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45 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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big idea |
Wilde utilises the character of Algernon to satirise the Victorian aristocratic gentleman |
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point 1 |
Wilde demonstrates how Algernon avoids his social responsibilities by creating a double life |
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what quote shows upper class reliance on false identities? |
‘Bunbury is perfectly invaluable’ (p.368) |
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what context does Bunbury link to? |
Wilde’s own life as a homosexual |
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what quote shows the absurdity of relying on lies and deceit? |
‘I killed Bunbury this afternoon’ p.407 humour |
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what did Wilde argue about lying? |
wrote in a quasi-platonic dialogue called ‘the Decay of Lying’ that lying is a veritable art form |
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what quote shows the hypocrisy of the victorian upper class? |
‘if the lower orders don’t set us a good example, what on earth is the use of them? They seem, as a class to have absolutely no sense of moral responsibility’ p.364 |
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what can Algernon’s quote be seen as? |
ironic as his own morals are lax |
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what quote shows Algernon’s avoidance of moral responsibility? |
‘My duty as a gentleman has never interfered with my pleasures in the smallest degree’ p.391 |
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what does Wilde show about the ‘duties’ of the upper class? |
they are motivated by keeping up appearances rather than true moral desires |
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how does Algernon’s avoidance of responsibilities link to the plays structure? |
comedy of manners rewards unscrupulous characters |
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what quote shows the complexity of life for victorian aristocracy? |
‘the truth is rarely pure and never simple’ p.368! |
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what techniques are displayed in this quote? |
wildean epigram and repartee |
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what does the epigram imply about victorian society? |
realities of life are far more complicated than victorian society encourages people to pretend, implying there is great difficulty in telling the truth |
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why does wilde argue people adopt double lives? |
societal restrictions, as reinforced by social status, encourage it |
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point 2 |
Wilde presents Algernon as a dandy, both to mock traditional Victorian gender roles, and to satirise his own identity |
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what stage direction establishes Algernon’s appearance as a dandy? |
[enter Algernon, very gay and debonair] |
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what quote reveals Algernon’s focus on appearances? |
‘Might I have a buttonhole first? I never have any appetite unless I have a buttonhole first’ p.386 |
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what does Algernon’s emphasis on appearance show him to be? |
a caricature of a dandy, exaggerated and absurd links to comedy of manners |
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what contextual point does this link to? |
the Aesthetic movement that believed in ‘Art for Art’s sake’ and that art should not be subservient to moral, political, didactic or practical purposes |
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what shows that Algernon appears to live for pleasure? |
motif of food |
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what quote shows Algernon’s priorities of appearances? |
‘I hate people who are not serious about meals. It is so shallow of them’ p.370 |
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what does the humour and irony of this imply? |
Algernon’s concerns are futile and nonsensical |
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what quote shows his absurd lifestyle? |
‘Well, I can’t eat muffins in an agitated manner’ p.403 |
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what technique is this an example of? |
repartee |
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what does the argument over food highlight? |
the triviality of the problems of the upper class |
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what is there a juxtaposition between? |
Algernon’s nonchalant behaviour and Jack’s overly serious reaction |
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what does the idea that preserving the correct manners comes above displaying ones emotions serve as? |
interesting social commentary demonstrating the reckless, indulgent nature of the Victorian UC |
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what seems unnatural? |
understanding that he cannot eat muffins if he is not calm, Algernon elects you’re change the latter |
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what does Wilde perhaps imply about the emotions exhibited by the victorian UC? |
they are performed in the same manner as their morals |
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what Wilde quotes show an indulgence in pleasures and art? |
‘Art is the most intense mode of individualism the world has known’ ‘I can resist anything except temptation’ |
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Point 3 |
Wilde utilises the character of Algernon to satirise Victorian views surrounding marriage, as Algernon mocks these conventional beliefs |
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what quote shows Algernon’s opposition to marriage? |
‘I thought you had come up for pleasure?... I call that business’ p.365 |
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what technique is used in this quote? |
repartee |
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what does Wilde mock? |
the social implications of marriage in the Victorian era |
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what was marriage typically regarded as? |
a means to elevate ones status and preserve family property ownership |
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what was marriage in 19th cent england? |
an expected duty of women and a business prospect for men |
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what quote from Algernon criticises marriage but also shows his views to be shallow? |
‘There is nothing romantic about a definite proposal...If I ever get married, I’ll certainly try to forget the fact’ p.365 |
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what technique is used here? |
proleptic irony as Algernon eagerly and hastily becomes engaged to Cecily |
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what quote mocks Victorian social views on divorce? |
‘Divorces are made in heaven’ p.365 |
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what technique is this quote an example of? |
wildean epigram |
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how did victorians view divorce? |
it was an anathema to many on social and religious grounds |
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how might a christian perspective view the epigram? |
almost oxymoronic |
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what quote criticises marriage by implying being widowed is liberating? |
‘I hear her hair has turned quite good from grief’ p.371 |
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what technique is this? |
humorous metaphor |
