Get summay, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF, competency-based questions of George Bernard Shaw’s drama Pygmalion Act I: ISC Class 11 Modern English (Goyal Brothers Workbook), which is part of the present syllabus. These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
Summary
The story begins on a very rainy night in London. People run for cover under the large porch of a church. Among them are a mother and her daughter, Clara, dressed in fancy evening clothes. They are waiting for Clara’s brother, Freddy, to find them a taxi.
Freddy returns, very wet, but he has not found a taxi. He explains that the sudden storm meant everyone took a cab. His mother and sister are upset with him. They call him helpless and send him back into the rain to keep looking. As Freddy rushes away, he accidentally bumps into a poor flower girl and knocks her basket of flowers into the mud. The flower girl gets very angry and shouts at him. Her speech shows she is from a poor part of London.
The mother feels bad for the flower girl and gives her some money. She asks the girl how she knew her son’s name was Freddy. The girl explains that she did not know his name; she just calls young men “Freddy” to be friendly. Clara, the daughter, is rude and thinks her mother wasted the money.
A bystander points out a man who is writing down everything the flower girl says in a notebook. The flower girl becomes very scared. She thinks the man is a policeman’s spy who will get her in trouble. She cries that she is a respectable girl and has done nothing wrong. A crowd gathers. The man with the notebook is Henry Higgins. He is not a spy but an expert on speech. He amazes everyone by correctly guessing where they are from just by listening to how they talk.
He even identifies another gentleman, Colonel Pickering. It turns out both men study languages and were hoping to meet each other. Higgins tells Pickering that the flower girl’s speech will keep her poor forever. He says her “kerbstone English” will keep her “in the gutter.” This means her rough way of speaking will trap her in a life of poverty. Higgins boasts that he could teach her to speak so well that in three months, anyone would think she was a duchess. As Higgins and Pickering leave, Higgins feels a moment of charity and throws a handful of money into her basket.
The flower girl is amazed by the money. At that moment, Freddy returns with a taxi, only to find his mother and sister are gone. The flower girl, feeling rich, takes the taxi for herself. It is a special treat she could never usually afford. She rides away, leaving Freddy standing alone in surprise.
Workbook solutions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Mother: But we must have a cab. We can’t stand here until half-past eleven. It’s too bad. Why are the mother and daughter stranded in Covent Garden at the beginning of the play?
(a) They are lost and cannot find their way home.
(b) They are waiting for Freddy to bring them a cab.
(c) They are looking for a flower seller.
(d) They are waiting for a theatre show to start.
Answer: (b) They are waiting for Freddy to bring them a cab.
2. Freddy: There’s not one to be had for love or money. What does Freddy mean when he says this?
(a) He has spent all his money.
(b) The cabs are all taken because of the sudden rain.
(c) He has found a cab but cannot afford to pay for it.
(d) He does not want to get a cab for his mother and sister.
Answer: (b) The cabs are all taken because of the sudden rain.
3. The Flower Girl: Nah then, Freddy: look wh’ y’ gowin, deah. What happens when Freddy rushes off in the rain?
(a) He finds a cab but refuses to take it.
(b) He bumps into the flower girl and knocks over her basket.
(c) He drops his umbrella in the street.
(d) He accidentally steps on his mother’s dress.
Answer: (b) He bumps into the flower girl and knocks over her basket.
4. The Bystander: You be careful: give him a flower for it. There’s a bloke here behind taking down every blessed word you’re saying. Why does the bystander warn the flower girl?
(a) A policeman is watching her.
(b) Someone is secretly writing down what she says.
(c) A thief is about to steal her basket.
(d) A gentleman is interested in buying her flowers.
Answer: (b) Someone is secretly writing down what she says.
5. The Note Taker: Live where you like; but stop that noise. Why does the note taker tell the flower girl to stop crying?
(a) He dislikes loud noises.
(b) He believes she has no reason to be upset.
(c) He thinks she should act more like a lady.
(d) He is concerned that the police might arrest her.
Answer: (a) He dislikes loud noises.
6. The Gentleman: I am myself a student of Indian dialects; and – What does the gentleman reveal about himself?
(a) He is Colonel Pickering.
(b) He is a flower seller.
(c) He is a theatre actor.
