Pygmalion Study Questions

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1 Study Questions Preface 1. Why is the hero a phonetic enthusiast? 2. Who was Alexander Melville Ellis? 3. How was Alexander Ellis different from Henry Sweet? 4. How was Henry Sweet like Henrik Ibsen? 5. Why was Sweet not made famous? 6. What detail is fictionalized in the play? 7. What was the Pitman system? 8. What system did Shaw prefer to the Pitman system? 9. What actual phoneticians did Shaw model Professor Higgins? 10. Whom does Shaw advise to consult a phonetic expert? Act One 1. Why is Clara complaining? 2. How does Freddy meet Liza? 3. What does Freddy s mother pay Liza for? 4. How does Liza stir up a commotion? 5. Why is Henry Higgins taking notes? 6. How does Henry Higgins amuse the crowd? 7. What is Pickering s specialty? 8. What happens to the cab Freddy has summoned for his mother and sister?

2 Act Two 1. What equipment has Higgins collected for his studies? 2. Why has Liza shown up at Higgins door? 3. What does Higgins vow to turn Liza into? 4. Why does Liza soon begin to have qualms about her agreement with Higgins? 5. Why does Mrs. Pearce take Liza upstairs? 6. Why does Liza s father come to see Higgins? 7. Why does Liza s father not recognize her at first? 8. Who treats Liza kindly? 9. What is Higgins motivation for teaching Liza? Act Three 1. Why has Henry Higgins come to see his mother? 2. Why is Mrs. Higgins not happier to see her son? 3. Who are Mrs. Higgins guests? 4. What does Freddy think of Liza s comments on the weather? 5. What does Liza say about her aunt? 6. What does Clara think of Liza? 7. What does Mrs. Higgins think of the way Pickering and Higgins treat Liza? 8. Where does Higgins pass off Liza as a princess? 9. Was Higgins worried about Dr. Nepommuck? Why, or why not?

3 Act Four 1. What does Liza put at Higgins feet? 2. Why does Liza grow increasingly angry with Higgins and Pickering? 3. What does Liza throw at Higgins? 4. Why does Liza tell Higgins she is not about to sell herself? 5. What does Liza return to Higgins? 6. Why is Freddy outside when Liza leaves Higgins house? 7. What does Freddy tell the constable? 8. Whom does Liza plan to see the next morning? Act Five 1. Why do Henry and Pickering notify the police? 2. Where do Henry and Pickering find Liza? 3. How has Mr. Doolittle changed in appearance? 4. How did Doolittle come into some money? 5. Is Doolittle grateful to Higgins? Why, or why not? 6. How does Liza react to the news that her father is marrying? 7. Why does Liza thank Pickering? 8. What options does Henry Higgins give Liza? 9. Do you think Higgins believes Liza when she says she won t be seeing Henry again? Why, or why not?

4 Sequel 1. Whom does Eliza marry? 2. How much does Eliza s father help her out? 3. Who helps Eliza when she is in debt? 4. Why does Eliza not teach phonetics? 5. What sort of business does Eliza set up? How is she able to set it up? 6. What sort of classes do Eliza and her husband take? 7. How successful is Eliza s business? 8. Would Eliza and Higgins have been happy if they had married? Why, or why not?

5 Comic Book Page Choose one Act, section, or incident from the novel. Create a one page comic book that describes what happened. Use vivid colors and words or quotes from the play.

