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Pygmalion
Act III (Part 2) & Act IV:
Quiz & Class Discussion
1. Education & Manners
2. Scientific Creation vs. HumanConcerns
3. Higgins vs. ElizaPygmalion Theme
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Major Event:
Act III: the Embassy PartyAct IV: Its Aftermath
1. Elizas Education and Social Manners
(small talk, speaking English)
2. Scientific Creation vs. Human Concerns
3. Eliza vs. Higgins
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1. What does Eliza do at the Embassy party,
but not at Mrs. Higgins, to make her
performances in the former improve?
1. She is in a dream she has rehearsed
hundred of times in Drury Lane.
2. She speaks English perfectly.
3. She is like a somnambulist ()
walking in a desert.
4. She is dressed beautifully.
(Choose the wrong one)
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Elizas Education The first partygiven topics in small talk
Before the 2nd one: [pronunciation analyzed] Never stop thinking about the
girl and her confounded vowels and consonants.
[accent imitation] take her everywhere to get herdelicious remarks and to mimic all the people for [them](71)
[learning music]she plays every musical piece she hears
Higgins and Pickerings elation over Elizas performances
Mrs. Pearce and Mrs. Higginsless helpful [P: mild objection] "You don't think, sir." as the end of Mrs.
Pearcesconversation about Eliza.
[H: strong objection] Like two babies playing with their livedolls (68)
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Elizas 2nd Performance
(73)in a dream; done this 50 times
hundreds of times. envying the upper
class
Like a somnambulist in a desert (74).
The impressive: her dress, jewels, perfect
English and strangely attractive self
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Comic Reversals in Plot
Reversal in plot =
Radical change of the direction inplot, against its logic or against
the characters expectationIrony
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2. What are the points of comic
reversals in Act III?
1. Eliza is seen as a fraud at the Embassy
party.
2. Some guests stand on their chairs to seeEliza.
3. Eliza thought that she didnt make it at
the Embassy party.
4. The slang Eliza uses gets to be seen as
new small talk.
(Choose the wrong one)
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Comic Reversals in Plot (2)
(B) Ambassador's party(75-76)of Elizas
statusas a fraud and a princess
1. Eliza thought she lost. Nothing makes me the
same as these people.
2. Results: Perfect English (75)speaks like Queen Victoria;
Onlyforeignerswho have been taught to speak it
speak it well.
Eliza: seen as a Hungarian princess, Morganatic (
)
2. Higgins telling the truth: seen as provincial: The
London gutter is the whole world for you (76)
What do the two kinds of upgrading (of Elizas
slang and position)reveal? Group 2+6
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3. How is Higgins different from
Nepommuck?
1. Higgins studies only one language, while
Nepommuck knows 32 languages.
2. Higgins has an imposing physique, whileNepommuck uses whisker to attract others
attention.
3. Higgins does not earn money with his
profession, while Nepommuck does.
4. Higgins helps his students improve their
pronunciation, while Nepommuck helps some
of them pretend by not speaking English.
(Choose the wrong one)
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4. What is Higgins ultimate goal in
creating a new speech for Eliza?
1. To win the bet and earn the money.
2. To turn Eliza into a duchess.
3. To bridge the gap between differentclasses.
4. To improve Elizas livelihood.
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Higgins Ideal as a scientist
But you have no idea how frightfully
interesting it is to take a human being andchange her into a quite different human
beingby creating a new speech for her.
It's filling up the deepest gulf thatseparates class from class and soul from
soul. (69)
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Examples of H&Ps Excitement
1. The most absorbing work for Higgins
2. (p. 69)
HIGGINS [assailing her at the other ear]Yes, by George:
It's the most absorbing experiment I ever tackled. She
regularly fills our lives up; doesn't she, Pick? PICKERING We're always talking Eliza.
HIGGINS Teaching Eliza.
PICKERING Dressing Eliza.
MRS. HIGGINS What! HIGGINS Inventing new Elizas.
3. Speaking togetherseeing Eliza as a
mere mimic.
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Act IIAct IV
1. Scientific Creation vs. Human Concern
Groups 3+4
2. Eliza vs. Higgins Groups 1+5
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5. How are Mrs. Pearces and Mrs.
Higgins worries proven right in Act IV?
