The Importance of Being Earnest is The most well-known play by Oscar Wilde, which is frequently resurrected for theatrical presentations. Students will comprehend Wilde’s satire better if they have studied Victorian society, which includes basic manners, courtship, tea, and moral codes. We are going to show you the pre-reading activities of The Importance Of Being Earnest.

Introduction

Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest derives much of its comedic and thematic heft from the way in which it inverts the values of everyday life.

The play constantly makes fun of traditional serious subjects like love, death, and religion while treating insignificant matters with the utmost seriousness.

The numerous epigrams and witticisms that make up a large portion of the play’s dialogue are where this irreverence finds its most perfect expression.

Summary Of The Importance Of Being Earnest

Key Facts

• First Performed: 1895
• Publication Date: 1895
• Length: 80 pages
• Lexile Measure: 1390
• Band of G recommended: 11-12

Set in the Victorian era, The Importance of Being Earnest focuses on the lives of two wealthy gentlemen, Algernon Moncrief and Jack Worthing To avoid unappealing social obligations, both men maintain fictional personas.

The characters’ lies are exposed, and their true selves are made known, as they court their love interests.

Learning Objectives For The Importance Of Being Earnest

• Determine the satirical targets and examine how they are handled by Wilde.
• Talk about the concept of creating art merely for its own sake.
• The play’s central pun should be noted and its significance examined.
• Comment on the irony between the characters’ refined demeanor and their absurd interactions.
• Discuss the play’s subtitle, “a trivial play for serious people.”
• Find out how important triviality is in the play.

Major Themes In The Importance Of Being Earnest

Marriage — Characters debate the nature of marriage while having their engagements derailed by unimportant obstacles. Courtship and marriage serve as the play’s central themes.

Morality — In the play, Victorian morality is discussed, and it is shown how society is constrained by these rigid moral codes. Additionally, Wilde reveals the contradictions and hypocrisy of Victorian moral standards.

Deception — In order to escape their lives in the country and the city, respectively, Jack and Algernon both create fictional characters. Additionally, Cecily fabricates a fake engagement with Ernest. The distinction between fact and fiction is blurred as the characters’ lines converge.

Questions For Close Reading

Activity 1

• The reason Jack creates two different personas for himself is unclear. What does Jack’s choice reveal about him and the culture in which he lives?
• What are we supposed to make of Gwendolen’s obsession with getting married to Ernest? Why did Wilde give his characters such odd ideals to live by?
• What does Algernon mean when he says that uncertainty is the very heart of romance?” In what ways does the play’s action support his claim that he is being ironic?
• Think about how close Jack and Algernon are, yet despite their close friendship, Algernon was unaware of Jack’s real name. And neither is particularly troubled by this fact. Are you, and should they be?
• What sort of person do you believe Lady Bracknell to be based on their conversation?
• Despite frequently being mentioned, the play never features Lord Bracknell, Lady Bracknell’s husband. How do you perceive him to be as a man? Do you believe he is in some kind of relationship with Lady Bracknell?

Activity 2

• Jack’s interactions with Cecily and Ms. can be compared and contrasted. Prism’s interactions with Jack and Gwendolen in the city and the country.
• What does the discussion between Ms. What are the character traits that Prism and Gwendolen reveal? What part, in your opinion, does Ms. Will Prism plays a role in the narrative?
• Compare Jack and Algernon’s secret identities to those in Cecily and Gwendolen’s diaries. Why do the characters look for these teeny reality-shattering escapes?
• What does Jack’s hurried decision to be re-baptized reveal about his beliefs regarding religion? What are the attitudes of society toward religion?
• When Merriman enters the room, how do Cecily and Gwendolen behave differently? Why do you think they behave in this manner?
• Although Jack and Algernon’s deceptions cause the two couples to become estranged at the end of Act II, the play’s tone still manages to be lighthearted and silly. How does Wilde manage to do this?

Questions For Further Consideration

As optional expository writing exercises, respond to the following prompts as directed by your teacher. In your responses, don’t forget to cite examples from the play.

• All of the characters in Earnest are ridiculous in their own unique ways, and yet we always laugh with them, never at them. What separates the two, and why does it matter?
• Importance of Being Earnest lampoons the effects and idiosyncrasies of, even so, it was very well-liked, particularly among those it mocks. Victorian high society. What justifies this, in our opinion? Why did the language and characters of the play appeal to Victorians so much? Why do we find it so enjoyable today?
• George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde’s friend, and fellow playwright did not like Earnest, calling it The first truly heartless play by Wilde.” Do you concur with this criticism? What exactly does the term “heart” in reference to works of art mean?” A piece of art can be good without having a heart, right?

Other Resources For The Importance Of Being Earnest

• The Importance of Being Earnest has a number of film adaptations. The most well-known adaptation is likely the Oliver Parker-helmed 2002 movie with Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon, and Judi Dench. Only the original dialogue is used in the movie adaptation to maintain the play’s integrity. (Watch the trailer)
• Oscar Wilde’s Biography
• Examining the Use of Paradox in the Play
• EDSITEment Activities for Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest