The Governess

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The Governess

• By Neil Simon

based on the short story, A Nincompoop by
Anton Chekhov
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The Governess

• What is a mistress?
• What is a governess?
• Describe Julias character.
• Describe the mistresss character.

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The Governess

• What is the setting of the story? (Think of the
  Russia PowerPoint.)
• When Julia tells the mistress that her children
  are, very bright, what does the mistress imply
  about herself when she responds, Well, why not?
• Why does Julia accept whatever the mistress says?

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The Governess

• Ironic
• Opposite to what might be expected
• Verbal Irony / Situational Irony / Dramatic
  Irony

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The Governess

• When discussing the issue about the broken
  saucer, the mistress responds
• What good is a teacup without a saucer, eh?
  Thats two rubles. The saucer was an heirloom.
  It costs much more, but let it go. Im used to
  taking losses.
• How is her response ironic?

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The Governess

• The mistress docs 3 additional rubles from
  Julias pay. These rubles were a birthday gift to
  Julia from the mistresss husband. The mistress
  responds
• Thank you for telling me. Sometimes Im a
  little lax with my accounts always shortchanging
  myself.
• What makes the mistresss claim ironic?
• After being accused of dropping the 11th ruble,
  Julia responds, Its all right, maam. Ten
  rubles will be fine. What do you think Julia
  must be feeling at this point?

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The Governess

• Why does Julia say it is not necessary to
  recount money and no need to check figures?
• Why is Julias assertion that the mistress is
  very kind ironic?
• What is the turning point of the story?

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The Governess

• Summarize
• What lesson is the mistress trying to teach
  Julia?
• Does Julia learn the lesson? Why do you think
  Julia responds this way?
• What insight into human nature does this play
  give?

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The Governess