate restructuring as a kind of 'Taming of the Shrew', where independent departments were forcibly integrated.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'TIME' + 'ING'. It's about the 'TIME-ing' (the process over time) it takes to tame a 'Shrew' (a bad-tempered woman).
Conceptual Metaphor
A RELATIONSHIP IS A BATTLE OF WILLS; DOMESTICATION IS CIVILIZATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'shrew' directly as 'землеройка' (the animal). In this context, it is an archaic term for a scolding, ill-tempered woman, best translated as 'сварливая женщина', 'мегера'.
- The word 'taming' implies domestication like an animal, which carries a heavier, potentially offensive connotation in Russian ('укрощение') than the neutral English title does for modern audiences.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect article order: saying 'The Shrew Taming' or 'Taming the Shrew'. The canonical title is fixed.
- Mispronouncing 'shrew' as /ʃruː/ (correct) not /skruː/ or /ʃrʊ/.
- Using it as a common noun phrase without italics or quotation marks when referring to the play: *I read Taming of the Shrew* (should be *I read 'The Taming of the Shrew'*).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'The Taming of the Shrew' primarily known as?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not based on a specific true story. It is a work of fiction by William Shakespeare, though it draws on common folk tales and theatrical traditions about marital battles and 'taming' a spouse.
The play is controversial because its central plot involves a man psychologically manipulating and depriving his wife (Katherina) to break her spirit and force her into public submission. This is widely seen as promoting misogyny and spousal abuse, though some interpretations argue it is ironic or farcical.
In Elizabethan English, a 'shrew' was a term for a woman who was nagging, scolding, or ill-tempered. It is an archaic, pejorative term.
Yes. Notable adaptations include the 1967 film starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and the 1999 teen rom-com '10 Things I Hate About You', which is a loose modern reimagining.