30901 questions on the importance of being earnest

The play
First Act
1. Why does Algernon refuse to give Jack’s cigarette case back? (at least 2 reasons)
2. Why is it important for the plot?
3. Why is Jack’s proposal to Gwendolen scene quite unconventional? (≠ question 4.)
4. What are Gwendolen’s reasons to love Jack?
5. Explain precisely how Jack got lost when he was a child.
6. Why doesn’t Lady Bracknell want Jack to marry Gwendolen?
7. Why do you think does Algernon write down Jack’s address in the country?
8. Write down two examples of Wilde’s wit (humour / trait d’esprit) in the text.

Second Act
1. Where does the second Act take place?
2. Who does Algernon pretend to be?
3. Explain Cecily’s lines : “I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be
wicked and being really good all the time.” and what other meaning these lines have for
Algernon and the audience.
4. What are Cecily’s reasons to love Algernon?
5. What does Jack do or want to do to be able to marry Gwendolen? (2 answers)
6. Explain the quiproquo as regards Algernon. Why does Jack say “I haven’t got a brother”
and how does Cecily understand it? Find another quiproquo on the same subject. Explain
it briefly.
7. Write down two examples that show Cecily’s childlike behaviour?
8. Explain how Jack and Algernon’s double identities have been revealed?

Third Act
1. How do Cecily and Gwendolen react when they learn they have been deceived? What
make them forgive Jack and Algernon? What is weird?
2. What are Cecily’s qualities in the eyes of Lady Bracknell?
3. Why is Jack opposed to Algernon and Cecily’s marriage?
4. What is the proof that Jack is the baby Miss Prism lost 28 years ago?

5. Answer Jack’s question to Lady Bracknell “who am I?”.
6. Explain Jack’s final statement: “now I’ve realized … the vital Importance of being
Earnest.”


Questions for 3D
Imagine Jack discovered his father’s name and thus his real name wasn’t Ernest in the end.
How would the play end ? Don’t forget to write about Jack and Gwendolen’s relationship.
Or
Now that Algernon and Jack are brothers and that Jack’s name is Ernest. Algernon cannot
possibly be christened Ernest. Imagine a dialogue between Algernon and Cecily that would
take part at the end of the play. Other characters can also take part in this dialogue.
Or
Write a summary of Act 3 in approximatively 300 /400 words.
Why is the title of the play Earnest and not Ernest ?