I. PRE-WATCHING: Do you agree? Too much education is a dangerous thing.

“Educating RITA”

I. PRE-WATCHING: Do you agree? Too much education is a dangerous thing.

II. VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR LIST

NO	LANGUAGE UNITS	NOTES
1.	Blake. They all get so worked up about him.	informal very upset or excited about something: You shouldn't get so worked up about it.
2.	To dismiss William Blake as a dead poet is “faseel”. – Facile. ['f1saIl]	a facile remark, argument etc is too simple and shows a lack of careful thought or understanding: facile generalizations
3.	I absolutely disagree with your appraisal of his genius.	a statement or opinion judging the worth, value, or condition of something: It needed a calmer appraisal of her situation. a critical appraisal of the existing facilities
4.	Of course I’m drunk. You don’t really expect me to teach this when I’m sober.	not drunk: He's a nice guy when he's sober.
5.	If you don’t mind, I’m leaving your tutorial.	a period of teaching and discussion with a tutor (university or college teacher), especially in a British university: the tutorial system
6.	That’s no good meaning to do it, you wanna get on with it.	to intend to do something or intend that someone else should do something: I've been meaning to ask you if you want to come for a meal next week. I didn't mean to upset you.
7.	One day the poor sod on the other side won’t be able to get in…	British English informal not polite used to refer to a person: The poor sod 's wife left him. You lucky sod!
8.	Pass me the f*ing pheasant.	a large bird with a long tail, often shot for food, or the meat of this bird
9.	I hate smoking on me own. Everyone seems to have packed up these days.	British English informal to stop doing something, especially a job: He packed up his teaching job after only three months.
10.	I’ve been realizing for ages that I’m slightly out of step.	having ideas or actions that are different from those of other people
11.	I’ve tried to explain it to me husband. But I think he’s thick.	British English informal a thick person is stupid: He's a nice guy, but he's a bit thick. (as) thick as two short planks (=very stupid)
12.	Howards End. Sounds filthy, doesn’t it?	very dirty in a sexual way, i.e. Howard's male sexual organ
13.	If I pack the course in, I’ll post the book back.	British English informal to stop doing a job or activity that you are not enjoying: After one year, I packed in university. Sometimes I feel like packing it all in and going off travelling.
14.	-Why would you pack it in? -I might think it was a soft idea.	British English stupid or silly: You must be soft if you think I'll give you fifty quid!
15.	-You know Yeats? -The wine lodge? -No, the poet.	Yates's Wine Lodge - a chain of pubs that specialise in wine. They are notoriously quite rough - especially Friday/Saturday evenings.
16.	Assonance, it’s a form of rhyme.	Perhaps you know?
17.	I sometimes get the urge to throw something through it.	a strong wish or need [= desire]: He could no longer resist the urge to go and see Amanda. Suddenly she had an overwhelming urge to be with her son.
18.	Look, I know I take the piss …	take the piss (out of somebody/something) British English to annoy someone by laughing at them or making them seem stupid [↪ piss-take]: The kids always take the piss out of some teachers.
19.	I’m an appalling teacher.	very bad [= atrocious]: The weather was absolutely appalling.
20.	I told you I don’t want to do it! Why pick on me?	British English to choose a particular person or thing: Just pick on one job and try to get that finished.
21.	-Looking like what? -Like a geriatric hippy.	informal too old to work well: a geriatric rock star
22.	-The book is called “Of Human Bondage ”. - My husband’s got lots of books like that. - What, Somerset Maugham books? -No, bondage books.	BONDAGE the state of having your freedom limited, or being prevented from doing what you want: the bondage of early motherhood * “BONDAGE” (=”tying up”)may be understood as a "perversion"... associated with BDSM (a condensed acronym combining bondage and discipline (B&D or B/D), dominance and submission (D&S or D/s), and sadomasochism or sadism and masochism (S&M or S/M)).. Thus, a bondage book = a book about BDSM.
23.	…I’m more well-read than the friggin’ examiner!	spoken not polite used to emphasize something you are saying when you are angry, annoyed etc: I can't open the frigging door!
24.	Devouring pulp fiction is not being -well-read.	to read something quickly and eagerly, or watch something with great interest: He devoured science fiction books.
25.	-Is my wife at all relevant? -You should know, you married her.	directly relating to the subject or problem being discussed or considered [≠ irrelevant]: We received all the relevant information. What experience do you have that is relevant to this position?
26.	I’m sorry for asking, being nosy.	always wanting to find out things that do not concern you, especially other people's private affairs: Don't be so nosy! a nosy neighbour
27.	We split up because of poetry. My output as a poet had dealt entirely with the part of our lives in which we discovered each other.	split up if people split up, or if someone splits them up, they end a marriage or relationship with each other: Steve's parents split up when he was four. output the amount of goods or work produced by a person, machine, factory etc [↪ production]: Output is up 30% on last year. Korea's agricultural output
28.	I’m afraid you’ll find there’s less to me than meets the eye.	there's more to somebody/something than meets the eye used to say that someone or something is more interesting, intelligent etc than they seem to be
29.	You barely had any schooling.	almost not [= hardly]: She was barely aware of his presence. Joe and his brother are barely on speaking terms.
30.	-Go buy yourself a new dress and I’ll go to the pub! -Is that you putting your foot down?	put your foot down to say very firmly that someone must do something or must stop doing something: You'll just have to put your foot down and tell him he can't stay out on school nights.
