How many lines does Katharina have in The Taming of the Shrew?
The size of the part, every scene it speaks in, its longest speeches, and how long it takes to learn.
The Offbook team
Oct 8, 2026
Katharina has about 221 lines in The Taming of the Shrew: 1,760 words in 82 speeches, 8.6% of the play, and the third-largest part. The role speaks in 8 of the 14 scenes.
Katharina has under a tenth of the words, and much of it is short, sharp retorts. Her biggest moment comes at the very end: her final speech in Act 5, Scene 2 runs 364 words, about a fifth of her whole part. Before that, the sparring with Petruchio in Act 2, Scene 1 and the sun-and-moon scene in Act 4, Scene 5 mark the turns in her story.
- Lines
- 221
- Words
- 1,760
- Share of play
- 8.6%
- Speech time
- 13 min
77% of the words are verse. 82 speeches means about 82 cues to learn.
Scene by scene
| Scene | Words | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Act 1, Scene 1 | 110 | 0.8 |
| Act 2, Scene 1 | 390 | 2.8 |
| Act 3, Scene 2 | 236 | 1.7 |
| Act 4, Scene 1 | 25 | 0.2 |
| Act 4, Scene 3 | 366 | 2.6 |
| Act 4, Scene 5 | 180 | 1.3 |
| Act 5, Scene 1 | 37 | 0.3 |
| Act 5, Scene 2 | 416 | 3.0 |
The longest speeches
| Speech | Scene | Words |
|---|---|---|
| “Fie, fie! unknit that threatening unkind brow,” | Act 5, Scene 2 | 364 |
| “The more my wrong, the more his spite appears:” | Act 4, Scene 3 | 121 |
| “No shame but mine: I must, forsooth, be forced” | Act 3, Scene 2 | 109 |
| “Why, sir, I trust I may have leave to speak;” | Act 4, Scene 3 | 72 |
| “Nay, then,” | Act 3, Scene 2 | 65 |
| “What, will you not suffer me? Nay, now I see” | Act 2, Scene 1 | 54 |
| “I’ faith, sir, you shall never need to fear:” | Act 1, Scene 1 | 47 |
| “Then, God be bless’d, it is the blessed sun:” | Act 4, Scene 5 | 46 |
How many lines a day to learn
New lines a day to be off book in time, learning five days a week. Review what you already know on the other days.
| Time until off book | New lines a day |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | 23 |
| 3 weeks | 15 |
| 4 weeks | 12 |
| 6 weeks | 8 |
More from The Taming of the Shrew
- How many lines does Petruchio have?
- How many lines does Tranio have?
- How many lines does Hortensio have?
- Every role in The Taming of the Shrew, by size
Questions actors ask
How many lines does Katharina have in The Taming of the Shrew?
About 221 lines: 164 lines of verse and 400 words of prose. That is 1,760 words in 82 speeches, 8.6% of the play and the third-largest part.
How long is Katharina’s longest speech?
364 words, in Act 5, Scene 2, beginning “Fie, fie! unknit that threatening unkind brow,” At 140 words a minute it runs about 2.6 minutes.
How long does it take to learn Katharina?
To be off book in three weeks, learning five days a week, plan on about 15 new lines a day, plus time to review what you already know. Start with your longest speeches and the scenes with the most cues.
Keep reading
- How many lines does Petruchio have in The Taming of the Shrew?Lines, words, scenes, the longest speeches, and a plan to learn the part.
- The Taming of the Shrew: every role by lines, words, and stage timeWilliam Shakespeare. Line counts, scenes, and the longest speeches.
- How many lines does Hortensio have in The Taming of the Shrew?Lines, words, scenes, the longest speeches, and a plan to learn the part.
- How many lines does Cordelia have in King Lear?Lines, words, scenes, the longest speeches, and a plan to learn the part.