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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Higgins ask Mrs. Pearce to do with Liza's clothing?

2. Which of the following does Shaw identify as a problem among his fellow English?

3. What are the Pitman and Gregg systems?

4. What insulting term does Higgins use to describe Liza in Act 2?

5. Who is Henry Sweet?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Freddy do at the beginning of Act 1 that shows poor manners?

2. Who are Alexander Melville Bell, Alexander J. Ellis, Tito Pagliardini, and Henry Sweet, and why are they heroes to Shaw?

3. What are three methods of phonetic shorthand that Shaw mentions in Pygmalion, and what are they used for?

4. Describe Higgins's laboratory. What does it reveal about his character?

5. Why does the Flower Girl become upset at the note-taker? What is she most likely afraid of?

6. What should all great art be, according to Shaw? Do you agree? What does Shaw hope his play will teach?

7. Describe Henry Sweet.

8. What does Higgins boast that he can do for the Flower Girl?

9. Describe Higgins.

10. What does Liza likely mean when she says "I'm a good girl, I am"? Why does she say this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about the character of Clara and her transformation in the play.

Part 1) How does Clara change in the course of the play, and why?

Part 2) How does Shaw satirize various foibles of society through Clara (for instance, snobbery and fads among young people)?

Part 3) How are we meant to view Clara? Is she a sympathetic figure, a ridiculous figure, or some mixture of both?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about the ending of Pygmalion.

Part 1) Considering the ending of the play, what do you think Shaw's attitude is toward the traditional "happy ending" of most romances?

Part 2) Why, according to Shaw, does his play not end the way most people might expect?

Part 3) Would the play be more satisfying if Liza had married Higgins instead of Freddy? Why, or why not?

Part 4) (optional) If you have seen it, you may consider the slightly different, more "Hollywood" ending in the movie version of the play, My Fair Lady. Compare the ending of the play with the ending of the movie. Which do you prefer, and why?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about feminism in Pygmalion. In the Epilogue to his play, Shaw quotes Nietzsche in saying, "When you go to women, take your whip with you." Does Shaw agree or disagree with this statement? Is he a sexist or a feminist, in your opinion? Explain, using evidence from the play. Consider in your essay his characterization of Liza, Clara, Mrs. Higgins, and Mrs. Pearce.

(see the answer keys)

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