31.	You need a baby! How long is it since you stopped taking the pill?	the Pill/the pill MIa pill taken regularly by some women in order to prevent them having babies: My doctor advised me to go on the pill (=start taking it regularly).
32.	You’re all cockeyed. *play on words “cock” + “-eyed”	afflicted with cross-eye, squint, or any other visible abnormality of the eyes
33.	You can’t just bloody belt the wall, you know. It has to be taken down carefully.	informal to hit someone or something hard: Dan belted the ball towards the goal.
34.	I could be your girl, if you play your cards right.	play your cards right to deal with a situation in the right way, so that you are successful in getting what you want: If he plays his cards right, Tony might get a promotion.
35.	Is it why he’s always four parts pissed? *four parts = four quarters à àcompletely	informal British English drunk: They rolled in pissed at three in the morning. (!)= American English pissed off
36.	He gets narked if I work at home.	British English informal angry about something: There's no need to get narked about it!
37.	This is getting a bit wearisome.	formal making you feel bored, tired, or annoyed: a wearisome task
38.	A group of Cambridge dons broke into your house and stole it.	British English a university teacher, especially one who teaches at the universities of Oxford or Cambridge
39.	Oh, sod the books!	British English spoken not polite sod it/that used to rudely express anger or annoyance at something or someone: Sod it, I've missed the train. - used to say rudely that something is not important: Sod the job, I'm going home. sod off an offensive way of telling someone to go away
40.	You soft git, even if I was having an affair, it was no point burning me books.	British English spoken not polite an offensive word for an unpleasant and annoying person, especially a man: You miserable git!
41.	-I’m not having it off with Anton Chekhov. -I wouldn’t put it past you to shack up with a foreigner.	have it off with smb to have a sexual relationship with someone: She spent the whole evening trying to get off with Phil. I wouldn't put it past somebody (to do something) spoken used to say that you would not be surprised if someone did something bad or unusual because it is typical of them to do that type of thing: I wouldn't put it past Colin to cheat. shack up with to start living with someone who you have sex with but are not married to - used to show disapproval: She had shacked up with some guy from Florida. Is she shacked up with anyone?
42.	It did my head in.	do your head in British English spoken informal to make you feel confused and annoyed: Turn that noise down - it's doing my head in!
43.	He thinks he’s all invincible.	too strong to be destroyed or defeated: an invincible army Young athletes think of themselves as invincible.
44.	It wouldn’t have mattered if you’d come in carrying a bottle of Spanish plonk.	British English informal DFDcheap wine
45.	Don’t wanna come to play the court jester.
46.	I just seized up, ‘cause I’m a freak.	seize up if an engine or part of a machine seizes up, its moving parts stop working and can no longer move, for example because of lack of oil: The mechanism had seized up. freak someone who is considered to be very strange because of the way they look, behave, or think [= weirdo]: These glasses make me look like a freak. Women who studied engineering used to be considered freaks.
47.	They were never really love’s young dream.	love’s young dream a couple who have a strong emotional and physical attraction towards each other
48.	They were singing some song they’d learnt from the jukebox.	a machine in bars, restaurants etc that plays music when you put money in it
49.	Just what the frig am I trying to do?	Remember “frigging”?
50.	Why don’t I just pack it in and stay here?	pack it in British English spoken used to tell someone to stop doing something that is annoying you
51.	You’re overflowing with innate sensitivity and charm.	an innate quality or ability is something you are born with: Children have an innate ability to learn language.
52.	He said it’s warped me. He said I betrayed him.	to influence someone in a way that has a harmful effect on how they think or behave: You mustn't allow your dislike of her to warp your judgement.
53.	You’ve got to keep telling me and I’ll start to take it in.	to understand and remember new facts and information [= absorb]: He watches the older kids, just taking it all in. His eyes quickly took in the elegance of her dress.
54.	If Howard shows up …	informal to arrive, especially at the place where someone is waiting for you [= turn up]: Seth showed up, apologising for being late. We had 200 people show up for our seminar.
55.	I was looking at the books pretending I was dead clever.	spoken very: He was dead good-looking. It sounded dead boring. dead beat/tired (=very tired)
56.	aristocracy in decay	the gradual destruction of ideas, beliefs, social or political systems etc: moral decay
57.	How are you? A new term beckons.	1) to make a signal to someone with your hand, to show that you want them to come towards you or to follow you: She beckoned to the waitress to bring more wine. 2) if something such as a place or opportunity beckons, it appears so attractive that you want to have it: A career in the film industry beckoned.
58.	Lashing us with work, they were!	to hit a person or animal very hard with a whip, stick etc: Oliver lashed the horses to go faster.
59.	I thought I’d be a gentle hint.	Perhaps you know?
60.	She’s dead classy.	informal fashionable and expensive: classy restaurants
61.	I’m having the time of me life.	enjoy yourself very much: Julie went to a wedding at the weekend and had the time of her life.
62.	It is because I have so much going for me that I do it.	go for somebody/something British English to attack or criticize someone: The dog suddenly went for me.