6 Scenario Ranking Remaking Ourselves Directions: Rank the following people from most to least commendable. Write a "1" for the most commendable, "9" for the least. A plastic surgeon puts the following advertisement in the yellow pages: "Look Your Best. Facelift, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth, Chin. Invest in yourself. We care about helping you achieve your best natural look." One of the first plastic surgeons helps reconstruct the hideously disfigured faces of soldiers wounded in the trenches of World War I. A present-day plastic surgeon refuses to "pander to vanity" unless she can justify her work as "reconstructive." Milton Berle was so pleased with his 1947 nose job that he gave each of his friends nose jobs for Christmas, earning the moniker, "Santa Schnozo." An American plastic surgeon donates thousands of hours of surgery to children from around the world with disfigured faces. The owner of a weight loss company promises: "Here's a guaranteed way to get the beautiful body you've always wanted. This plan, which is safe and healthy for girls of all ages, will make you look sleeker and sexier while you eat the foods you like--and without aerobics! You'll get looks from guys who never noticed you before and jealous looks from the competition, to prove it." A speech therapist offers the following to his clients: public speaking, optimum voice, accent articulation, help with stuttering and other voice disorders. Before a middle school class goes on a weekend retreat in the mountains, a teacher presents a mini-unit on table manners--how to set the table, which cutlery to use for what. The author of a best-selling book, The Power of Speech, offers a guide to speaking good English. She suggests ways to eliminate accents, communicate more effectively, and overcome fear of public speaking. What are four questions these scenarios raise in your mind about the conditions under which it is advisable for a person to try to change him or herself?

7 Vocabulary Preface and Act 1 Directions: In each analogy question, you are given two words in capital letters that are related in a specific way. You must figure out how they are related, and then select from the answer choices a pair of words that are related in the same way. Circle your answer. Sample: COLD : HOT :: (A) hill : mountain (B) hard : soft (C) hammer : pound (D) cookie : sweet (E) rotten : stale [Answer: (B) Both pairs of words are antonyms.] 1. DERISIVE: SNEER :: 5. DRAWL : SOUTHERN :: (A) lecherous : grimace (A) dialect : Appalachian (B) self-conscious : simper (B) patois : Italian (C) genial : advocate (C) brogue : Irish (D) libellous : slander (D) ebonies : Californian (E) pensive : ponder (E) cockney : Australian 2. VERBATIM : ECHOED :: 6. MENDACITY : LIE :: (A) paraphrased : reworded (A) sensibility : query (B) summarized : elaborated (B) tenacity : fragility (C) comparison : contrasted (C) veracity : truth (D) verbose : condensed (D) perspicacity : obtuseness (E) audio : amplified (E) sagacity : candor 3. DIDACTIC : TEACH :: 7. INVETERATE : CONTINUOUS :: (A) charismatic : repel (A) chronic : habitual (B) plastic : break (B) bachelor : confirmed (C) photogenic : show (C) criminal : hardened (D) prophylactic : prevent (D) critical : prolonged (E) cryptic : reveal (E) acute : lengthy 4. REPUDIATING : REJECTION :: 8. PRODIGAL : LAVISH :: (A) disparaging : remark (A) economical : financial (B) renouncing : throne (B) spartan : Greek (C) spurning : marriage (C) frugal : gourmet (D) ostracizing : sanction (D) profligate : provident (E) deprecating : disapproval (E) spendthrift : extravagant

8 Vocabulary Acts 2 and 3 Directions: I. Complete the sentence by filling the blank with the word that makes the sentence most meaningful. 1. Annoyed by his comment, she gave a(n) toss of the head. (A) resolute (B) cynical (C) deplorable (D) petulant (E) abject 2. He is an opinionated professor with a reputation for lecturing his students. (A) dogmatically (B) waveringly (C) inanely (D) diffidently (E) dolefully 3. Never one for warm welcomes, the hospital's chief of staff nodded at the resident and hurried past. (A) slovenly (B) insularly (C) brusquely (D) unassailably (E) resolutely 4. To study your own style, record your speech on tape and evaluate your oral delivery. (A) genteel (B) oracular (C) audible (D) elocutionary (E) diffident 5. Unperturbed by the impatience in his daughter's tone, the old man replied, "I've lived here all my life and I plan to die here, too." (A) amiably (B) stolidly (C) impeccably (D) perplexedly (E) peremptorily 6. You have to wonder why he is always trying to impress everyone with how much he knows--and whether that air of his hides some basic insecurity. (A) voluble (B) pedantic (C) illiterate (D) uproarious (E) barometrical 7. After hearing several muttered from Baby Barn-Barn, Grandma suggested that Mom and Dad should watch their language around the toddler. (A) accessories (B) debutantes (C) divans (D) imprecations (E) salons 8. Do you think that a driver's education course should be for any teenager seeking a license? (A) compulsory (B) legitimate (C) impartial (D) patent (E) fraudulent II. On the back of this paper, write three sentences about Pygmalion. Use each of the eight words you chose in the sentence completions, above.

