Question

explain the following passages with reference to their contexts and supply brief critical comments where necessary
" Oh, that! mere alliteration, Mrs. Pearce, natural to a poet."

Answer 1

These lines are taken from Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. The lines are spoken by Professor Higgins when a girl Miss Dolittle comes to visit Higgins and Mrs. Pearce, his housekeeper told him to be careful with his swear word as they have a girl in their house. She didn't mind him speaking it before her but now with a girl in the house he ought to be mindful of his tongue. When she told him  ‘’ only this morning sir, you applied it to your boots, to the butter, and to the brown bread" Higgins replies very casually that it was mere repetition, so typical to the poets.              Professor Higgins expects to transform Ms. Dolittle to be polished and cultured in six months time. Rather he takes it as a bet along with Pickering.