1. Eliza starts to worry about her future.
2. Higgins and Pickering are too self-centered
to care about Elizas feelings.
3. Eliza does not want to sell flowers at a florist
shop.
4. Eliza finds herself not suitable for doinganything but selling herself, which she does
not want to do.
(Choose the wrong one)
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Science vs. Human
Concern (69) Mrs. Higgins concerns
//Mrs. Pearces
1. Where she lives and on whatterms (68)
2. You certainly are a pretty pairof babies, playing with yourlive doll.
3. Trouble = Her future
You give her 'the mannersand habits that disqualify afine lady from earning her ownliving without giving her a finelady's income'. (like Clara 71)
Higgins andPickeringsprofessional interest
1. Create a new speechin her;
2. It's filling up thedeepest gulf thatseparates class fromclass and soul fromsoul. (69)
3. Most absorbingexperiment
4. Inventing a new Eliza(with language and
culture)
E as a
human being
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Pygmalion Theme and its
Climax Climax: the Embassy Party? Yes and no.
Yes because it proves Higgins successful and
winning the bet.
No, because the efforts of Elizas (self-)improvement should go on.
Not showing it?
What matters is not the magical feat, but its
consequences. This is where the play starts to differ significantly
from the original myth. The success does not
necessarily lead to a love story.
6 Wh d Hi i t b i l
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6. Where does Higgins get obviously
emotional in his dialogue with Eliza in
Act IV?1. When Eliza throws slippers at him.
2. When Eliza pounces on him with her
hands and nails.3. When Eliza keeps asking him what is to
become of her.
4. When Eliza asks which of the jewlerybelongs to her.
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7. Which of the following show that
Eliza is ready for a change?
1. She puts on a walking dress.
2. She looks for and finds the ring at the fireplace,
and then ponders over what to do with it.
3. She pokes her tongue at her own image in the
mirror.4. She leaves with some money in her pocket.
(Choose the wrong one)
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8. Which of the following show Elizas
first few steps out as dangerous and
uncertain?
1. She embraces Freddy and the two of them kiss
each other out on a street at night.2. She finds it lovely to wander about for ever.
3. She considers suicide.
4. She considers going to Mrs. Higgins the first thing
in the morning.
(Choose the wrong one)
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11/16 Class Discussion Questions
1. (2+6) Education and Manners: What has Eliza learned by
the end of Act III? Any interesting plot reversals? (67; 68-
70) What do they shed light on Victorian manners?
2. (3+4) Scientific Education and Human Concerns-- How are the discussions inAct II and Act IIIproven right in
the one between Eliza and Higgins inAct IV? In other
words, what are the consequences of Higgins experiment
on Eliza?
3. (1+5) Higgins & Eliza: How does the fight between them
end inAct IV? What does Eliza want and can Higgins
come to terms with her? What do they each care about?
Where are the turning points in their dialogue? Are there
signs of affection?
Before class: Discussion Notes
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Higgins, Pickering & ElizaHiggins(77, 78-79)
1. Tired
2. asking for his slippers (78)
3. Its over!!! No more artificial
duchess
4. Interesting at first, the whole
thing a silly notion and a bore
for him. The partypurgatory.
Pickering
Doing things well = beingprofessional 79
5. Higgins: gives command as
usual
Eliza
1. tragic and brooding
2. Performs her duty
(slippers)
3. Flinches but thenrepresses her anger (78)
4. Beautymurderous (79)
5. Controls herself (79)
Outburst. (79-80) takeyour slippers; and may younever have a day's luck with
them!
Hi i Eli
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Higgins vs. Eliza
Battle of Will and its Turning Points
Eliza attacks with theslippers, her hands and her
questions about her future
(80-81; 82)
Higgins (81)defensive ordismissive (astounded, wondering, a bit
uneasy, in his loftiest manner)
1. Claims his credit.
2. Defends their treatment of her
3. Nothing to worry about
Elizas persistent questions
(whats to become of me)1)Eliza above selling
herself, but not fit for sellinganything else.
2) Elizas winning the argument
by checking which of the
jewelry and dresses belong
to her (separation).
Higgins finally understands it.
