Pygmalion

The Myth
 Pygmalion was a legendary figure of Cyprus, who worked as a sculptor. After seeing the
daughters of Propoetus, the Propoetides, prostituting,
  Pygmalion decided that he was not interested in women, but instead went to create a
woman figure out of ivory.
 After he finished, he was so taken with its beauty and realism, that he fell in love with it.
 When Aphrodite's festival day came, Pygmalion made offerings but was too afraid to say
anything about his love for the sculpture. Instead, he wished for a bride that would be the
likeness of his ivory sculpture.
 Returning back home, he gave a kiss to the statue, and found out that it turned into a
woman; the goddess of love made his wish come true.
 Can you think of any modern stories that might be inspired
by the Greek myth?
Can you think of any modern stories that might be inspired
by the Greek myth?
IPad Research:
 Further explore the myth of Pygmalion. How has it
been retold in recent times?
 What other GREEK myths have been retold in a modern
setting? How did they update them?
 Take the titles:
Modern retellings of Pygmalion:
Greek Myths updated:
 George Bernard Shaw
 Over the period, you will research George Bernard Shaw.
 You should make an A4 poster, either on your iPad or a plane sheet of paper, which you
will stick into your workbook. It should be visually interesting and neat.
 Consider the following questions:
 When did Shaw live?
 What did he write about?
 What was his ideology (ideas that he lived his life by)?
 What was his family life like?
 Any other interesting facts or details you find.
Act One (pages 2-11)
 Now that we have read and listened to Act 1, we are going to look at two of the key figures, Eliza
Doolittle (Flower Girl), and Henry Higgins (Note Taker).
 You will create a character profile for one of these two characters.
 It should be visually interesting and orderly
 You should include between five- eight quotes considering
 What they say Aim for two quotes per bullet
 What they do point, with a sentence
explaining what the quote tells
 What others say about them the reader.
 How they are treated/How they treat others
 Include at least one image.
 You may complete this poster on a clean sheet of paper (if available).
 You will then stick the profile in your workbook.
 Act One

 At the end of the first act we are shown the differences between the classes

 How does Shaw do this?

 Find an example of upper class and lower class characters and select a
quotation/stage direction to illustrate HOW Shaw shows us the difference.
 Intro Act Two
 Higgins Laboratory
 Using the detailed stage directions sketch out a set for Higgin’s
laboratory
 Label the key items and features shown in the text
 Why do you think Shaw has chosen to include such detailed
description? PEE, choosing 2-3 items and explaining what they
show us about Higgins.
Act 2 questions (Pages 12-35)

1. What has Eliza come to Professor Higgins house to

request?
2. Why does Higgins accept Eliza as a student?
3. How does Mrs Pearce react to Eliza?
4. Why has Alfred Doolittle shown up at Higgins’ house
also?

Extension task – freeze frame the 3 key moments of Act 2

 Act Two
A 1965 psychological experiment tried to show the influence of teacher expectation on student achievement. It showed
that those students who were expected to perform better did. Is that the result you would expect? How does this relate
to Pygmalion?

Today you’re going to be having a group discussion. You will get into groups of four
or five. Everyone will contribute. You should work to ask questions and convince
other members of your group to agree with you. Do not be afraid to disagree.

The topic:

 What makes a good teacher? What makes a good school?

Act 2 – the value of money
 During Act II, Eliza and Higgins discuss the idea of her paying him for speech lessons. The
conversation contains monetary terms like “eighteenpence,” “shilling,” “guineas,” “ pounds,” and
“half-a-crown.”
 Without some background knowledge, a reader would never understand how much money these
characters are talking about. However, the monetary system used in Britain in the early 20th century
differs from today’s system, which has been in place since 1971.
 For this activity, use the Internet to research Old English money. With the information you find, find
out how much each of the following was worth and what you could have bought with them in the
early 20th century:

What it is worth now What you could buy then

eighteenpence
shilling
guineas
Pounds
half-a-crown
Act 3

 Ingroups, do a dramatic reading of Act 3. Before you begin, jot down

some ideas of how you will you voice to perform your character. You
could consider:

