Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Discussion Questions:
Part One: 930:
What is aestheticism? (See also 1015.)
931:
Why did Wilde sue the Marquess of Queensberry in 1895?
The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) 941:
What is the play's philosophy?
Act One: 946:
Why has Jack lied about Cecily? Why has he lied about his
name?
947:
Explain: "The amount of women in London who flirt
with their own husbands is perfectly scandalous. . . .
It is simply washing one's clean linen in public" (947).
951:
Explain Lady Bracknell's suggestion that "An engagement
should come on a young girl as a surprise" (951).
952:
Explain Lady Bracknell's claim that "Ignorance is like a
delicate exotic fruit" (952).
953:
Explain: "To lose one parent
may be regarded as a misfortune--to lose both seems likes
carelessness" (953).
954:
Why does Lady Bracknell refuse to consent to Jack's
engagement to Gwendolen?
955:
Explain Jack's claim that "The truth isn't quite the sort
of thing that one tells to a nice sweet refined girl" (955).
Other Discussion Questions:
942:
Explain: "The
Importance of Being Earnest empties manners and
morals of their underlying sense to create a nominalist world
where earnest is not a quality of character but a name" (942).
Describe the relationship between Algernon and Lane.
943:
Why does Algernon believe that "the lower orders . . .
have absolutely no sense of moral responsibility" (943).
Why are cucumber sandwiches a "reckless extravagance"
(943)?
944:
Explain: "The very essence of romance is uncertainty"
(944).
947:
What is a Bunburyist?
955:
Why does Jack believe that Cecily and Gwendolen will call
each other sister? How is this ironic?
Part Two:
Discussion Questions:
Act Two: 960:
Why is Algernon pretending to be Ernest?
962:
Why has Jack returned early from his trip?
963:
Why does Jack want to be christened?
967:
How have "Ernest" and Cecily been engaged before meeting
each other?
969:
Explain Gwendolen's views on man's "domestic duties."
971:
Explain: "Flowers are as common here . . . as
people are in London" (971).
975:
Why are Jack and Algernon going to be (re)christened?
Act Three: 976:
Explain Gwendolen's remark: "In matters of grave
importance, style, not sincerity is the vital thing" (976).
977:
Explain Gwendolen's remark about the equality of the sexes.
985:
Explain the final line.
Other Discussion
Questions:
959:
Who is Egeria? Should Miss Prism know who she
is? Explain.
961:
What is the significance of Australia?
968:
Why does Cecily want to marry a man named Ernest?
969:
Why has Gwendolen arrived?
973:
Why does Gwendolen want Cecily to call her sister? (See
also 955.)
980:
Why does Jack refuse to consent to Cecily's marrying
Algernon?
