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All Site ContentTaming of the ShrewAct 2Scene 1
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“my tongue in your tail!”
Wordplay
Act 2,
Scene 1
Lines 212-218

An explanation of Petruchio’s wordplay on “tongue” and “tail” in Act 2, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

Petruchio

Who knows not where a wasp does wear his sting —
In his tail.    

Katherina

In his tongue.    

Petruchio

Whose tongue?

Katherina

Yours, if you talk of tales, and so farewell.    

Petruchio

What, with my tongue in your tail! Nay, come again,
Good Kate, I am a gentleman.

Petruchio pretends to misunderstand Kate, as if she had said his tongue was in her tail. Then he acts offended that she would make such a crude statement to such a gentleman as himself.