9 Vocabulary Acts 4 and 5 Directions: I. Circle the word that matches the definition. 1. unwarrantedly bold; impertinently forward (A) preoccupied (B) presumptuous (C) preprandial (D) presaging 2. insincere, conventional expressions (A) fellowship (B) consorts (C) millstones (D) cant 3. politeness; manners; dignity (A) decorum (B) condescension (C) decadence (D) concurrence 4. apart; separated (A) shied (B) asunder (C) dilated (D) mutually 5. pleading in protest; objecting; expostulating (A) proffering (B) remonstrating (C) averting (D) toadying 6. bad beyond corruption or reform (A) incorruptible (B) inculpable (C) incumbent (D) incorrigible 7. to lower in dignity; debase (A) recoil (B) resurrect (C) demean (D) debrief 8. generous in forgiving an insult; noble (A) magnanimous (B) vindictive (C) placid (D) resplendent 9. excessive emphasis on profit (A) provocation (B) pulchritude (C) commercialism (D) coagulation 10. person in authority who exercises power oppressively (A) brougham (B) dudgeon (C) guttersnipe (D) tyrant II. On the back of this paper, write four sentences comparing or contrasting yourself with Henry Higgins. Make sure to use each of the ten words you selected in part one.

10 Vocabulary Sequel Directions: Find two synonyms and two antonyms each key vocabulary word. A few letters have been supplied for you--and a thesaurus would probably help! KEY WORD SYNONYMS ANTONYMS A. opulence 1. w _ t _ 3. _ n g _ e 2. f _ n _ e 4. d t _ t n B. illiberally 5. s t l y 7. n _ r s l y 6. p _ i m _ s l y 8. b _ n _ c t l y C. pretentious 9. _ p _ u s 11. h b l _ 10. s h _ 12. u n _ u n g D. obstinate 13. s t _ n 15. t r b l e 14. _ b _ u r _ 16. c o m E. derision 17. c _ n t 19. r e _ 18. c k _ r y 20. _ s _ e e _ F. incipient 21. b _ g 23. _ m i n a 22. i t i 24. c c l _ G. deficit 25. s h g _ 27. _ u r 26. _ n _ e r p p 28. s _ p p n t H. conventional 29. _u s _ a r _ 31. u n _ x 30. _ a b s h 32. n o n _ f _ i s t I. gravity 33. d i g 35. _ e v y 34. o u s s s 36. j _ n d y

11 Character Survival Kit The things we own can shed light onto who we are. You are going to design a survival kit for one of the major characters from the play. In this survival kit, include five items that you think that particular character absolutely could not live without. It is important to make sure that these items are specific to that character and appropriate for the time period/setting of the book. Use this sheet to list what you would include in that character s survival kit and explain why each item belongs in the kit. Book Author: Character s Name: Why did you choose this character? 1. Item: Explanation for why the character needs this item: 2. Item: Explanation for why the character needs this item: 3. Item: Explanation for why the character needs this item: 4. Item: Explanation for why the character needs this item: 5. Item: Explanation for why the character needs this item:

12 Satire Analysis I. Satire is the use of irony to ridicule some form of vice or stupidity. A. Describe each situation below in more detail and explain what is ironic about each one. 1. In the opening scene, Clara orders her brother around and calls him a selfish pig. 2. The flower girl raises a commotion because of her mistaken assumptions about the man taking notes. 3. Liza s father protests about losing his daughter and is shocked by Higgins response. 4. Clara is impressed by Liza and copies an expression of hers. 5. Nepommuck draws the wrong conclusion about Liza's origins. 6. When Liza talks about feeling enslaved and asks to know what's to become of her, Higgins suggests marriage as the logical and easy solution. 7. Doolittle complains to Higgins about his new status in life. 8. Liza asks Pickering to call her one thing and Higgins to call her another.

