Pygmalion

Throughout the play, Shaw explores the themes of Formal Education and Language and Phonetics. What is the relationship between these themes and social class? What factors determine the social class of the characters in the play? In what ways is social class performative?

Teaching Suggestion: Encourage students to reflect on symbols and motifs used throughout the play, including clothing, flowers, and taxis. How are these symbols and motifs reflective of social class and class consciousness in the early 20th century? Students might compare modern culture and even brainstorm what elements of modern culture would serve as equivalent symbols and motifs today.

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Thinking about Character”

In this activity, students will use critical thinking and collaborative learning to develop a deeper understanding of the characters and their roles in the play.

The characters of Shaw’s Pygmalion are more than just their dialects and diction: All of them also have distinctive personalities and motivations. Split the students into small groups and assign each group a character from the play. Each group should analyze their character, considering the following questions: