EDUCATING RITA – CLASS ON ACT 1 SCENES 3,4,5,6 & 7

MAIN OUTLINE:

1) Role Play with the different scenes.

2) Discussion of quotation (Act 3)

RITA: Yeh. She said, ‘I wish I could go off searchin’ for the meanin’ of life.’ There’s loads of them
round by us who feel like that. Cos by us there is no meanin’ to life. Frank, y’know culture, y’know
the word culture? Well it doesn’t just mean goin’ to the opera an’ that, does it?

 What does culture mean to Rita?

 What does it symbolize?
 What do you think it means to people like Frank?

3) General Discussion Questions (Scenes 4/5)

 Why do you imagine Denny intends to prevent Rita from studying?

 How does he feel towards Rita’s enthusiasm for learning?
 What pressures are being put on Rita? Think about pressures in all the aspects of her life,
personally and professionally, as well as academically. How is she responding to these
pressures?
 Why do you imagine Frank stopped being a poet?

4) Watch Scenes 6 and 7 in the movie. Students will complete graphic organizers about Rita and
Frank in which they will analyze the characters all throughout Act 1 and what seem to be their
conflicts.
 RITA
Rita’s character has evolved from the first moment we see her stomp into Frank’s office all the
way to the end of Act 1. Can you think of adjectives / situations to portray these changes, or
evolution in this character?

Rita’s evolution/ …………………………………………………………………………………………………….......

changes ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

In Act 1 we can already start discussing certain conflicts that the characters have. These conflicts
are not only with themselves (internally speaking) but also with the people they interact with. In
this mini graphic organizer you will have the chance to summarize these conflicts and to give
evidence from the play.

RITA’S CONFLICTS

Rita V.S. Rita

Rita V.S. Frank

Rita V.S. Denny

Food for thought:

Finally, in what ways do you think these scenes we have seen in the
movie help us better understand the characters’ personalities and conflicts and complete the
impression we have of them in this first act?
 FRANK
Frank’s character is a complicated one from the moment we first see him interact with Rita. Can
you think of adjectives / situations to portray his changes, or evolution in this character present
in Act 1?

Frank’s evolution/ …………………………………………………………………………………………………….......

changes ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

In Act 1 we can already start discussing certain conflicts that the characters have. These conflicts
are not only with themselves (internally speaking) but also with the people they interact with. In
this mini graphic organizer you will have the chance to summarize these conflicts and to give
evidence from the play.

FRANK’S CONFLICTS

Frank V.S. Frank

Frank V.S. Rita

Frank V.S. ………

Food for thought:

Finally, in what ways do you think these scenes we have seen in the
movie help us better understand the characters’ personalities and conflicts and complete the
impression we have of them in this first act?
CLASS ON EDUCATING RITA – ACT 1 SCENES 3, 4 ,5 , 6 & 7

Let’s read this quotation taken from Act 1 Scene 3 and comment a little about its
meaning:

RITA: Yeh. She said, ‘I wish I could go off searchin’ for the meanin’ of life.’ There’s loads
of them round by us who feel like that. Cos by us there is no meanin’ to life. Frank, y’know
culture, y’know the word culture? Well it doesn’t just mean goin’ to the opera an’ that, does
it?

 What does culture mean to Rita?

 What does it symbolize?
 What do you think it means to people like Frank?

General Discussion Questions (Scenes 4/5)

 Why do you imagine Denny intends to prevent Rita from studying?

 How does he feel towards Rita’s enthusiasm for learning?
 What pressures are being put on Rita? Think about pressures in all the aspects of her
life, personally and professionally, as well as academically. How is she responding
to these pressures?
 Why do you imagine Frank stopped being a poet?

Let’s watch Scenes 6 and 7 in the movie. As you watch how these scenes are
portrayed, try to complete the graphic organizer you have been given in which you
will analyze the characters all throughout Act 1 and what seem to be their conflicts.
Don’t worry about completing the graphic organizer too quickly, first watch the
scenes and make some notes and then you will have some minutes to complete.

That’s all Folks!