IOBE AO2 and AO3 points

Question 1

lady bracknell’s interview of jack

Answer 1

• farcical interview
• ‘a handbag?’ - succinct phrasing paired with indignant and infamous delivary
• extended metaphore of the train line with polysemic use of ‘line’ as both traintracks and lineage = underlines the absurdity of Lady B’s and therefore upper class preocupation with family

Question 2

the name earnest

Answer 2

a homophone - the fact that neither of the men who claim to be Earnest are truthfull (earnest) illuminates the absurdity of victorian fetishisation of semiotic markers

idea that these markers re-enforce the performativity of marriage as an institution - both Gwendoline and Cecily aspire wholeheartedly to marry a man named earnest, but not an earnest man –> appearence over reality and style over substance

Question 3

not infront of the servents

Answer 3

pas devant les domestiques

triviality of victorian sociat etiquette - adoption of a pretence of proper manners to hide thier immoral truths -> commedy of manners

Question 4

education

Answer 4

education reform act 1870

these reforms prompted fears of the loss of upper class dominance over the working classes - re-enforcing their place within the heirarchy through social norms makes it seem all the more fragile and absurd

Question 5

periphrastic language

Answer 5

concealment of truth behind a linguistic artifice ‘cake is rarely seen at the best houses nowadays’

idea of elaberout clauses and hidden insults - heightens connection to the aesthetic movement in which art was for the purpous of being beautiful

links to commedy of manners - idea of trying to disguise true sentiments which are reproachable to society behind a mask of virtousity