The Taming of the Shrew: Comprehensive Guide for AS/A Level

Set text for:
  • AQA A AS & A Level
  • AQA B AS & A Level

Ready-to-use, detailed study notes guide your students through Shakespeare’s controversial and at times polarising play – guaranteed to inspire classroom debate. Fantastically clear and comprehensive analysis will inspire your students to explore all aspects of this multifaceted play before they enter the exam hall.

Would help any student with the study of 'The Taming of the Shrew'...

...A thought-provoking and relevant resource that made me reflect on my teaching of the text

E Mills, English Teacher & Peer Reviewer

Engage your students!

Includes debate prompts; active learning tasks; further reading suggestions; key literary and linguistic terms; practice essay questions throughout!

Tackles the key stages of text analysis:

  1. Walk-through
    Thorough section-by-section commentary walks students through each scene
  2. Drawing it all together
    In-depth discussion of whole text focuses on: characterisation, relationships, genre, themes, attitudes and values, language, form, structure, context, literary approaches
  3. Indicative content
    Supports teaching by making sure all key areas are covered

Plus! A glossary of key terms ensures full understanding

What do teachers say about this resource? (760)

A great resource – it breaks up the play nicely and it helps students understand many of the different themes and ideas in the play... It explains it really well and also has an interesting range of activities to reinforce learning. I also like the side boxes for key vocabulary and terms... It enhances learning greatly. It helps students understand the story, which in turn leads them to be able to further analyze the themes.

C McFlynn-Goewey, English Teacher & Peer Reviewer

The scene-by-scene analysis was ... comprehensive so it is useful as a summary before teaching or reading a particular scene... The wider contextual issues were developed in detail and were useful... The glossary at the back is particularly useful as it gives students more sophisticated words to use when analysing text. I also thought that the way in which themes were introduced as the explanation of scenes was developed was good, and it's the kind of thing I do in my teaching. The range of questions posed throughout the text were also useful... The play is not easy to teach... having all this material and background to hand in one pack is particularly good.

M Linney, Teacher & Peer Reviewer

The resource is useful and informative. It is written accurately and fluently. It would be useful to any study of the text at an advanced level. Overall, I believe it would help any student with the study of The Taming of the Shrew. Every section is relevant. I liked the way the text looked at each act and scene thoroughly. It covers all of the key themes and characters. The use of high-level language and keyword boxes will support students in their development of higher levels of skill at A level... Students are challenged to consider different interpretations of the text and to think about their own interpretations of the characters’ actions and relationships... A thought-provoking and relevant resource that made me reflect on my teaching of the text. Thank you.

E Mills, English Teacher & Peer Reviewer