Importance of being Earnest

Short Questions
Why does Lane think it isn't polite to listen to Algernon's piano-playing?
Because Algy is playing badly
What does Algernon tell Jack he has always suspected him of being?
A Bunburyist
What leads Algernon to think Jack is leading a double life?
He finds an inscription reading: To Uncle Jack from Your Little Cecily.
What does Jack say is very ungentlemanly thing to read?
A private cigarette case
At first, Jack tells Algernon that Cecily is his what?
His Aunt
What does Algernon mean when he says that Lady Bracknell rings the doorbell in a
"Wagerian manner"?
She is pressing it nonstop; heavy-handedly
Why does Lane claim that there were "no cucumbers at the market"?
He is covering for Algy, who has eaten them all
Gwedolen says they live in...?
An Age of Ideals
What does Gwedolen say the name Ernest produces?
Vibrations
What is Lady Bracknell's reaction when Jack admits to her that he smokes?
I'm glad to hear it; all men should have a profession
Where did old Mr. Thomas Cardew find Jack as a baby?
In a railway station in a handbag
What is Lady Bracknell's objection to Jack as a prospective suitor to Gwedolen?
His parentage
What does Algernon begin playing offstage at the conclusion of Jack's interview with Lady
Bracknell?
The Wedding March
What is Gwedolen's response to the story of Jack's origins?
She thinks it is romantic
Who does Algernon think ought to set an example for the upper class?
Lane, the lower class
What does Jack call Lady Bracknell behind her back?
A Gorgon
Why hasn't Jack told Gwendolen that he has an excessively pretty young ward?
He fears she may become jealous
What is the name of Algernon's imaginary friend?
Bunbury
Where is Jack's house in the country?
Hertfordshire
Give 2 examples of inversion.
1) Divorces are made in heaven 2) Three's company/two is none
What is the significance of the title 'The Importance of Being Earnest'?
Ans. The title "The Importance of Being Earnest" features a salient pun in the form of the word
"earnest", which means "honest", and "truthful" and the name "Ernest" which is the name of the alter
ego that main character Jack uses to slide away from responsibilities and do as he pleases. What is
important, however, is that the title reflects that there is something valuable and even honourable
about being "earnest".
(ii) What is the subtitle of the play 'The Importance of Being Earnest'?
Ans. The subtitle of the play "The Importance of Being Earnest" is "A Trivial Comedy for Serious
People". His intentions were to make people think more deeply and make them more aware of the
serious things in life, which should be treated with sincerity, and the trivial things with seriousness.
(iii) What are the major themes in 'The Importance of Being Earnest'?
Ans. The nature of marriage, the constrains of morality, the absence of compassion, hypocrisy vs.
inventiveness, lies and deceit, respect and reputation, society and class, duty and respectability,
passion and morality, religion and secret lives are the major theme in "The Importance of Being
Earnest".
(iv) Define comedy of manners.
Ans. The comedy of manners is an entertainment form which satirizes the manners and affections of
a social class or of multiple classes, often represented by stereotypical stock characters. "The
Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde is a comedy of manners.
(v) What is the setting of the play 'The Importance of Being Earnest'?
Ans. The primary setting is London and Hertfordshire, England in the late late 19th century. Specific
places include; Algernon Moncrieff's flat in Half-Moon Street (Act I), the garden at the Manor House,
Woolton (Act II), and drawing room of the Manor House, Woolton (Act III).
(vi) What are the major conflicts in 'The Importance of Being Earnest'?
Ans. There are two major conflicts. The first conflict is that Lady Bracknell does not allow Gwendolyn
to marry Jack because he does not know his real parents. Bracknell wants a husband for her
daughter that is rich and has a title. The second conflict is that Gwendolyn thinks that Jack's real
name is Ernest, but it is not. She seems to love him for his name only and Jack fears he cannot tell
her the truth.
(vii) Which moment from the play 'The Importance of Being Earnest' struck you as the
funniest?
Ans. "The Importance of Being Earnest" is funny all the time. However, the conversation among the
vacuous Cecily, the idiot Miss Prism, and the foolish hypocrite Dr. Chasuble in Act II struck me as
the funniest. The final moment in which Jack is identified as the lost brother of Algernon and he is
accepted by Gwendolen is also a very funny moment.
(viii) Give two examples of inversion in 'The Importance of Being Earnest'.
Ans. When Algernon remarks, "Divorces are made in Heaven," he inverts the cliche about marriages
being "made in Heaven." Similarly, at the end of the play, when Jack calls it "a terrible thing" for a
man to discover that he has been telling the truth all his life, he inverts conventional morality. Most of
the women in the play represent an inversion of accepted Victorian practices with regard to gender
roles.
(ix) What is Wilde's opinion of the aristocracy?
Ans. Aristocrats mask their true nature and fill their lives with trivial traditions. Throughout the play
"The Importance of Being Earnest" Oscar Wilde makes fun of aristocrats in a cheerful way. He
seems to think that they are practically useless to society.
