AnswersIC English 12 - DeeringPart 1: A Comedy of Manners: The Importance of Being Earnest

Part 1: A Comedy of Manners: The Importance of Being Earnest Answers

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Jack.

J
Jack has trouble listening and speaking.
J
Jack rejects all of Algernon’s suggestions.
A
Algernon states that he is hungry once again.
A
Algernon says it is hard work to live in this leisurely manner.
2
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Jack.

J
Jack confesses that he has come to the city to propose.
J
Jack scolds Algernon for not being romantic.
A
Algernon pokes fun at his friend Jack for falling in love and becoming interested in Gwendolen.
A
Algernon pokes fun at the fact that marriage in his society often is based on social rules, not romance.
3

The tone of Oscar Wilde’s critique in The Importance of Being Earnest is

A
aggressive.
B
serious.
C
humorous.
D
angry.
4

Read this sentence from a report on Oscar Wilde.Oscar Wilde’s humor points out that many people are not who they appear to be, which is a critique on the emphasis placed on appearance in society.

“
“From little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack.”
“
“There is no objection, I admit, to an aunt being a small aunt . . .”
“
“You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life.”
“
“Well, my name is Ernest in town and Jack in the country . . .”
5

Which line from The Importance of Being Earnest shows the difference between city and country living?

“
“Why cucumber sandwiches? Why such reckless extravagance in one so young? Who is coming to tea?”
“
“Yes, that is all very well; but I am afraid Aunt Augusta won’t quite approve of your being here.”
“
“When one is in town one amuses oneself. When one is in the country one amuses other people. It is excessively boring.”
“
“If you don’t take care, your friend Bunbury will get you into a serious scrape some day.”
6

Lady Bracknell.

h
her concern with a party instead of Mr. Bunbury’s health
h
her interest in playing classical music at her reception
h
her jealousy over Algernon’s friendship with the sickly Mr. Bunbury
h
her concern about the health of Algernon’s friend
7

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.Jack. Oh, Gwendolen is as right as a trivet. As far as she is concerned, we are engaged. Her mother is perfectly unbearable. Never met such a Gorgon . . . I don’t really know what a Gorgon is like, but I am quite sure that Lady Bracknell is one. In any case, she is a monster, without being a myth, which is rather unfair . . . I beg your pardon, Algy, I suppose I shouldn’t talk about your own aunt in that way before you.Algernon. My dear boy, I love hearing my relations abused. It is the only thing that makes me put up with them at all. Relations are simply a tedious pack of people, who haven’t got the remotest knowledge of how to live, nor the smallest instinct about when to die.

A
In traditional society, Algernon would be expected to defend his aunt. Instead, he speaks freely about his feelings toward family.
B
In traditional society, Algernon would be expected to speak kindly to Jack. Instead, he is harsh in his response.
C
Algernon rises to his aunt’s defense when Jack becomes critical of her personality.
D
Algernon explains that his aunt is difficult, but that Gwendolen is a favorite cousin.
8

Algernon.

A
Algernon holds his servant to an unreasonable standard because he expects the lower classes to be good examples for the upper class.
A
Algernon excuses his servant after Lane provides refreshments, and the two men chat about marriage and family life.
L
Lane defends marriage while Algernon jokes about it.
L
Lane lectures Algernon about his disrespectful attitude.
9

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.[Algernon.] [Jack puts out his hand to take a sandwich. Algernon at once interferes.] Please don’t touch the cucumber sandwiches. They are ordered specially for Aunt Augusta. [Takes one and eats it.]Jack. Well, you have been eating them all the time.Algernon. That is quite a different matter. She is my aunt. [Takes plate from below.] Have some bread and butter. The bread and butter is for Gwendolen. Gwendolen is devoted to bread and butter.

A
Jack attempts to take a sandwich.
B
Jack makes Algernon angry by eating bread and butter.
C
Algernon scolds Jack for eating sandwiches while eating them himself, satisfying his own needs.
D
Algernon offers Jack Gwendolen’s bread and butter because he knows that Jack loves Gwendolen.
10

Lady Bracknell.

s
speak unhappily of her own marriage.
s
speak lovingly of her own husband.
i
imply that young women do not have a choice in their own marriages.
i
imply that marriages are happiest when based on romantic love.
11

Read this sentence from a report on Oscar Wilde.Oscar Wilde’s humor points out that many people are not who they appear to be, which is a critique on the emphasis placed on appearance in society.

A
“From little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack.”
B
“There is no objection, I admit, to an aunt being a small aunt . . .”
C
“You are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life.”
D
“Well, my name is Ernest in town and Jack in the country . . .”
12

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.[Algernon.] [Jack puts out his hand to take a sandwich. Algernon at once interferes.] Please don’t touch the cucumber sandwiches. They are ordered specially for Aunt Augusta. [Takes one and eats it.]Jack. Well, you have been eating them all the time.Algernon. That is quite a different matter. She is my aunt. [Takes plate from below.] Have some bread and butter. The bread and butter is for Gwendolen. Gwendolen is devoted to bread and butter.

A
Jack attempts to take a sandwich.
B
Jack makes Algernon angry by eating bread and butter.
C
Algernon scolds Jack for eating sandwiches while eating them himself, satisfying his own needs.
D
Algernon offers Jack Gwendolen’s bread and butter because he knows that Jack loves Gwendolen.
13

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.Algernon. [Languidly.] I don’t know that I am much interested in your family life, Lane.Lane. No, sir; it is not a very interesting subject. I never think of it myself.Algernon. Very natural, I am sure. That will do, Lane, thank you.Lane. Thank you, sir. [Lane goes out.]

A
an example of class differences
B
a comparison of country and city life
C
a commentary on marriage
D
an illustration of clever wordplay

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