Read the statement from a paper on The Importance of Being Earnest.The Importance of Being Earnest contains the features of a comedy of manners.
How does Wilde poke fun at Victorian society in the passage? Select three answers.
Read the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest.Lady Bracknell. . . . I think some preliminary inquiry on my part would not be out of place. Mr. Worthing, is Miss Cardew at all connected with any of the larger railway stations in London? I merely desire information. Until yesterday I had no idea that there were any families or persons whose origin was a Terminus.
[BLANK]
Miss Prism. . . . The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means.How does the epigram affect this scene?
Read the beginning of The Importance of Being Earnest.Title: The Importance of Being Earnestby Oscar WildeThe Persons in the PlayJohn Worthing, J.P.Algernon MoncrieffRev. Canon Chasuble, D.D.Merriman, ButlerLane, ManservantLady BracknellHon. Gwendolen FairfaxCecily CardewMiss Prism, GovernessFirst ActSCENEMorning-room in Algernon’s flat in Half-Moon Street. The room is luxuriously and artistically furnished. The sound of a piano is heard in the adjoining room.[Lane is arranging afternoon tea on the table, and after the music has ceased, Algernon enters.]Algernon. Did you hear what I was playing, Lane?Lane. I didn’t think it polite to listen, sir.
Consider these versions of The War of the Worlds.Excerpt 1, from H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds:Then came the night of the first falling star. It was seen early in the morning, rushing over Winchester eastward, a line of flame high in the atmosphere. Hundreds must have seen it, and taken it for an ordinary falling star. Albin described it as leaving a greenish streak behind it that glowed for some seconds. Denning, our greatest authority on meteorites, stated that the height of its first appearance was about ninety or one hundred miles. It seemed to him that it fell to earth about one hundred miles east of him.Excerpt 2, from Howard E. Koch's script for Orson Welles's radio adaptation:ANNOUNCER TWO: Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt our program of dance music to bring you a special bulletin from the Intercontinental Radio News. At twenty minutes before eight, central time, Professor Farrell of the Mount Jennings Observatory, Chicago, Illinois, reports observing several explosions of incandescent gas, occurring at regular intervals on the planet Mars. The spectroscope indicates the gas to be hydrogen and moving towards the earth with enormous velocity.Which statement best describes the difference between these versions?
Read the excerpt from H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds.The end of the cylinder was being screwed out from within. Nearly two feet of shining screw projected. Somebody blundered against me, and I narrowly missed being pitched onto the top of the screw. I turned, and as I did so the screw must have come out, for the lid of the cylinder fell upon the gravel with a ringing concussion. I stuck my elbow into the person behind me, and turned my head towards the Thing again. For a moment that circular cavity seemed perfectly black. I had the sunset in my eyes.
Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.Jack. Oh, Gwendolen is as right as a trivet. As far as she is concerned, we are engaged. Her mother is perfectly unbearable. Never met such a Gorgon . . . I don’t really know what a Gorgon is like, but I am quite sure that Lady Bracknell is one. In any case, she is a monster, without being a myth, which is rather unfair . . . I beg your pardon, Algy, I suppose I shouldn’t talk about your own aunt in that way before you.Algernon. My dear boy, I love hearing my relations abused. It is the only thing that makes me put up with them at all. Relations are simply a tedious pack of people, who haven’t got the remotest knowledge of how to live, nor the smallest instinct about when to die.
Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.Algernon. Well, we might trot round to the Empire at ten?Jack. Oh, no! I can’t bear looking at things. It is so silly.Algernon. Well, what shall we do?Jack. Nothing!Algernon. It is awfully hard work doing nothing. However, I don’t mind hard work where there is no definite object of any kind.
Which line from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest is an epigram?
Which excerpt from The War of the Worlds uses a vivid visual description for aesthetic impact?
Which two definitions of the word blessing does the pun in this excerpt rely on?
Which descriptive details does the author include to entertain readers? Select 3 options.
Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.Algernon. In the third place, I know perfectly well whom she will place me next to, to-night. She will place me next Mary Farquhar, who always flirts with her own husband across the dinner-table. That is not very pleasant. Indeed, it is not even decent . . . and that sort of thing is enormously on the increase. The amount of women in London who flirt with their own husbands is perfectly scandalous. It looks so bad. It is simply washing one’s clean linen in public. Besides, now that I know you to be a confirmed Bunburyist I naturally want to talk to you about Bunburying.
Read the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest.Gwendolen. [To Jack.] Darling!Algernon. [To Cecily.] Darling! [They fall into each other's arms.][Enter Merriman. When he enters he coughs loudly, seeing the situation.]Merriman. Ahem! Ahem! Lady Bracknell!Jack. Good heavens![Enter Lady Bracknell. The couples separate in alarm. Exit Merriman.]Lady Bracknell. Gwendolen! What does this mean?
Read the passage from The Importance of Being Earnest.Gwendolen. Let us preserve a dignified silence.Cecily. Certainly. It’s the only thing to do now. [Enter Jack followed by Algernon. They whistle some dreadful popular air from a British Opera.]Gwendolen. This dignified silence seems to produce an unpleasant effect.Cecily. A most distasteful one.Gwendolen. But we will not be the first to speak.Cecily. Certainly not.Gwendolen. Mr. Worthing, I have something very particular to ask you. Much depends on your reply.
Which Victorian social codes are reflected in this excerpt? Select two options.
Read the excerpt from Act III of The Importance of Being Earnest.Jack. [In a clear, cold voice.] Miss Cardew is the grand-daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Cardew of 149 Belgrave Square, S.W.; Gervase Park, Dorking, Surrey; and the Sporran, Fifeshire, N.B.Lady Bracknell. That sounds not unsatisfactory. Three addresses always inspire confidence, even in tradesmen. But what proof have I of their authenticity?Jack. I have carefully preserved the Court Guides of the period. They are open to your inspection, Lady Bracknell.Lady Bracknell. [Grimly.] I have known strange errors in that publication.Jack. Miss Cardew’s family solicitors are Messrs. Markby, Markby, and Markby.Lady Bracknell. Markby, Markby, and Markby? A firm of the very highest position in their profession. Indeed I am told that one of the Mr. Markby’s is occasionally to be seen at dinner parties. So far I am satisfied.
Read the excerpt from Act III of The Importance of Being Earnest.Lady Bracknell. There are distinct social possibilities in Miss Cardew’s profile.Algernon. Cecily is the sweetest, dearest, prettiest girl in the whole world. And I don’t care twopence about social possibilities.
Did you find these answers helpful?