63.	If I take the oath, if I re΄pent and reform, what will I do when you’re no longer here?	formal RRto be sorry for something and wish you had not done it - used especially when considering your actions in a religious way: He repented of his sins before he died.
64.	You can be a real misery sometimes.	British English spoken someone who is always complaining and never enjoys anything: Don't be such a misery. What's the matter with you, misery guts (=a name for someone like this)?
65.	This horrible man keeps coming here to chat me up.	British English informal to talk to someone in a way that shows you are sexually attracted to them: I spent the evening chatting up Liz.
66.	I reckon his early works are a load of rubbish.	spoken especially British English to think or suppose something: The police reckon that whoever killed Dad was with him earlier that day. 'There's nothing we can do about it.' 'You reckon (=used to express doubt or disagreement) ?'
67.	You used to be so wary of students.	someone who is wary is careful because they think something might be dangerous or harmful: I'm a bit wary of driving in this fog. We must teach children to be wary of strangers. She had a wary expression on her face.
68.	Students don’t half come out with some rubbish.	not half British English spoken used when you want to emphasize an opinion or statement: She doesn't half talk once she gets started. "don't half" means "often" or "really do" (Northern expression). *(In the south a similar expression is "Not half!", which means "certainly": “Do you want to go for a walk on the beach?" - "Not half!" not half bad spoken an expression meaning good, used especially when you are rather surprised that something is good: Actually, the party wasn't half bad.
69.	Either I can ignore this, or I can put him straight.	put somebody straight/right also set somebody straight/right to tell someone the true facts when they have made a mistake that annoys you: A young man was in here asking for 'Miss' Whalby, but I put him right on that one.
70.	-So, you finished him off, did you, Rita? -He was asking for it!	finish somebody/something off to kill a person or animal when they are already weak or wounded ask for it - Perhaps you know?
71.	His arguments are crumbled.	to lose power, become weak, or fail: The Empire began to crumble during the 13th century. * that's the way the cookie crumbles informal said when something bad has happened and you must accept things the way they are, even though you do not want to
72.	They’re going on holiday, slummingit.	slum it/be slumming informal to spend time in conditions that are much worse than you are used to - often used humorously: Jeremy doesn't slum it when he goes away.
73.	I’ve heard of matchmaking, but this is ridiculous.	matchmaker someone who tries to find a suitable partner for someone else to marry: Perhaps we should do a little bit of matchmaking and introduce them.
74.	Stop burbling on about Mr Tyson.	to talk about something in a confused way that is difficult to understand: burble on/away I had to listen for an hour while she burbled away.
75.	It would n’t look out of place with these [essays].	out of place not suitable for a particular situation or occasion: He never seemed to feel out of place at social functions. The paintings looked strangely out of place.
76.	It would be a slight demeanor. For dismissal it would have to be nothing less than buggering the Bursar.	to demean to do something that makes people lose respect for someone or something [↪ degrade]: I wouldn't demean myself by begging him for a job. to bugger 1) to damn 2) to practice sodomy bursar SECSESsomeone at a school or college who deals with the accounts and office work
77.	You really don’t have to put in the odd appearance o ut of sentimentality. I would rather you spared me that.	put in an appearance/make an appearance to go to an event for a short time, because you think you should rather than because you want to: At least Marc managed to put in an appearance at the party.
78.	You’ll sail through.	to succeed very easily in a test, examination etc: Adam sailed through his final exams.
79.	It is witty, it is profound.	showing great knowledge and understanding [= deep]: a profound question Jenner is a profound thinker.
80.	I wouldn’t have understood the allusions.	Perhaps you know?
81.	You recognise the hallmark of literature now, don’t you?	an idea, method, or quality that is typical of a particular person or thing: These hotels still offer the sort of service which was the hallmark of the grand days of travel. The explosion had all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.
82.	It is little for you who squanders every opportunity and mocks it and takes it for granted.	to carelessly waste money, time, opportunities etc: The home team squandered a number of chances in the first half. They squandered the profits on expensive cars.
83.	On your lips this song is shrill and hollow and tuneless.	shrill a shrill sound is very high and unpleasant: a shrill whistle Fran uttered a shrill scream. hollow a hollow sound is low and clear like the sound made when you hit something empty: There was a hollow thump as the cars collided.
84.	I hardly recognised you. You look the real part. The real student.	look the part a) to look like a typical person of a particular type: In his smart suit, he certainly looked the part. b) to perform well and seem likely to be successful - used in sports reports: He's beginning to look the part on the soccer field.
85.	-Have they sacked you? -Not quite...Well, I made rather a night of it last night.	make a day/night/evening of it informal to spend a whole day, night etc doing something, because you have chosen to: We decided to take a picnic and make a day of it.
86.	I thought she was so cool and together.	spoken someone who is together is confident, thinks clearly, and does things in a sensible organized way - used to show approval: Jane is such a together person.
87.	You’re being evasive.	not willing to answer questions directly Paul's being a bit evasive about this job. an evasive reply

