The document provides background information on Oscar Wilde's 1895 play "The Importance of Being Earnest". It summarizes that the play is a satirical comedy set in Victorian England that critiques the moral and social values of the time through wit and wordplay. It introduces the main characters and settings of the play and gives context on Oscar Wilde and the Victorian era in 3 sentences.

1. The Importance of
Being Earnest
By Oscar Wilde
(1854-1900)

2. The Importance of Being Earnest
 Written in 1895
 A Comedy in 3 Acts
 Is a satire
 Immediate hit when first performed
 Criticizes Victorian moral and social values
 Bridges Victorian period/literature with Modern
 Uses wit, puns, exaggeration, and wordplay to
create humor

3. Main Characters
 John Worthing, aka  Lady Bracknell,
“Jack”, aka “Earnest” mother of Gwendolyn
 Algernon Montcrief,  Gwendolyn, wants to
Jack’s friend marry a man named
 Lane, the butler for “Earnest”
Algernon
 Cecily, Jack’s ward
 Rev. Chausible, the
preacher in the  Miss Prism, Cecily’s
country governess

4. Settings
 Time: Around 1890
 Place(s):
 London (“the City”)
 Jack’s House in the Country (a very large estate)
 The village church

5. Settings
 Jack’s
Country
House

6. Settings
 Jack’s
Drawing
Room

7. Settings
 Lady
Bracknell’s
mansion in
London

8. Victorian Period
 Named for Queen Victoria of England
 Was Queen from 1837-1901
 Followed the reign of “Mad” King George
 The culture was very moral and serious
 Women were expected to be the “angel in
the house” - to take care of their husband
and family

9. Queen Victoria
 Became Queen as a
young girl
 Married Albert, Prince
Consort and adored him
 After he died, she wore
black for the rest of her life
 Had 9 children
 Created a culture that
valued family and stability

10. Victorian Period
 Manners were supremely important
 English society was divided into classes
 The Upper-class was well-educated, came
from a rich and respected family (“old
money”), and having good manners
mattered more than anything else
 Considered bad manners to flaunt wealth

11. Victorian Period
 Young women were always chaperoned until they
were married
 Women’s clothing covered them from neck to
ankle; clothes had to be modest
 In the upper classes, people with a bad reputation
were outcasts no matter how much money they
had
 Good manners were extremely important

12. Victorian Fashion
 For the
Gentlemen

13. Victorian Fashion
 For the Ladies

14. Victorian Period
 People did not just “drop in” to visit - they
made formal appointments
 Refreshments were expected when visitors
came to “call” (visit) - usually tea and cake
or tiny, elegant cucumber sandwiches
 Men were expected to be well-educated
 Women were expected to marry well

15. Oscar Wilde - Author
 Born in Ireland; lived in England and abroad
 Attended Trinity College in Ireland and Oxford
University in England
 Very witty and funny
 Believed in the value of “art for art’s sake” - art
(literature) should not be concerned with political
issues
 Wrote several plays, but only one novel
 Novel: The Picture of Dorian Gray

16. Oscar Wilde
 With other writers and artists, rebelled against the
prim, moral, religious culture of Victorian England
 Was known to be wild, flamboyant, witty
 Although homosexual, married and had children
 Being homosexual was illegal, and he served
time in prison for it

17. Oscar Wilde
 Handsome
 Loved clothes
 Could be quite
dramatic
 Completely
unique

18. Oscar Wilde
 Came from upper-class family
 Brilliant writer
 Loved to shock people
 “Bad Boy” of his time
 Never allowed to see his family again
 Spent the remainder of his life in Paris
 Died alone and poor in Paris

19. Literary Vocabulary
 Comedy - light-hearted literature with
humor and a happy ending
 Satire - literary writing that makes fun of or
criticizes the faults of people or groups.
Purpose is to point out flaws
 Wit - using words to be clever and funny
with language
 Pun - a play on words

20. Literary Vocabulary
 Protagonist - the main character
 Foil - the character who contrasts the main
character (the foil “reflects” the traits of the main
character)
 Blocking figure - A character, often old and
cranky, who interferes with the romantic desires
or the other main characters and provides comic
action

21. Literary Vocabulary
 Motif - a recurring character or element
repeated in a literary work. Food is a motif
in The Importance of Being Earnest
 Protagonist - the main character

22. The Importance of Being Earnest
 Oscar Wilde created
many amusing quotes

23. Oscar Wilde Quotes
 “I always pass on good advice. It is
the only thing to do with it. It is never
of any use to oneself. “
 “I can resist everything except
temptation. “

24. Oscar Wilde Quotes
 “I never travel without my diary. One
should always have something
sensational to read in the train. “
 “To lose one parent may be regarded
as a misfortune; to lose both looks
like carelessness.”

25. The Importance of Being Earnest
 Even though this play was written more
than 100 years ago, it continues to be very
popular
 More than one movie has been made of
this play, the most recent in the past 5-10
years
 This play is currently being performed on
Broadway in New York City (through June)

26. Importance of Being Earnest
 The title of the play is a pun.
 To be “earnest” means to be serious, and
the main character (John/Jack) uses the
name “Earnest” when he is in the city
 “Bunburying” is using an alias to “get away
with” avoiding social obligatioins

27. Importance of Being Earnest
 What have you learned so far?
 Know the characters, the setting, the plot
 Know the basic facts about the author
 Know the basic facts of Victorian England
 Know the literary vocabulary required
 Understand that this play is a comedy

28. Importance of Being Earnest
 You have come to the end of the
PowerPoint
 You are ready to begin the play!