(x) What is Wilde's view towards formal education?
Ans. Wilde says, "Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that
nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.". This shows he has no value for formal education since
it deprives man's contemplation.
(xi) Who is "Ernest" in the play 'The Importance of Being Earnest'?
Ans. In "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde, there is no character named "Ernest",
but everything depends on pretending to be Earnest. Jack creates a young brother named "Ernest"
to fool his lady friends, all of whom have an obsession with the name "Ernest". However, in the end
of the play, Jack finds out that his real name is "Earnest" and his middle name is Jack.
(xii) What is a dandy?
Ans. A dandy is a man who places particular importance upon physical appearance, refined
language, and leisurely hobbies, pursued with the appearance on nonchalance in a cult of Self.
Algernon is a dandy in the play "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde.
(xiii) How do characters in 'The Importance of Being Earnest' view marriage differently?
Ans. The characters in "The Importance of Being Earnest" are divided on whether a person should
marry because of duty or because of pleasure. The older generation thinks of marriage as a
business transaction, through which a person upholds or improves their rank in society. The younger
generation, however, wants to marry of love regardless of social standing.
(xiv) Interpret 'The truth is rarely pure and never simple'.
Ans. This line is spoken by Algernon in "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde. Because
most of the play involves the various lies and deceits told by the protagonist, the purity of truth is
always suspect. Moreover, truth is never simple, as most of it always requires explanation of the
deeper layers.
(xv) Interpret 'Women only call each other sister when they have called each other a lot of
other things first'.
Ans. This line is spoken by Algernon in "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde. It means
that women call each other names, bicker, fight and fall out before they feel comfortable to become
sisters. Friendship or relationship starts with enmity.
In the end, why doesn’t Cecily care that Algernon’s name isn’t Ernest?
At the end of the play Cecily knows the real name of Jack as Earnest and learn that his real brother
is Algernon not Earnest so, she did not care about the name.
What is the subtitle of the play ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’?
The subtitle of the play “The Importance of Being Earnest” is “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People“.
In this play the serious things presented trivial and trivial things presented seriously, so there is
enough food for serious peoples.
How does Jack convince Lady Bracknell that Cecily is a suitable wife for her nephew
Algernon?
Jack says that Cecily brings with her rich dowry that will convince Lady Brecknell that Cecily is a
suitable wife for her nephew.
What are the major themes in ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’?
In the “Importance of being Earnest” the major themes are marriage, difficulties of being illegitimate,
difficulties in marrying, lies and deceit, respect and reputation, society and class, duty and
responsibility, religion and secret lives.
Define comedy of manners.
The comedy of manner is a comedy in which the manners of society or class are satire. “Importance
of being Earnest” is one example of comedy of manner.
Why does Jack establish two different identities for himself — one for the country and
another for the city?
Jack feels bore in country so, he makes a brother name Ernest who presented as wicked man and
he goes to meet him. In city he assume the name “Earnest” because Gowendoline love the name
“Earnest”.
In what ways do Algernon and Jack’s views about love and marriage differ?
Jack is conscious about the marriage but Algernon says that when you marry the romance will end.
Why does Lady Bracknell not consider Jack an eligible husband for Gwendolen?
Lady Bracknell not consider Jack an eligible husband for Gowendoline because he did not know
about his real parents.
Who is Dr. Chasuble?
Dr chasuble is religious minister in Woolton Hertfordshire. Cecily says about Dr Chasuble that he is
a philosopher who has never written a book.
What is the setting of the play ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’?
The setting of the play in Algernon Moncrieff’s flat in Half-Moon Street, London (Act I), the garden at
the Manor House, Woolton, Hertfordshire (Act II), and drawing room of the Manor House, Woolton,
Hertfordshire (Act III).
What are the major conflicts in ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’?
The major conflict in this play is that Lady Bracknell does not allow Gwendolyn to marry Jack
because he does not know his real parents. The second conflict is that Jack as care taker of Cecily
not allow the Cecily to marry with Algernon until Lady Bracknell allow Gowendoline to marry him with
Gwendoline.
Which moment from the play ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ struck you as the funniest?
“The Importance of Being Earnest” is funny all the time. However, Jack try to propose Gowendoline
and Lady brecknell saw him, the interview of Jack by Lady Bracknell, Algernon remarks about
relatives, Cecily conversation with Miss Prism, Cecily’s imaginative engagement and letters to
“Earnest”, specially the last seen when Miss Prism come are the funniest moments.
Who is “Ernest” in the play ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’?
For Cecily “Earnest” is younger brother of Jack, for Algernon and Gowendoline “Earnest” is Jack,
When Algernon knows the name and address of Jack he assume the name of “Earnest” for Cecily.
At the end of the play discover that Jack’s real name is “Earnest”.
What is a dandy?
Dandy is a character who gives importance to physical appearance, sophisticated language, and
leisurely interests. For example Algernon is a dandy character in “The Importance of Being Earnest“