13 B. What vice or stupidity or type of person is Shaw ridiculing in each case above?

14 Objective Test Identification: Find a character below that matches the description on the left. Write the letter of the character next to the matching number. Each character is to be used only once. 1. He mocks Higgins' upper-class accent: A. Henry Higgins "Thank you, teacher." B. Col. Pickering 2. She realizes her son could use some instruction C. Liza Doolittle from Miss Manners. D. Freddy 3. The Cinderella-figure in Pygmalion E. Clara 4. Eliza thanks him for treating her like a lady. F. Sarcastic Bystander 5. She warns Higgins not to swear in front of Liza. G. Mrs. Pearce 6. Freddy and Clara's mother; she wasn't always poor. H. Mr. Doolittle 7. Liza's father; he badmouths "middle class morality." I. Mrs. Higgins 8. She wants to sound up-to-date. J. Mrs. Eynsford-Hill 9. A confirmed bachelor, he idolizes his mother. 10. He loves Liza and she vows to marry him. Multiple Choice: Circle the letter of the BEST response. 11. What did Henry Higgins and Alfred Doolittle have in common? A. an interest in studying various British dialects B. a drinking problem C. the fact that both were born poor and rose above it D. the habit of treating people of all classes alike 12. The main theme explored in Pygmalion, by Shaw, a social critic, concerns A. the artist's role in society B. tradition and change in collision C. the evolution of man's physical capacities D. the impact of education on class distinctions 13. Liza would most likely have given up her speech lessons if A. Colonel Pickering hadn't shown her such kindness B. Mrs. Higgins had been her teacher C. she hadn't been hoping to get the winnings from the bet D. she hadn't been aiming from the start to marry Freddy

15 14. Like the Pygmalion of Greek myth, Henry Higgins A. believed no woman could equal his mother B. fell in love with his student C. worked on creating a lady D. was a sculptor who lived alone 15. Which of the following is NOT a major theme of Pygmalion? A. social class B. spiritual freedom C. vengeance D. women's independence 16. After the embassy ball, which of the following would Liza probably have been happiest to accept from Higgins? A. a diamond necklace of her own B. a letter of appreciation C. a marriage proposal D. a job offer as secretary to Higgins 17. Which bestseller would Higgins be MOST likely to purchase? A. Angela's Ashes (Frank McCourt s memoir of Depression-era Ireland) B. The Millionaire Next Door (the surprising secrets of America's wealthy) C. Diana, Her True Story (a portrait of the Princess of Wales) D. Say It Right: A Practical, User-Friendly, Totally Unintimidating Guide to Speaking Good English 18. Eliza wanted speech lessons from Higgins mainly so that she could A. get a job in a flower shop B. have an excuse to spend time with Higgins C. have a better chance of marrying someone rich D. show the taxicab driver that she was a lady 19. Mrs. Higgins would probably describe her son as A. lacking in the social graces B. a genteel, eligible bachelor C. tied to his mother's apron strings D. an agent for social change 20. If Freddy's mother had known Freddy was falling in love with a former flower girl, she would probably have tried A. not to be so shocked by Liza's conversation B. to convince Freddy he could "do better" C. to ensure that Mrs. Higgins invited them all over again D. to share Clara's admiration for Liza and her "modern ways"

