Mysterious Yappenings (Who said it?)
“French songs I cannot possibly allow. People always seem to think they are improper, and either look shocked, which is vulgar, or laugh, which is worse(304).
-Bracknell, remarking on plans for another gathering organized by Bunbury
100- “When I say that I was wondering if the lights were on in the ___ you might immediately suspect, if you deal in ideals at all, that I was registering the ___ as a political symbol, thinking in shorthand about the military-industrial complex and its role in the university community, but you would be wrong.
Fill in the same word twice, and correctly, from Joan Didion’s Why I Write.
Bevatron
Where was Jack found?
“The cloak-room at Victoria Station(311).”
Which one of these is NOT a quote from George Orwell, Why I Write?
“Writing is the opium of the people, and in short, is the supreme power in the world(3).”
“Writers share this characteristic with scientists, artists, politicians, lawyers, soldiers, successful business men – in short, with the whole top crust of humanity(6).”
“His subject matter will be determined by the age he lives in – at least this is true in tumultuous, revolutionary ages like our own – but before he ever begins to write he will have acquired an emotional attitude from which he will never completely escape(5).”
“Writing is the opium of the people, and in short, is the supreme power in the world(3).”
Name a Victorian manor's rule surrounding calling that Algernon may have used to his advantage in the creation of Burnbury
Do not go to the room of an invalid unless invited
(Other answers with sufficient explanation are acceptable)
“When one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other people. It is excessively boring(296).”
-Jack telling Algernon what he does in his passtime
“No one HAS to do something he doesn't want to for the rest of his life. But then again, if that’s what you wind up doing, by all means convince yourself you HAD to do it. You’ll have lots of ___. “ (6)
What author wrote this line, and what word is missing?
Hunter S. Thompson
Company
How does Algernon describe Jack’s romantic relationship?
“My dear fellow, the way you flirt with Gwendolen is perfectly disgraceful. It is almost as bad as the way Gwendolen flirts with you(297).”
Which one of these is NOT a quote from Hunter S. Thompson’s Beware of Looking for Goals?
“The answer -- and, in a sense, the tragedy of life -- is that we seek to understand the goal and not the man. We set up a goal which demands of us certain things: and we do these things.” (2)
“The goal that a man sets forth, must then, only be in place as far as it grants him fulfillment; as soon as it loses its ability to generate purpose it no longer can serve him.” (3)
“As I see it then, the formula runs something like this: a man must choose a path which lets his abilities function at maximum efficiency towards the gratification of his desires.” (4)
“The goal that a man sets forth, must then, only be in place as far as it grants him fulfillment; as soon as it loses its ability to generate purpose it no longer can serve him.” (3)
On page 297, Algernon declares that Jack/Ernest may not eat the cucumber sandwiches. Why is his reasoning for his declaration, and what does this show him to think of Jack/Ernest’s character
Bonus points: What does he say Jack can eat instead, and what might this suggest?
Cucumber sandwiches are only for family; despite knowing of Gwendolen and Jack/Ernest’s courtship, he does not see Jack/Ernest as family.
Bonus: He offers him bread and butter, a lower-brow delicacy that is intended for Gwendolen. “Gwendolen is devoted to bread and butter” 297, much as she is to Jack/Ernest.
“Well, in the first place, girls never marry the men they flirt with. Girls don’t think it right(298).”
-Algernon contemplating Jack’s decision to propose to Gwendolyn
“He pushed the door open and entered the room. A __________, filtering through the muslin curtains, slanted on to the table, where a matchbox half-open, lay beside the inkpot.”
Which FOUR WORDS complete the description of the way Orwell wrote in his childhood, in this excerpt from Why I Write?
Yellow beam of sunlight
How and why does Algernon view proposals as he does?
“I really don’t see anything romantic in proposing. It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If ever I get married, I’ll certainly try to forget the fact(297).”
Which one of these is NOT a quote from Why I Write by Joan Didion?
“Had my credentials been in order I would never have become a writer. Had I been blessed with even limited access to my own mind there would be no reason to write.” (4)
“The narrative to the book was a clearly conjured picture of ‘white.’ The scope of the story, each event would happen in absence.” (5)
“Most important of all, until I wrote these lines I did not know who ‘I’ was, who was telling the story.” (9)
“The narrative to the book was a clearly conjured picture of ‘white.’ The scope of the story, each event would happen in absence.” (5)
“Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry”
How does the quotation relate to Orwell’s ideals and the fear that his work typically instates? What could the beast mean in Orwell’s mind?
The imagery of a beast relates to great fear and political unrest. Orwell believes in a horrible monster inside the heart of humans that causes class division. He also hates communism.
“Oh! It is absurd to have a hard and fast rule about what one should read and what one shouldn’t. More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn’t read(299).”
-Algernon remarks on how Jack feels others judge people for what they read
“And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the ___ of thy heart?”
Name the author of Tyger Tyger and fill in the quote.
William Blake
Sinews
How does Jack Bunbury in Algernon's eyes?
“You have invented a very useful younger brother called Ernest, in order that you may be able to come up to town as often as you like(301).”
Which of these is NOT a rule for shopping according to Victorian Etiquette?
Pushing or crowing at a counter, or the indulgence in personal remarks, handling goods in a careless manor, or so rudely injure them, lounging upon the counter, or talking in a loud voice, are marks or bad breeding
It is a vile show of destitution and bad faith to ask the price of an item that has been purchased or has been parched by another patron
Never let the door slam in the face of any person, nor permit a stranger to hold it open without any acknowledgment of courtesy
It is a vile show of destitution and bad faith to ask the price of an item that has been purchased or has been parched by another patron
“For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.”
Who is attributed with a version of this quotation, and how does it relate to the views of Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen on the role a lady should play?
Virginia Woolf
Each of them sees how women have been forced to step into the background, especially in marriage.
“Upon my word, if I thought that I’d shoot myself…(312).”
-Jack remarks if Gwendolyn becomes like her mother
“I like crunchy, brittle, crackly words, such as, splinter, ____, jostle, crusty.”
Who wrote the letter, and fill in the blank.
Robert Pirosh
Grapple
How does Algernon react to Jack’s advice on Bunbury?
“Nothing will induce me to part with Bunbury, and if you ever get married, which seems to me extremely problematic, you will be very glad to know Bunbury(302).”
Which of these is NOT a rule for church from Victorian Etiquette?
If you are to see a married lady, who is a stranger of the church, do not walk her to a pew or a seating section. See that an usher helps her find her way.
Once in church, observe the most respectful silence when joining in the worship. Whispering or laughing before the service begins or during the service, is highly improper.
In attending a church from a different denomination from your own, you should carefully observe the outward forms of worship.
If you are to see a married lady, who is a stranger of the church, do not walk her to a pew or a seating section. See that an usher helps her find her way.
The following two quotes are both from Algernon in the span of very few conversations. Explain why his views contradict themselves.
“It is very romantic to be in love. But there is nothing romantic about a definite proposal. Why, one may be accepted. One usually is, I believe. Then the excitement is all over. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. If I ever get married, I’ll certainly forget that fact. “ (297) -Algernon
“The amount of women in London who flirt with their husbands is perfectly scandalous. It looks bad. It is simply washing one’s clean linen in public.” (302) -Algernon
Algernon states that when married, he will soon forget the excitement of courtship, which is lost during marriage. He then goes on to say that those who keep the spark alive are revolting.