Special thanks to Christopher Pearson for his selfless contribution to the list!

SOURCES:
http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary
http://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.thefreedictionary.com

III. DISCUSSION:

Comment on the following quotations from the film. How do they characterise the main characters? How do they help us understand the message of the film?

1) "Look, the sun is shining, and you're young. What are you doing in here? Why don't you all go out and do something? Why don't you go and make love--or something?"

2) "Everything I know--and you must listen to this--is that I know absolutely nothing."

3) "I've been realizin' for ages that I was, y' know, slightly out of step. I'm twenty-six. I should have had a baby by now; everyone expects it. I'm sure me husband thinks I'm sterile. He was moanin' all the time, y' know, 'Come off the pill, let's have a baby.' I told him I'd come off it, just to shut him up. But I'm still on it. See, I don't wanna baby yet. I wanna discover myself first. Do you understand that?"

4) "I can't talk to the people I live with anymore. An' I can't talk to the likes of them [the academic crowd], because I can't learn the language. I'm a half-caste."

5) “Because I think your marvellous. Do you know you’re the first breath of fresh air that’s been in here for years.”

6) “I don’t know that I want to teach you. What you have is already valuable.”

7) “I don’t want to be funny … I wanna talk seriously with the rest of you … I don’t want to come to your house just to play the court jester.”

8) “…he’s wondering where the girl he married has gone to…she’s gone an’ I’ve taken her place.”

9) "I'll tell you what you can't bear, Mr. Self-Pitying Piss Artist. What you can't bear is that I am educated now. What's up, Frank, don't y' like me now that the little girl's grown up, now that y' can no longer bounce me on daddy's knee an' watch me stare back in wide-eyed wonder at everything he has to say? I'm educated, I've got what you have an' y' don't like it because you'd rather see me as the peasant I once was. … I don't need you anymore. I've got a room full of books. I know what clothes to wear, what wine to buy, what plays to see, what papers and books to read. I can do without you."

10) "Found a culture, have you, Rita? Found a better song to sing, have you? No--you have found a different song, that's all. And on your lips it's shrill and hollow and tuneless. Oh, Rita, Rita…"

11) "Is that all you wanted? Have you come all this way for so very, very little?" - "Oh it's little to you, isn't it? It's little to you who squanders every opportunity and mocks and takes it all for granted."

12) “I had a choice. I did the exam. Because of what you'd given me, I had a choice.”

13) “I’m gonna take ten years off you.”

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