2010 pygmalion 3 class

8/12/2019 2010 Pygmalion 3 Class

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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.



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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.



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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.



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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.



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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.



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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

2010 pygmalion 3 class

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