16 21. Higgins's response to the idea of Liza's working for Dr. Nepommuck is probably due mostly to Higgins's A. professional jealousy of his fellow linguist B. fear that Liza will outshine her original teacher C. fear that Nepommuck will uncover the truth about Eliza D. belief that Liza should not lower herself to such work 22. It is ironic that Liza did not "fit in" with many at the ball because she A. considered herself superior to them B. spoke better English than they C. had not been invited D. wore clothes that were beautiful but hand-made 23. When Higgins suggested to Liza she could easily get married, she said A. she couldn't find a husband now that she no longer fit in her old world B. the one she wished to marry was a confirmed bachelor C. she had no desire to marry anyone but him D. she was not about to sell herself 24. After telling Henry off and leaving, Liza ran into Freddy outside and they A. walked through the park to Liza's old neighborhood B. sat for hours on the porch talking about Liza's plans for a shop C. embraced and told a constable they were engaged D. talked and went back inside to tell Higgins they were engaged 25. Doolittle wanted no part of "middle class morality" and was A. persistent in his efforts to get money from Higgins B. not grateful to Higgins for making him a wealthy man C. unwilling to marry the woman he lived with, despite Liza's pleas D. against Liza's marrying either Higgins or Pickering

17 Comprehension Test Identification: Briefly identify each of the following characters. 1. Henry Higgins 2. Col. Pickering 3. Liza Doolittle 4. Freddy 5. Clara 6. Sarcastic Bystander 7. Mrs. Pearce 8. Mr. Doolittle 9. Mrs. Higgins 10. Mrs. Eynsford Hill Short Answer: Answer each question in one or two complete sentences. 11. Why did Liza want speech lessons? 12. According to Henry Higgins, how were he and Alfred Doolittle alike in the way they treated people from different social classes? 13. How did Henry Higgins help Liza overcome class distinctions that had always kept her down?

18 14. How did the way Pickering treated Liza help her? 15. How was Henry Higgins like the Pygmalion of Greek myth? 16. Why was Liza angry with Higgins after the ball? 17. According to Higgins, what did he think of Liza for throwing his slippers at him? 18. Explain what sort of adoption/marriage Higgins suggested to Liza and why. 19. Name two shortcomings Mrs. Higgins recognized in her son. 20. Name one of Freddy s good points and one of his weaker ones. 21. How did Higgins feel about Liza s working for Nepommuck and why? 22. Why did everyone at the ball notice how Liza spoke? 23. What happened right after Liza returned the jewellery and left the house?

19 24. How did Doolittle grow rich and how did he feel about his wealth? 25. What is your favorite line in this play and why? (You may paraphrase.) Extra Credit: Analysis Essay: Select A or B and be sure to indicate the letter of your choice on your paper. On a separate sheet, write an essay at least five paragraphs long. Your essay should contain: -an introduction in which the thesis is stated -at least three clearly explained examples or reasons -a conclusion. A. In Pygmalion, how does Shaw develop the theme that education is instrumental in breaking down class barriers? B. Briefly summarize the plot of the myth of Galatea and Pygmalion. Explain how Higgins is like Pygmalion, and how Liza is like Galatea. Creative Response: Choose A or B and indicate the letter of your choice. Use your imagination, but be sure that your answer reveals your knowledge of the play. A. Write a letter to your friend, Liza, advising her about whether or not to marry Freddy. Support your reasons with references not only to Freddy, but also to Higgins's and Liza's natures and stations. B. The play ends with Higgins roaring in laughter after Liza has swept out. Write an interior monologue that reveals the flow of Higgins's thoughts, feelings, and memories when he finally stops laughing.

Pygmalion. Activity Book

Pygmalion. Activity Book Pygmalion Activity Book 1 2 CONTENTS 1. ACT I 2. ACT II 3. ACT III 4. ACT IV 5. ACT V 5 19 34 50 64 3 How To Answer Drama Questions! Use good correct English Organise information clearly Use specific vocabulary