Oscar Wilde was an Irish writer born in 1854 who produced plays, poems, essays and a novel. He was imprisoned for two years after being convicted of homosexual acts, which were illegal at the time. His most famous works include The Picture of Dorian Gray, his only novel, and the play The Importance of Being Earnest. Wilde was oppressed by Victorian society for his sexuality, and his imprisonment negatively impacted his creativity. He used irony and symbolism to mock and critique society in his works.

1. OSCAR WILDECultural Effects on Creativity

2. Introduction to Oscar Wilde
 Born in Dublin Ireland in 1854
 Wrote; plays, essays, poems and a novel
 Married with children but lost contact with his family when he was outed as a
homosexual
 Was sentenced to two years of imprisonment on charges of sodomy and
indecency
 Died in exile in 1900, one year after his release.

3. Oscar
Wilde
is
Born
1854
Wilde graduates
from Oxford
1878
Wilde
publishes his
first book, a
collection of
poems
1881
Wilde begins
his American
lecture tour
1882
U.K lecture
tour
1883
Wilde marries
Constance
Lloyd
1884
Son’s Cyril and
Vyvyan are born
1885/1886
Wilde is
hired to
revitalizes
the
magazine
Women’s
World
1887
Wilde publishes
a collection of
fairy tales
1888
Wilde publishes
his first novel as
well as a
collection of
short stories
1891
Theatrical
Success
1893
Wilde receives
the Calling
Card
1895
Wilde’s trial
begins
1895
1895
Oscar is
sentenc-
ed for
two
years.
Oscar Wilde is
release from
Jail
1897
Oscar Wilde
dies
1900
Oscar Wilde’s
Timeline

4. Wilde’s Literature
 The Picture of Dorian Gray
was Oscar Wilde’s first and
only novel.
 He was wildly known for his
essay tours which took
place in both Europe and
North America
 He was the writer of many
plays, including The
Importance of Being
Earnest (1895)

5. Literary Devices
Irony
Themes
Symbols

6. Cultural Effects on Creativity
 Oscar Wilde was oppressed by his society because he was gay
 Wilde mocked his society in The Importance of Being Earnest
 Wilde’s imprisonment affected his work

7. CITATIONS
Uncredited, “Oscar Wilde – Biography” The European Graduate school, 1997, Web,
http://www.egs.edu/library/oscar-wilde/biography/
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Oscar Wilde." Shmoop.com . Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov.
2008. Web. 24 Jul. 2014
Coulhart, John. “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, Feuilleton, 27 Feb 2006
Carter, Jon. Berkow, Jordan ed. "The Picture of Dorian Gray Themes". GradeSaver, 06
December 2005 Web. 24 July 2014.
SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on The Picture of Dorian Gray.” SparkNotes.com.
SparkNotes LLC. 2002. Web. 15 Jul. 2014.