The Importance of Being Earnest


Book Description

Jack Worthing gets antsy living at his country estate. As an excuse, he spins tales of his rowdy brother Earnest living in London. When Jack rushes to the city to confront his "brother," he's free to become Earnest and live a different lifestyle. In London, his best friend, Algernon, begins to suspect Earnest is leading a double life. Earnest confesses that his real name is Jack and admits the ruse has become tricky as two women have become enchanted with the idea of marrying Earnest. On a whim, Algernon also pretends to be Earnest and encounters the two women as they meet at the estate. With two Earnests who aren't really earnest and two women in love with little more than a name, this play is a classic comedy of errors. This is an unabridged version of Oscar Wilde's English play, first published in 1899.










Study Guide to The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Works by Oscar Wilde


Book Description

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for selected works by Oscar Wilde, who aside from drama also published short stories, essays, and poems in various magazines. Titles in this study guide include Lady Windermere's Fan, A Woman of No Importance, An Ideal Husband, and The Importance of Being Earnest. As a collection of the late- nineteenth-century, Wilde’s work rebelled against many Victorian conventions and turned to aestheticism. Moreover, other influences of his included French literature of his time and the free enjoyment of pleasure in pagan Greek culture. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Wilde’s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons they have stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains: - Introductions to the Author and the Work - Character Summaries - Plot Guides - Section and Chapter Overviews - Test Essay and Study Q&As The Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research




A Study Guide for Oscar Wilde's "An Ideal Husband"


Book Description

A Study Guide for Oscar Wilde's "An Ideal Husband," excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Drama For Students. This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Drama For Students for all of your research needs.




Essays


Book Description




A Study Guide for Alan Ayckbourn's "A Chorus of Disapproval"


Book Description

A Study Guide for Alan Ayckbourn's "A Chorus of Disapproval," excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Drama For Students. This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Drama For Students for all of your research needs.




A Study Guide for Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray"


Book Description

A Study Guide for Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray," excerpted from Gale's acclaimed Novels for Students. This concise study guide includes plot summary; character analysis; author biography; study questions; historical context; suggestions for further reading; and much more. For any literature project, trust Novels for Students for all of your research needs.




A Woman of No Importance


Book Description

"A Woman of No Importance" is a play by Oscar Wilde, which became a phenomenon of its time. Like Wilde's other society plays, "A Woman of No Importance" satirizes the English upper-class society. The plot centers around the revelation of Mrs. Arbuthnot's long-concealed secret. As the events develop, the author casts light on the perversions in Victorian upper-class society's morals, hypocritical conventions, and general views and conduct.




The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays


Book Description

Enriched Classics offer readers accessible editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and commentary. Each book includes educational tools alongside the text, enabling students and readers alike to gain a deeper and more developed understanding of the writer and their work. Wilde’s classic comedy of manners, The Importance of Being Earnest, a satire of Victorian social hypocrisy and considered Wilde’s greatest dramatic achievement, and his other popular plays—Lady Windermere’s Fan, An Ideal Husband, and Salome—challenged contemporary notions of sex and sensibility, class and cultural identity. Enriched Classics enhance your engagement by introducing and explaining the historical and cultural significance of the work, the author’s personal history, and what impact this book had on subsequent scholarship. Each book includes discussion questions that help clarify and reinforce major themes and reading recommendations for further research. Read with confidence.




Recent Books