(d) He is a cab driver.
Answer: (a) He is Colonel Pickering.
7. The Flower Girl: I take my Bible oath I never said a word- Why is the flower girl so anxious when the note taker writes down her words?
(a) She fears being arrested.
(b) She does not like people copying her speech.
(c) She is worried he will steal her customers.
(d) She thinks he is writing a letter about her.
Answer: (a) She fears being arrested.
8. The Note Taker: A woman who utters such depressing and disgusting sounds has no right to be anywhere- no right to live. What does Higgins’ harsh remark suggest about his view of language?
(a) He believes speaking properly is important for social respectability.
(b) He thinks only rich people should speak properly.
(c) He enjoys making fun of others.
(d) He wants to arrest the flower girl.
Answer: (a) He believes speaking properly is important for social respectability.
9. The Mother: Please allow me, Clara. Have you any pennies? Why does Clara’s mother insist on paying the flower girl?
(a) She feels sorry for her.
(b) She wants to impress the gentleman nearby.
(c) She enjoys collecting flowers.
(d) She wants to make her daughter happy.
Answer: (a) She feels sorry for her.
10. The Note Taker: You see this creature with her kerbstone English: the English that will keep her in the gutter to the end of her days. What does the term “kerbstone English” suggest about the flower girl’s speech?
(a) It is polite and elegant.
(b) It is rough and unrefined.
(c) It is a different language.
(d) It is perfect and sophisticated.
Answer: (b) It is rough and unrefined.
11. The Gentleman: May I ask, sir, do you do this for your living at a music hall? Why does the gentleman assume that Higgins might be a performer?
(a) Higgins is speaking loudly and dramatically.
(b) Higgins is wearing a costume.
(c) Higgins is entertaining the crowd with his skill in identifying accents.
(d) Higgins has just come from a theatre performance.
Answer: (c) Higgins is entertaining the crowd with his skill in identifying accents.
12. The Flower Girl: Hard enough for her to live without being worrited and chivied. What does the flower girl’s complaint reveal about her life?
(a) She enjoys selling flowers.
(b) She feels that society constantly troubles and mistreats her.
(c) She has a comfortable home to go to.
(d) She believes the note taker is her friend.
Answer: (b) She feels that society constantly troubles and mistreats her.
13. The Note Taker: Well, sir, in three months I could pass that girl off as a duchess at an ambassador’s garden party. What does Higgins’ confidence in transforming the flower girl suggest about his beliefs?
(a) He believes that speech, not birth, determines social class.
(b) He thinks only noble birth can make someone important.
(c) He dislikes people with poor speech.
(d) He wants to embarrass the flower girl.
Answer: (a) He believes that speech, not birth, determines social class.
14. The Flower Girl: Never you mind, young man. I’m going home in a taxi. What does the flower girl’s final action of taking a taxi suggest?
(a) She is feeling empowered and independent.
(b) She is nervous about leaving.
(c) She is planning to find Freddy’s family.
(d) She wants to work for Higgins.
Answer: (a) She is feeling empowered and independent.
15. Higgins: This is an age of upstarts. Men begin in Kentish Town with 80 pounds a year, and end in Park Lane with a hundred thousand. What does Higgins’ statement suggest about social mobility in his time?
(a) He believes that anyone can rise in social class if they improve their speech.
(b) He thinks only aristocrats deserve wealth.
(c) He dislikes people who change their class.
(d) He believes wealth is inherited and cannot be earned.
Answer: (a) He believes that anyone can rise in social class if they improve their speech.
Fill the blanks/Complete Sentences
1. The mother and daughter are standing under the portico of St. Paul’s Church because________.
Answer: they are taking shelter from a heavy summer rain.
2. Freddy struggles to find a cab for his mother and sister because________.
Answer: the sudden rain has caused everyone to take a cab, leaving none available.
3. The flower girl reacts angrily when Freddy bumps into her because…
Answer: he knocks over her basket and ruins some of her flowers in the mud.
4. The bystander tells the flower girl to be careful when accepting money from the gentleman because________.
Answer: he sees another man nearby writing down every word she is saying.
5. Higgins, the note taker, surprises the crowd because________.
Answer: he can accurately identify where people come from simply by listening to their accents.
