Unit 4 Pygmalion Reading (Act One) Fateful meetings

A brief introduction to George Bernard Shaw: Born Nationality Achievements Works In 1856 Ireland Nobel Prize for Literature in1925 Irish dramatist, literary critic, a socialist spokesman Arms and the Man(1894) The Devil’s Disciple(1897) Superman(1905) Androcles and the Lion(1912 )

Personality Death Pygmalion(1913), adapted as the musical play My Fair Lady in 1956 Humorous and witty In 1950

A story about him: One day,Shaw took part in a grand party, in which he met the then Prime Minister Churchill. Churchill was very fat at that time whereas Shaw was very thin. Churchill said to Shaw very sharply,” When people see you,they will know how poor the country is”. And then Shaw answered very quickly, “ When people see you, they will know the reason why our country is so poor.”

Reading Have you ever seen the film My Fair Lady? Do you like it ? Why?

Fateful meetings

Questions: 1. How many characters are there in the play? 2. What’s the weather like when the play begins? 3. Do you think Eliza a well-educated woman? Why? Three. They are Eliza, Professor Higgins, and Colonel Pickering. No, she is a poor-educated woman. We can know it clearly from what she said and her behavior. When the play begins, it is pouring with rain.

Read the play quickly then finish the following multi-choice exercises: 1. This text is mainly about the first experience of Eliza meeting with ______. A. Professor Higgins B. Colonel Pickering C. Professor Higgins and Colonel Pickering D. a gentleman

2. Eliza greeted to the gentleman in order to _______. A. ask him to buy some flowers from her B. talk with him C. ask him to teach her D. beg some money from him 3. Why Eliza began to cry? Because _______. A. she thought Professor Higgins would arrest her B. the gentleman didn’t give her some money C. Pickering beat and scolded her D. there was no reason

4. Professor Higgins believed that he could judge a person by _______. A. his appearance B. his action C. his conversation D. his manners 5. From the text, we can infer that Professor Higgins is a man described below EXCEPT _________. A. he doesn’t care about money B. he is an expert in phonetics C. he is proud D. he is greedy

CharacterPosition in society Evidence in the play Eliza Lower class Language: calls gentleman “sir” and “cap’in” (or captain) which is a compliment Behaviour: respectful to people of higher class Comprehending

CharacterPosition in society Evidence in the play Henry Higgins Language: calls Eliza “you silly girl” and Pickering “my dear man” (an equal and friend) Behaviour: rude (and patronizing) to lower class; polite to same or upper class Middle class

CharacterPosition in society Evidence in the play Colonel Pickering Upper class Language: prepared to begin a conversation with Henry, whom he does not know; generous with praise to him Behaviour: generally confident and polite; but ignores Eliza

Relationships between characters Evidence from the play Henry Higgins: 2 Attitude to Eliza (L) Is the statement true? 1 Yes; 1 Attitude to Colonel Pickering (H) 2 watches her; notes her reactions; talks about her in front of her; calls her silly girl 1 respects his professional work as a phonetician; calls him sir and my dear man 2 Yes

Relationships between characters Evidence from the play Colonel Pickering: 1 appreciates his expertise; praises him; asks his opinion; happy to be friends 1 Attitude to Henry Higgins (L) 2 Attitude to Eliza (L) Is the statement true? 2 Yes 1 Yes; 2 ignores her; does not stop Henry when he talks about Eliza in front of her (which is very rude)

Relationships between characters Evidence from the play Eliza: 1 anxious; eager not to do the wrong thing; ambitious to improve herself; respectful and curious about Henry’s expertise 1 Attitude to Henry Higgins (H) 2 Attitude to Colonel Pickering (H) Is the statement true? 2 Unclear 2 resents not being included in the conversation when talked about 1 Yes;

kind, polite, generous, enthusiastic, eager, confident impatient, rude, confident, superior, self-important anxious, eager, emotional, ambitious, unsure

Homework: 1.Read the play repeatedly and try to act out the play. 2.Find out some difficult words and expressions in the play. See you next time!