S5 English

Good Afternoon S5!

• In today’s lesson, we will...

• Look at the context of Russell’s play.• Read Act 1 Scene 1.• Think about character.

Willy Russell

LiverpoolGrew up in a working class family

Worked as a ladies hairdresser

Many of his plays are semi-autobiographical

Trained as a teacher

His writing puts forward the philosophy that anyone is capable of change whatever obstacles may be in their path

Pages 1-6

Educating Rita

The play deals with...• England’s class system• The shortcomings of institutional education• The nature of self-development

It is about...• Rita’s attempt to break free from her mundane

existence as a hairdresser and enter Frank’s academic, middle-class world.

Act 1 Scene 1

• Setting: Frank’s office (1980s).• Rita makes a clumsy first entrance.• Frank attempts to persuade Rita to find a

different tutor.• The audience are made aware that Frank has

a drink problem.

Pages 13-26

Act 1 Scene 1• Cultural references...

• Open University• Roger McGough• Men Only• Rita Mae Brown• Farrah Fawcett Majors• E.M Forster• Frank Harris• Dylan Thomas• W.B Yeats• Henry James• Elliot Ness/Al Capone• Oscar Wilde• TS Eliot

QUESTIONS PAGE 12 - discuss

Act 1 Scene 1

What do we learn about Frank in this scene?

FRANK• Early fifties• Drink problem• A disenchanted English lecturer• He is not impressed by Rita’s wider reading• He is severely lacking in confidence• He likes Rita, thinks she is ‘a breath of fresh air’.

Find quotations to support your points

Act 1 Scene 1

FRANK• His lack of confidence is highlighted in his

attempt to persuade Rita to find another tutor.

• Is he frightened of the challenge? Doesn’t want the burden of responsibility? Or doesn’t want to miss out on drinking time?

• Rita is totally reliant on him for her education – this scares him. (page 25)

Act 1 Scene 1

• What do we find out about Rita in this scene?

RITA• The first scenes opens up her character to the

audience, letting us see why she has been driven to join the course.

• Her clumsy entry reflects her social inferiority.• Her lack of education is clear – but so is her

desire to learn.

Find quotations to support your points

Act 1 Scene 1

RITA• Much of the humour in the play comes from the

mismatch between Rita’s language and the academic setting.

• More in touch with the ‘real’ world than Frank. Which world is more real?

• Education is a way for her to escape her working class surroundings.

• Her parting line reflects the confidence and security she feels in Frank’s company.

Find quotations to support your points

Act 1 Scene 1

• Frank and Rita come from very different social classes – upper middle class and working class.

• Their different backgrounds are very apparent when they talk and there are often moments of confusion.