6. The flower girl becomes alarmed when she notices Higgins writing down her words because________.
Answer: she thinks he is a police informant gathering evidence to get her into trouble.
7. Clara disapproves of her mother giving money to the flower girl because________.
Answer: she looks down on people from a lower class and considers it a waste of money.
8. Higgins believes he can transform the flower girl’s life because________.
Answer: he is confident that by teaching her to speak proper English, he can elevate her social status.
9. The gentleman is intrigued by Higgins’ skill because________.
Answer: he is also a student of dialects and recognizes Higgins’s expertise.
10. The flower girl becomes upset when Higgins mimics her pronunciation because________.
Answer: she feels mocked and is afraid her words are being recorded to be used against her.
11. Higgins throws money into the flower girl’s basket at the end of the scene because________.
Answer: the church clock chimes, making him feel a sudden pang of conscience for his lack of charity.
12. The mother and daughter insist on waiting for a cab rather than taking the bus because________.
Answer: as upper-class women in evening dress, taking a cab is more fitting for their social status and comfort.
13. Higgins’ claim that he could turn the flower girl into a duchess highlights his belief that________.
Answer: a person’s speech, not their birth, is what truly determines their social class.
14. The flower girl’s decision to take a taxi at the end of Act 1 symbolises________.
Answer: a newfound sense of empowerment and independence now that she has money.
15. Higgins’ ability to identify people’s origins based on their speech reveals that________.
Answer: language and accent are powerful markers of social class and background in their society.
Short Answer Type Questions
1. Referring closely to the opening scene of Act 1, describe the atmosphere at Covent Garden during the heavy summer rain. In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- The setting and weather conditions.
- The actions of pedestrians and the people seeking shelter.
- The significance of the cab whistles and their effect on the scene.
Answer: The atmosphere at Covent Garden at 11:15 p.m. is chaotic and gloomy due to a heavy summer rainstorm. The scene is filled with the frantic sound of cab whistles blowing in all directions as pedestrians rush for shelter under the portico of St. Paul’s Church and into the market.
The people who have found shelter, including a well-dressed mother and daughter, are seen peering out gloomily at the relentless rain. The constant, frantic whistling for cabs, combined with the downpour, creates a sense of urgency and frustration among those stranded. This setting establishes a tense and uncomfortable mood, forcing people from different social classes into close proximity.
2. What difficulties does Freddy face while trying to get a cab? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- The sudden rain and its impact on cab availability.
- The places he searched.
- The reactions of his mother and sister.
Answer: Freddy faces significant difficulties in finding a cab because the heavy summer rain began so suddenly that no one was prepared. As a result, everyone rushed to take a cab at once, leaving none available for love or money.
He searched extensively, going as far as Charing Cross in one direction and nearly to Ludgate Circus in the other, and also tried Trafalgar Square, but found that all the cabs were already engaged.
His efforts are met with scorn and impatience from his mother and sister. His mother insists he must not have tried hard enough, while his sister, Clara, calls him helpless and tiresome. They refuse to believe his explanation and scold him for his failure, ordering him to go back out into the rain and not return until he has found a cab.
3. How does the Flower Girl respond to Freddy’s clumsy mistake of knocking over her basket? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- Her reaction to her flowers being ruined.
- Her dialect and speech style.
- What this moment reveals about her character.
Answer: When Freddy clumsily knocks over her basket, the Flower Girl responds with immediate anger and frustration. She calls out to him in her strong Cockney dialect, telling him to watch where he is going. After he rushes off with a quick apology, she picks up her scattered flowers and complains sarcastically about his lack of manners. She is particularly upset that two bunches of her violets have been trodden into the mud, ruining her merchandise.
Her speech is unrefined and direct, reflecting her social standing. This moment reveals her character as spirited and resilient. She is not a passive victim but is quick to defend herself and her livelihood when wronged. Despite her difficult circumstances, she possesses a strong sense of indignation and is not afraid to voice her complaints.
4. Describe the first interaction between the Flower Girl and the Mother. In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- The reason the Mother speaks to the Flower Girl.
- The Daughter’s attitude towards the conversation.
- How the Flower Girl reacts.