 Pace
 Pitch
 Pause
 Tone
 ACCENT
 ‘You see, I've got her pronunciation all
Act Three right; but you have to consider not only
how a girl pronounces, but what she
pronounces."
-Higgins

‘She's a triumph of your art and of her dressmaker's; but if you

suppose for a moment that she doesn't give herself away in every
sentence she utters, you must be perfectly cracked about her.’
-Mrs Higgins

What do you think Mrs Higgins and Henry are trying to say? What about
Eliza’s manner and conversation gives her away? PEE 3 times and
explain why Eliza stands out.
 Act Three
What is Dramatic Irony?
In short: It’s when the audience knows something that characters on the stage do not.

Can you think of places you’ve seen this in television and film?

Now, consider how Shaw uses dramatic irony to create humour. You
should PEE.
Act 3

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvuwH2b34Kk
• Watch this clip on etiquette.
 Act Three
What is an ‘At home day’?
‘The "At Home" day was a social custom in Victorian Britain, where women of gentle status would receive
visitors on a specific day of the week. The woman would print calling cards indicating she would be "At
Home" e.g. on "Fridays in April". Those of her acquaintances who had received the card could then call on her
that day. It was considered impolite to visit unannounced on any other day, or to visit without having received
a card.’

Now we are going to do a bit of drama/ role play.

You will image you are having afternoon tea. What sort of things will
you talk about? What would be appropriate conversation starters?
 Act Four
 DiaryEntry: We’ve discussed how Eliza feels, write a diary entry
from her perspective considering her hopes and fears for the future.

• How does she feel about Higgins?

• How does she feel about his
suggestions for her future?
• Has Eliza got what she wanted from
this experiment?
 Act Four
 DiaryEntry: We’ve discussed how Eliza feels, write a diary entry
from her perspective considering her hopes and fears for the future.

• How does she feel about Higgins? • It should be at least one

full page (handwritten)
• How does she feel about his
• have at least 3
suggestions for her future? paragraphs
• Has Eliza got what she wanted from • Be in diary format
this experiment?
Act Four
1. Why is Eliza upset with Higgins?
2. Do you think she’s right to feel this
way?
3. Why or why not?
Answer these 3 questions in your yellow
book. You should include evidence from
the play and have a fully developed
answer (6-7 lines long)
Act Four
Group Discussion: Why is Eliza
upset with Higgins? Do you think
she’s right to feel this way? Why or
why not?
 Act Five
 Now that we’ve read to the end of the play, what do you think
happens next?

Let’s consider the • Exposition (Inciting Incident)

structure of the play. Can • Rising Action
you identify the following • Climax
moments in the play? • Falling Action
• Denouement, Resolution
Act Five
 Q1:How does Pygmalion adhere to the traditional five act structure
of an English Play?
 Q2: How does the ending subvert (defy) our expectations?
In both questions you should use the structural vocabulary we’ve just
learned.
• Exposition (Inciting Incident)
• Rising Action
• Climax
• Falling Action
• Denouement, Resolution
 If you can, recall the myth of Pygmalion.
 Why do you think Shaw chose this title? PEE
 Act Five
 If you were given the opportunity to cast the play using known,
modern actors, who would you cast?
 Include reasoning for your choices.

• Eliza
• Higgins
• Pickering
• Mrs Higgins
• Freddy
Final Assignment - Dramaturg Notes
What you will need to do:
What is a
1. History of the play.
Dramaturg? 2. Biographical information on the
playwright
3. Key scenes (at least 2) – outlining
why they are the most important
A Dramaturg can perform many functions,
depending on the production, but his or her 4. Costumes – labelled sketches (at
main job is to help the director and least 2)
production team make the best out of a play.
 It is the job of the dramaturg to learn as 5. Details of significant past
much as possible about the play (its productions (at least 2)
structure, its language, its themes, etc.) and
the context surrounding its creation This will take the form of a
production booklet