(82) (enlightened, but not impressed)1)Didnt realize that she was going
away. (eating an apple???)2)Offers solution 1: marriage3)Offers solution 2: Running a floristshop (Pickering will set up one for you.)4)Leaves with impressive decorumand slamming the door.
All this irritation is purelysubjective.
(YOU won my bet! You!
Presumptuous insect! I won it
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Higgins vs. Eliza
Eliza: There cant be any feelings between the like of
you and the like of me. Please will you tell mewhat belongs to me and what doesn't? (84)
Signs of affectionbut of what kind?
Higgins [future]I hadnt quite realized that you were
going away. (82)
[next girl] HIGGINS [shocked and hurt] Is that
the way you feel towards us? (83) [ownership; separating property][Being asked
about whom the clothes belong to, H is deeplywounded] (84)[dashes the ring to thefireplace]
Decorum + violence. (85)
Professional
Efforts
Emotional
Relation b/w
master and
servant, teacher
and student, orbetween lovers?
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Scientific Creation vs.
Human Concern1. There are, should be, human concerns in whateverprofessional (legal, scientific, or business) pursuit.
2. Whatever type of emotion Higgins has for Eliza, as ascientist he is humanized,gradually brought to realize
that the creature under his hand has her own will.
3. What does she want? Why cant she be satisfied
with the solutions Higgins offer?
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Summary
1. [Education and Manners] What Eliza haslearned and the Ironies on Victorian society
2. [Pygmalion Theme] Creation vs. Human
Concerns; Higgins vs. Eliza3. [Transformation & Education] Eliza on the
move, with some uncertain and even
dangerous first steps.
Every Group: Stage Prop &
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Every Group: Stage Prop &
Lighting Effect
1. Draw a design for one or more of the settings and propidentified in your script (e.g. Emilys living room,Higgins voice lab, the supermarket, Emilys bridal
chamber? The embassy party?) Use only a few signsto symbolize the time and setting.
2. Research and design costumesthat would beappropriate for your characters in their times. Consider
financial factors, too, so you can make do with someless expensive alternatives.
About the story you chose, orPygmalionWith drawings
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11/23 Class Discussion Questions
1. Mr. Doolittle (pp. 89-93): what do you think about histransformation in Act Vand in the postscript? Whatdoes it say about Mr. Higgins and the issue of moralityand class in Victorian society? Do you agree with himthat taking the money and being intimidated by middle-class morality is the only choice he has? How is he acontrast to Eliza?
2. Class Mobility
1)The difference between a lady and a flower girl is nothow she behaves, but how's she's treated. Do youagree?
2) What do you think about Elizas, Freddys and Claraschanges, as explained in the postscript?
Before class: Discussion Notes
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11/23 Class Discussion
Questions (2)
3. Higgins and Eliza
1) As in Act IV, Act Vshows Higgins undergoingchanges regarding his views of and relation to Eliza.
Where are the turning points and are there tracesof his affection for her? What kind of affection is it?How would you interpret their relationship afterhaving read the postscript?
4. Everyone: Which endings do you like: that of
Act V, of the Postscript, of the film, or themusical My Fair Lady?
5. Every group: write up a multiple choicequestion and send it to me before next Moday.
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Every Group: Theme and Presentation
1. Rehearse one scene of your play with all the actors andactresses ready for their blocking and their speechesmemorized.
2. The director explains how this scene present the themeof the play.
3. The whole class then gives suggestions as to where to
improve.
About the story you chose, orPygmalion
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Journal 2: due 12/8
1. What have you learned from the mini playcontest? From your own groups
performance, and the other groups?
2. Does it help you understand or likeliterature more?
3. What were the problems you
encountered, and were you able to solvethem?
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Mini Play Contest: Tentative
Schedule
Play Group
1026General Introd Job Division
112Act I and Act II. (pp.
11-37) Character Analysis
119Act II & III (pp. 38-71) Creative Adaptation
1116Act III-IV (pp. 71-87 +
Act V)Set and Prop
1123Act V and Postscript Theme andPresentation
1130Mid-Term (2)Rehearsal
(11:10-1:30)
127Performance Day
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idealistSmallTalk
SpeakingEnglish
Manner
s
Pronunciation
Manners
& ArtisticTaste
Educa-
tion
inhuman
ScientificCreation
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