Answer: The first interaction between the Flower Girl and the Mother begins when the Mother, feeling sorry for the girl whose flowers were ruined, asks how she knew her son’s name was Freddy. Before this, the Mother decides to pay the girl for the damage.
The Daughter, Clara, shows a dismissive and class-conscious attitude throughout the conversation. She tells her mother not to pay the girl, calls it a waste of money, and insists that she get the change. She is disgusted by her mother’s generosity and retreats behind a pillar.
The Flower Girl reacts with a mix of sarcasm and practicality. She initially implies that any responsible mother would be more concerned with paying for the damage than questioning her. When offered money, she hopefully offers to make change for a sixpence. She explains that she did not actually know Freddy’s name but simply used a common name to be pleasant to a stranger.
5. How does the Bystander create suspicion about the Note Taker’s actions? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- The Bystander’s warning to the Flower Girl.
- The reaction of the surrounding crowd.
- How the Note Taker responds.
Answer: The Bystander creates suspicion about the Note Taker’s actions by first warning the Flower Girl to be careful and to give the gentleman a flower for his money because there is a man behind them taking down every word she is saying.
This warning immediately alarms the Flower Girl and draws the attention of everyone nearby. The surrounding crowd turns to look at the man taking notes, and a general hubbub ensues. A remoter group, not knowing what the matter is, crowds in and increases the noise with questions, speculating that the Note Taker is a detective, or “a tec,” taking her down. This speculation leads to confusion and alarm, with some assuming she took money from the gentleman.
The Note Taker responds by coming forward and asking the Flower Girl who is hurting her and what she takes him for. He remains good-humored but overbearing, trying to calm her down while also expressing curiosity about the slang term “copper’s nark,” which the Bystander uses to describe him.
6. What details does Higgins reveal about his skills and knowledge of phonetics? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- His ability to place a person’s origins by their speech.
- His mention of famous literary figures and language.
- His claim about transforming the Flower Girl’s speech.
Answer: Higgins reveals his skills and knowledge of phonetics by explaining that his profession and hobby are simply phonetics, the science of speech. He states that he can spot an Irishman or a Yorkshireman by his brogue and can place any man within six miles, or within two miles in London, and sometimes even within two streets.
He demonstrates his knowledge by mentioning famous literary figures and language, reminding the Flower Girl that her native language is the language of Shakespeare, Milton, and The Bible. He uses this to argue that she, as a human being with a soul and the divine gift of articulate speech, should not make depressing and disgusting sounds like a “bilious pigeon.”
Higgins also reveals his confidence in his skills through his claim about transforming the Flower Girl’s speech. He boasts to Pickering that with her “kerbstone English,” he could pass her off as a duchess at an ambassador’s garden party in just three months. He adds that he could even get her a place as a lady’s maid or a shop assistant, which requires better English, a service he provides for commercial millionaires.
7. How does Clara’s attitude toward the Flower Girl reveal her views on social class? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- Clara’s reluctance to give money.
- Her reaction to her mother’s generosity.
- How she perceives people from a lower class.
Answer: Clara’s attitude toward the Flower Girl reveals her condescending views on social class through her reluctance to give money. When her mother asks for pennies to pay the Flower Girl, Clara immediately tells her to do nothing of the sort, calling it “The idea!” showing her disdain for giving money to someone she perceives as beneath her.
Her reaction to her mother’s generosity further shows her class-based prejudice. After her mother gives the Flower Girl a sixpence and tells her to keep the change, Clara complains that it is “Sixpence thrown away!” and remarks that her mother might have spared that money for Freddy instead. This shows her lack of kindness and inability to understand the struggles of poor people.
Clara perceives people from a lower class as insignificant and not worthy of charity or respect. Her character represents middle-class upstarts who wish to appear wealthy and important but lack good manners. She is proud of her social status and does not realize that true refinement comes from behavior, not birth, looking down on Eliza without recognizing her own rudeness and impatience.
8. Why does the Flower Girl react so strongly when she thinks the Note Taker is taking down her words? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- Her fears about being in trouble.
- The societal implications of being accused.
- Her desperate attempts to defend herself.
Answer: The Flower Girl reacts so strongly because she fears being in trouble with the law. As a poor street vendor, any accusation, especially from someone she mistakes for a police informer or “copper’s nark,” could have devastating consequences for her.
