Characters
This character has an imaginary friend of convenience named Bunbury.
Who is Algernon?
You are just not a civilized person if you don't take a break in the afternoon for _________.
What is tea?
Cecily and Gwendolen begin arguing after they believe this.
What is both think they're engaged to the same man, "Ernest?"
The word "Earnest" really means this.
What is honest?
Lady Bracknell's reason for saying short engagements are better than long ones
What is long engagements giving couples a chance to get to know too much about one another
This character was found as an infant in an unattended handbag.
Who is Jack?
Cucumber sandwiches, bread and butter, tea cakes, and muffins are staple foods of this kind of event.
What is tea/tea time?
Both Cecily and Gwendolen make it clear to Algernon and Jack that one thing is an absolute deal breaker.
What is the name Ernest for the man they love?
When Algernon and Lady Bracknell are talking about how young and peaceful a widow looks, they are really doing this.
What is making fun of her, taking jabs at her for seeming to happy
According to Gwendolen, this is the most important thing in matters of grave importance.
What is style? (And not sincerity)
This character seems almost obsessed with appearances and following societal rules and expectations.
Who is Lady Bracknell?
Both Algernon and Jack believe it is their right to do this so they can live the lives they want and still seem respectable.
What is making up an imaginary person they need to go help to get out of social obligations, or Bunbury-ing?
Jack's attempt to mourn for his estranged brother, Ernest, does't work for this reason.
What is Algernon already being at his house, pretending to be Ernest?
To make his points about Victorian society values, playwright Oscar Wilde uses this literary device
What is satire? (or humor)
In the scene where Cecily and Gwendolen believe they are both engaged to the same man, the humor comes from this.
What are the women's jealousy of each other and petty insults?
This character lost a baby its guardians entrusted to her care.
Who is Miss Prism?
The two lead characters fail to see the importance of this human character trait, worrying instead about how they appear to others.
What is honesty?
Cecily "reminds" Algernon that they have been engaged for three months. The problem with this statement is this.
What is the fact that they have just met or that this is a fantasy of hers?
In Act II, Algernon and Jack begin devouring muffins for this reason.
What is stress or worry over being caught in their lies by their fiancees?
This character says she has no intention of "un-deceiving" someone else, because this would be wrong.
Who is Lady Bracknell?
This character says he can apply one of his sermons to any real-life situation.
Who is Dr. Chasuble?
Lady Bracknell says she doesn't like it when marriage is based on this, but then tells us otherwise through her actions towards Cecily.
What is money?
In addition to Gwendolen and Cecily's demands of their fiances, the couples face this challenge to their engagements from these other individuals.
What is a lack of consent from Lady Bracknell and Jack?
Lady Bracknell says, "Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can’t get into it do that." That's an example of this kind of statement that Oscar Wilde is known for in his writing.
What is an epigram?
Bunbury was said to have died by being "quite exploded," which could mean ______.
He was found out or he actually exploded by getting blown up.