I wrote this list of questions for a Junior Great Books discussion group meeting that I was leading. (The Importance of Being Earnest was the selection I chose.)
The McCarter Theatre Center for the Performing Arts, in Princeton, N.J., has recently published these discussion questions in their teacher's resource guide for schools attending Earnest!
- A "comedy of manners" is defined as: "A comedy concerned with the social actions and behavior of members of a highly sophisticated, upper-class society. Low-class characters are normally subordinate in interest or are played against the foibles of their 'betters'. Such comedy emphasizes wit, whether true or false, and more often that not takes an arch view of the love game." [Bacon, Wallace A. The Art of Interpretation. 2nd ed.]
- How closely does Earnest fit this description?
- What do you think the author satirizes?
(A few likely answers: upperclass society, shallowness, idleness, social climbing, contempt for the lower classes.)
- A theme that runs through this work is "dishonesty" on several levels:
- society ("masks")
- individual (Algernon, Jack)
Do you agree? How is this theme expressed?
- What about this play is realistic? What is not?
- Do the characters exemplify society? If so, how?
- Is Algernon or Jack more likable?
- Why?
- Why is the other less likable?
- What are some words you would use to describe Algernon? How would you describe Jack?
- Why do you think Algernon and Jack are friends? What is their friendship like?
- How are Gwendolen and Cecily...
- alike? (A few possible answers: somewhat shallow, romantic, they like the name Ernest)
- different? (Likely answers: upbringings, social spheres)
- How would you describe the character of Lady Bracknell?
- How is she used to satirize the upper class?
Please remember that plagiarism is not research.