The societal implications of being accused are severe for a woman in her position. She hysterically explains that a charge would mean they would take away her character and drive her onto the streets for speaking to gentlemen. For her, her reputation as a “respectable girl” is all she has, and losing it would mean losing her livelihood and facing ruin.
Her desperate attempts to defend herself show the depth of her terror. She springs up, terrified, insisting she has done nothing wrong and has a right to sell flowers. She pleads with the gentleman not to let the Note Taker charge her, swears on her Bible that she never said a word, and repeatedly insists that she only spoke to the gentleman to ask him to buy a flower. Her extreme reaction is rooted in the precariousness of her existence, where a false accusation could lead to complete destitution.
9. Why does Higgins mock the Flower Girl’s speech and compare it to a “bilious pigeon”? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- What Higgins believes about language.
- His lack of sensitivity to the girl’s feelings.
- How this moment reflects his personality.
Answer: Higgins mocks the Flower Girl’s speech because he believes that language is a divine gift and the key to human potential. He reminds her that her native language is the same as that of great writers like Shakespeare and Milton. He considers the sounds she makes to be depressing and disgusting, and he believes that her “kerbstone English” is what will keep her in the gutter for the rest of her life.
His comparison shows his complete lack of sensitivity to her feelings. He explosively tells her to stop her “detestable boohooing” and dismisses her right to be there. He does not realize how his words hurt others, observing people’s accents without any care for their emotions.
This moment reflects his personality as a highly intelligent professor of phonetics who is passionate about his work. He values knowledge far more than emotions and is rude, impatient, and lacks good manners and social graces. His interaction with the flower girl exposes society’s obsession with language as a marker of class.
10. What does Colonel Pickering’s introduction tell us about his interests and relationship with Higgins? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- Where he has come from and why.
- His shared passion for phonetics.
- His immediate connection with Higgins.
Answer: Colonel Pickering’s introduction reveals that he has come from India specifically to meet Henry Higgins. This shows his dedication to his field of study and his high regard for Higgins’s work.
The introduction also tells us that he and Higgins share a passion for the study of language. Pickering is identified as a student of Indian dialects and the author of Spoken Sanscrit, while Higgins is an expert in phonetics and the author of Higgins’s Universal Alphabet. Both men understand that language affects social status, which forms the basis of their mutual professional respect.
Their connection is immediate and enthusiastic. Upon discovering each other’s identities, Pickering expresses that he came from India to meet Higgins, and Higgins replies that he was going to India to meet Pickering. Pickering then invites Higgins to have supper at the Carlton, and Higgins readily agrees, showing the instant rapport between the two scholars.
11. How does the Flower Girl’s final action in Act 1—taking a taxi—represent a shift in her character? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- Her earlier financial struggles.
- The money Higgins throws into her basket.
- What her decision to take a taxi symbolises.
Answer: The Flower Girl’s final action of taking a taxi shows a significant shift from her earlier financial struggles. At the beginning of the act, she is a poor street vendor, trying to sell her flowers and telling Pickering that she is short on money for her lodging. Her life is so difficult that she is grateful for small amounts of money like a sixpence or even three halfpence.
The shift is made possible by the handful of money that Higgins throws into her basket, which includes a half-crown, florins, and a half-sovereign. This unexpected wealth leaves her stunned and overjoyed, and for the first time, she has the means to afford a luxury that was previously far beyond her reach.
Her decision to take a taxi symbolises a newfound sense of empowerment and independence. She acts with grandeur, confidently telling Freddy not to worry about the cab and claiming it for herself. She proves her ability to pay to the mistrustful driver and gives him instructions with authority. This act is a temporary escape from her poverty and serves as a preview of the transformation she might undergo.
12. What role does the rain play in bringing different characters together in this scene? In your answer, you should incorporate the following details and answer within 100-150 words.
- How it forces characters from different social backgrounds to interact.
- The chaos it creates in getting cabs.
- The dramatic tension it adds to the scene.
Answer: The rain plays a central role by forcing characters from different social backgrounds to interact in a way they normally would not. The “torrents of heavy summer rain” cause pedestrians to run for shelter under the portico of St. Paul’s Church. This brings together the upper-class Eynsford Hill family, the lower-class Flower Girl, various bystanders, and the educated gentlemen Higgins and Pickering, making them share the same confined space.
