<🟣 Question 1.
Describe the opening scene of Act I of Pygmalion. How does George Bernard Shaw introduce the setting and the main characters?
Answer
Act I opens on a rainy summer night at Covent Garden in London. Many people take shelter under the portico of St. Paul's Church while waiting for the rain to stop. Among them are Mrs. Eynsford Hill, her daughter Clara and her son Freddy, who is sent to find a taxi. A poor flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, also arrives seeking shelter after Freddy accidentally knocks down her basket of flowers. A mysterious man is busy taking notes in a notebook, while an elderly gentleman quietly watches the scene. This lively opening introduces the major characters and establishes the themes of language, social class and identity.>
<🔵 Question 2.
Who is Eliza Doolittle? Describe her appearance, speech and behaviour as presented in Act I.
Answer
Eliza Doolittle is a poor flower girl who earns her living by selling flowers on the streets of London. She is untidily dressed and speaks in a strong Cockney dialect, which reflects her lower-class background. Although she appears poor and uneducated, she is hardworking, polite and self-respecting. She becomes upset when Freddy knocks down her flowers because selling them is her only source of income. Eliza is also sensitive about her reputation and repeatedly insists that she is a respectable girl. Her determination and self-respect make her one of the most memorable characters in the play.>
<🟢 Question 3.
Why does Eliza mistake the Note Taker for a policeman? How is the misunderstanding cleared?
Answer
Eliza becomes frightened when she notices a man writing down everything she says in a notebook. She believes that he is a policeman collecting evidence against her because she has spoken to a gentleman. She fears that she may be arrested and lose her good name. The misunderstanding is cleared when the Note Taker calmly explains that he is not a policeman. He reads back Eliza's words exactly as she had spoken them and impresses the crowd by identifying where people come from through their accents. The bystanders realise that he is an expert in phonetics, not a police officer.>
<🟠 Question 4.
Describe Professor Henry Higgins as introduced in Act I. What are his views on speech and phonetics?
Answer
Professor Henry Higgins is introduced as the mysterious Note Taker who has an extraordinary knowledge of speech and pronunciation. He is a famous expert in phonetics and can identify a person's birthplace simply by listening to his or her accent. Higgins believes that correct speech can completely change a person's social position. He confidently declares that he can train Eliza to speak perfect English and make her pass as a duchess at an ambassador's garden party within a few months. His confidence, intelligence and interest in language make him a remarkable character.>
<🟡 Question 5.
Narrate the meeting between Professor Higgins and Colonel Pickering. Why is their meeting important in the play?
Answer
Towards the end of Act I, the elderly gentleman introduces himself as Colonel Pickering, a scholar of Indian dialects. He has come from India to meet Professor Henry Higgins because he admires Higgins' work on phonetics. Higgins is delighted because he, too, has wanted to meet Pickering. The two scholars quickly become friends and decide to continue their conversation over dinner. Before leaving, Higgins throws money into Eliza's basket, making her very happy. Their meeting is important because it leads to Higgins' famous challenge of transforming Eliza into a refined lady through proper speech, which becomes the central action of the play.>