Wilde

Question 1

What characterizes a “well-made play”?

Answer 1

anticipation waiting for secret to be revealed
plot centers on secrets the audience knows but characters don’t, significant misunderstandings,
logical explanations

Question 2

What is Astheticism?

Answer 2

“art for art’s sake”

Question 3

Importance of Being Earnest pub date

Answer 3

1895

Question 4

How is Wilde’s trial related to the publication of The Importance of Being Earnest?

Answer 4

Wilde’s trial and scandal will begin a fortnight after the play starts running, the shows will be cut short (replaced with lol “The Triumph of the Philistines)

2 years after release (2 years in Reading) publishes manuscript

Question 5

Significant differences between the 4-act and 3-act (final) version

Answer 5

A lawyer who is two people (Gribsby and Parker) gets cut–sort of a jekyll and hyde character, another Earnest.

Question 6

Evidence for a homosexual reading

Answer 6

“Earnest” –a recently published collection of Nicholson’s poetry “Love in Earnest” focused on adoring young boys
“urnist” (comes from urania, universal love, Plato)
“bunbury” slang for male brothel
Germany associated with homosexuality

Question 7

Which two countries are used as contrasts?

Answer 7

France (class chaos–French rev less than 100 years prior), Germany (homosexuality, love)

Question 8

The Importance of Being Earnest is often described as an inversion of which Shakespeare play?

Answer 8

Romeo and Juliet

The lovers only thrive after their identities have been revealed and the families say “oh okay”

Question 9

What is Jack’s “real” name

Answer 9

John Ernst (he hides the John bit)