The rain also creates chaos in the search for cabs. As Freddy explains, the rain was so sudden that everyone had to take a cab, leaving none available. This is the direct cause of the Eynsford Hills being stranded, which initiates the main action and dialogue of the scene.
Finally, the rain adds dramatic tension to the scene. The gloomy weather and the frustration of being stranded create an irritable atmosphere. The “blinding flash of lightning, followed instantly by a rattling peal of thunder,” orchestrates the moment when Freddy collides with the Flower Girl, making the incident more dramatic and highlighting the clash between their different worlds.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. Evaluate how Higgins’ attitude toward the Flower Girl reflects themes of class and power. Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: Henry Higgins’s attitude toward the Flower Girl in Act 1 clearly reflects the themes of class and power prevalent in early 20th-century British society. He views her not as an individual but as a specimen defined by her social class, which he identifies through her “kerbstone English.” His belief that her speech will keep her in the gutter for life shows how language is presented as a primary marker of social status. This establishes a distinct power dynamic where Higgins, with his expert knowledge of phonetics, holds the power to transform her identity.
His treatment of her is dismissive and dehumanising. He refers to her as a “creature” and a “squashed cabbage leaf,” observing her accent without any concern for her feelings of fear and distress. When she becomes hysterical, he rudely tells her to cease her “detestable boohooing,” demonstrating his impatience and lack of empathy. This behaviour highlights his sense of superiority and the power imbalance between the educated upper class and the uneducated poor. His boast that he could pass her off as a duchess treats her as a project or a “guinea pig” for his experiment, further stripping her of her humanity and reinforcing his power over her future. Through this attitude, the play explores how class grants power and how that power can be wielded without kindness or respect.
2. Does the Note Taker (Higgins) have good intentions, or is he merely arrogant? Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: In Act 1, the Note Taker, Henry Higgins, appears to be a complex character driven by both professional passion, which could be interpreted as a form of good intention, and immense arrogance. His arrogance is immediately apparent in his behaviour. He is rude, impatient, and completely insensitive to the Flower Girl’s feelings, treating her as a scientific subject rather than a person. He confidently and dismissively identifies the origins of everyone in the crowd, behaving like a child when his work is interrupted. His boast that he can transform the Flower Girl into a duchess is a supreme display of self-importance, rooted in his belief in his own superior knowledge and skill. He values his science of phonetics far more than he values the emotions or dignity of other people.
However, underlying his arrogance is a belief that can be seen as a good intention. He is passionate about his work and genuinely believes that he can change a person’s social status and improve their life by correcting their speech. His commentary on the “age of upstarts” suggests that he sees his work as a way to facilitate social mobility, helping people overcome the class barriers created by language. While his methods are harsh and his manner is frustrating, his core belief in the transformative power of education is not entirely malicious. His final gesture of throwing money into her basket, prompted by a moment of conscience, suggests he is not completely heartless. Nonetheless, in this first act, his character is overwhelmingly defined by his intellectual arrogance.
3. To what extent does the first act of Pygmalion challenge the established social hierarchies? Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: The first act of Pygmalion both reinforces and significantly challenges the established social hierarchies of its time. Initially, the act establishes these hierarchies quite clearly. The setting in Covent Garden forces people from different social classes to interact due to the rain, immediately highlighting the stark divisions between them. The contrast between the well-dressed, upper-class Mother and Daughter and the poor, shabby Flower Girl is visually apparent. Furthermore, Higgins’s skill in identifying everyone’s origins from their accents reinforces the idea that speech is an inescapable marker of one’s social standing, creating rigid class barriers.
The challenge to this established order comes directly from Henry Higgins. He puts forward the radical idea that these class distinctions, while deeply ingrained, are ultimately superficial and can be altered. His confident claim that he can take a poor flower girl with a rough Cockney accent and, in just three months, pass her off as a duchess at an ambassador’s garden party is a direct assault on the notion that social status is determined by birth or wealth. He argues that language, the very tool that enforces class divisions, can also be the key to dismantling them. This introduces the play’s central theme: the possibility of transformation and social mobility, suggesting that a person’s identity can be reshaped, thereby challenging the rigid and seemingly permanent nature of the social hierarchy.
