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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How old is Cecily?

2. What relation is not popular at the present time?

3. Who are the most interesting people, according to Algernon?

4. What does Lane present to Algernon while Jack sees Gwendolen out?

5. According to Algernon, what is the essence of romance?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Algernon and Jack's conversation concerning Cecily and Gwendolen.

2. How is it that Jack does not know who his parents are?

3. How does Jack Worthing's cigarette case betray his identity to Algernon?

4. Why do Algernon and Jack have such difficulty choosing a place to have dinner?

5. Describe Algernon Moncrieff.

6. What, according to Jack and Algernon, is the difference between mothers and fathers in modern society?

7. Who is Bunbury?

8. What is Lady Bracknell's opinion of Bunbury?

9. Why doe Jack go by the name of Ernest in London?

10. What is Lady Bracknell's response to the story of Jack's adoption?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following three options to write about:

1.) To what extent has Cecily always been at the beck and call of authority figures fro Thomas Cardew to Miss Prism. Write three paragraphs about her subjugation to three separate masters and how her diary undermines this control.

2.) Do you think that Gwendolen is an inherently rebellious character or a generally subservient character that acts against her nature in the story? Cite examples from the text to defend your answer.

3.) What is Miss Prism's motivation in the play? What is she running from and why has she decided that she will not marry?

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following topics to write about:

1.) What aspects of a person are important to a courtship according to Cecily? How do these differ from those of Lady Bracknell?

2.) What is Algernon's stated stance on romance and marriage in Act I? Why do you think he decides to propose to Cecily in spite of this position? Cite statements made by Algernon later to justify your argument.

3.) Gwendolen's statement about always wanting to marry a man named Ernest is absurd, but her reasons for liking the name are indicative of a desire everyone has when getting married. What are her reasons for liking the name and how do they indicate a universal desire of humankind?

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following options to write about:

1.) What type of freedom does Ernest allow Jack? Can he do certain things because of Ernest that he could not without him? What unexpected challenges arise because of the freedom Ernest allows?

2.) Write about debt as a driving force in the play? Which characters - both real and fictional - have accumulated debt and how doe they justify it. Cite specific examples in the text.

3.) To what extent are Lane, Miss Prism, and Chasuble all constrained by unseen forces to act in a certain way? Do any of them overcome these forces?

(see the answer keys)

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