4. Evaluate the role of the Note Taker (Higgins) as an observer and critic of society in Act 1. Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: In Act 1, the Note Taker, Henry Higgins, functions as both a detached, scientific observer and a sharp, vocal critic of society. His role as an observer is established from his first appearance, where he stands apart from the crowd, preoccupied with his notebook. As a professor of phonetics, his observation is clinical; he listens to and records the speech of those around him, able to pinpoint their geographical and social origins with startling accuracy. This scientific detachment allows him to analyse language as a pure social indicator, free from emotional bias. He observes how speech patterns lock individuals into specific social classes, making him a perfect medium through which the audience can see the mechanics of the class system at work.
Beyond mere observation, Higgins is an active critic. He does not simply record what he hears; he passes judgment on it and the society that shaped it. He critiques the social limitations imposed by dialect, stating bluntly that the Flower Girl’s “kerbstone English” will keep her in the gutter. He is also critical of the new social mobility of his era, noting the “age of upstarts” who try to climb the social ladder but are betrayed by their speech. His harsh lecture to the Flower Girl about her “depressing and disgusting sounds” is a critique of what he perceives as the degradation of the English language, the language of Shakespeare and Milton. Through these pronouncements, Higgins acts as a vehicle for the play’s satire, exposing a society obsessed with language as a superficial marker of class and worth.
5. Does the Flower Girl’s reaction to the Note Taker’s attention suggest she is more concerned about social perception than the actual situation? Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: Yes, the Flower Girl’s reaction to the Note Taker’s attention strongly suggests she is more concerned with social perception and its consequences than with the actual situation. The actual situation is merely a man writing in a notebook. However, her perception, shaped by her vulnerable social position, transforms this into a grave threat. She immediately assumes he is a police informant, a “copper’s nark,” who might falsely accuse her of wrongdoing.
Her hysterical outburst is not about the act of note-taking itself but about the potential damage to her reputation. She pleads that she is a “respectable girl” and fears that an accusation, regardless of its truth, will cause people to “take away my character and drive me on the streets for speaking to gentlemen.” This fear reveals her deep understanding that for a poor woman, social perception is everything. A ruined reputation means the loss of her livelihood and social standing, however precarious it may be. Her desperation to protect her name and her repeated insistence that she is a “good girl” show that her primary concern is how society views her, as this perception directly dictates her survival. The incident highlights the societal implications of being accused and her desperate attempts to defend her social self.
6. How does Act 1 of Pygmalion highlight the struggle between social mobility and rigid class divisions? Answer in 200-250 words. Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: Act 1 of Pygmalion highlights the struggle between social mobility and rigid class divisions by first establishing the deep-seated nature of the British class system and then introducing the possibility of overcoming it. The rigid divisions are immediately apparent in the setting of Covent Garden, where people from different social classes are forced together by the rain. The contrast between the refined speech of the upper-class characters like the Mother and Daughter and the unpolished Cockney accent of the Flower Girl establishes this divide. Class is shown to be defined not just by wealth but critically by speech and manners.
This idea is further solidified by Henry Higgins, the phonetics expert, whose ability to pinpoint a person’s origins and social status from their accent alone demonstrates how language determines one’s place in society. The Flower Girl’s “kerbstone English” is presented as the very thing that will keep her in the gutter. However, the act also introduces the theme of social mobility, which directly challenges these fixed divisions. Higgins makes the bold claim that he could transform the Flower Girl into a duchess in three months simply by teaching her proper English. This suggests that class distinctions, though deeply ingrained, can be altered. His comment that this is an “age of upstarts,” where men can rise from poverty to great wealth, further supports the idea that social mobility is possible. The act thus critiques the rigid class system by showing how superficial factors like pronunciation dictate social standing while also setting the stage for a transformation that questions the very foundation of that system.
7. To what extent does Shaw use humour and satire to address serious social issues in Act 1? Answer in 200-250 words.
Answer: In Act 1, Shaw extensively uses humour and satire to address the serious social issues of class division and social prejudice in early 20th-century Britain. Satire is employed as a tool to criticise societal flaws through humour and exaggeration. Shaw mocks the British class system by showing how speech, rather than ability or character, determines social status.
A primary source of humour is the dramatic irony in the Flower Girl’s terrified reaction to Higgins. She fears he is a policeman taking down her words as evidence, while in reality, he is a phonetics expert studying her speech. This misunderstanding creates a chaotic and humorous hubbub among the bystanders, which satirises the paranoia and vulnerability of the lower classes in the face of authority. The way Higgins interacts with others also exposes society’s obsession with language. The exchanges with the bystanders, such as the Sarcastic Bystander’s challenge for Higgins to identify the Gentleman’s origins, are funny but also reveal the social tensions at play. Higgins’s own character is a source of satire; he is a brilliant academic who can teach a girl to speak like a duchess, yet he himself is rude, impatient, and lacks the very social graces he professes to teach, highlighting a contrast between knowledge and manners. Through these humorous and satirical elements, Shaw effectively criticises the superficiality of social hierarchies and the injustices of a society that judges people based on their accent.
Extras
MCQs: Knowledge-based
1: At the beginning of the scene, where are the characters taking shelter from the rain?
A. Inside a theatre
B. Under the portico of St. Paul’s Church
C. In a covered market stall
D. At a bus stop
Answer: B. Under the portico of St. Paul’s Church
20: After the rain stops, the Mother suggests to Clara that they can walk to a __________ instead of waiting for a cab.
A. train station
B. motor bus
C. friend’s house
D. nearby hotel
Answer: B. motor bus
MCQs: Competency-based
21: (I) A sudden, heavy summer rain begins to fall.
(II) People from different social classes are forced to take shelter in the same place.
A. I is a contradiction of II.
B. II is independent of I.
C. I is the cause of II.
D. II is the cause of I.
Answer: C. I is the cause of II.
29: When Higgins says, “A woman who utters such depressing and disgusting sounds has no right to be anywhere—no right to live,” his statement is an example of:
A. Understatement
B. Hyperbole
C. Simile
D. Allusion
Answer: B. Hyperbole
Questions and Answers
1. How does the opening scene in Covent Garden establish the theme of social class?
You are required to answer in 100-150 words by incorporating the following details:
- The different types of people seeking shelter.
- The contrast in their clothing and speech.
- How the setting forces them to interact.
Answer: The opening scene at Covent Garden establishes the theme of social class by using a sudden rainstorm to force different people together under the portico of St. Paul’s Church. This temporary shelter brings the wealthy Eynsford Hill family, in their fine “evening dress,” into close contact with a poor flower girl in a “shoddy black coat” and a dusty “sailor hat.” This physical proximity highlights the vast social distance between them.
The contrast is immediately apparent in their clothing and, more pointedly, their speech. The refined accents of the mother and daughter stand in opposition to the flower girl’s rough Cockney dialect. This forced interaction in a neutral public space makes the rigid class divisions of Edwardian London immediately clear, showing how appearance and language created powerful social barriers.
43. What prompts Higgins to give the flower girl a large sum of money?
You are required to answer in 200-250 words by incorporating the following details:
- The flower girl’s desperate act of throwing her basket at his feet.
- The sound of the church clock, which he interprets as a “reminder.”
- His sudden, uncharacteristic act of charity.
Answer: Henry Higgins’s decision to give the flower girl a large sum of money is not prompted by genuine empathy but by a sudden, theatrical impulse rooted in guilt. The moment occurs after Eliza, pushed to her breaking point by his relentless criticism, performs an act of pure desperation: she flings her flower basket at his feet, offering to sell him the “whole blooming basket for sixpence.” This act of utter despair coincides with the church clock striking the quarter-hour.
For Higgins, this sound is a dramatic intervention. He hears in it “the voice of God, rebuking him for his Pharisaic want of charity.” This biblical reference suggests he suddenly sees himself as a hypocrite, one who preaches about the “divine gift of articulate speech” while showing no kindness to a fellow human being. Struck by this sudden, superstitious guilt, he performs an uncharacteristic act of charity. He solemnly raises his hat as if in prayer and then impulsively throws a handful of money into her basket. The gesture is grand and dramatic, driven not by a change of heart toward Eliza as a person, but by a sudden need to appease his own conscience.
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