Part 2- Literary Devices in The Importance of Being Earnest Quiz 100%!!

Which line from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest is an epigram?

"There is no good offering a large reward now that the thing is found."
". . . you have no right whatsoever to read what is written inside."
"More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn’t read."
"Well, if you want to know, Cecily happens to be my aunt."

C. "More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn’t read."

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.

Algernon. In the third place, I know perfectly well whom she will place me next to, to-night. She will place me next Mary Farquhar, who always flirts with her own husband across the dinner-table. That is not very pleasant. Indeed, it is not even decent . . . and that sort of thing is enormously on the increase. The amount of women in London who flirt with their own husbands is perfectly scandalous. It looks so bad. It is simply washing one’s clean linen in public. Besides, now that I know you to be a confirmed Bunburyist I naturally want to talk to you about Bunburying.

Which part of the excerpt contains a paradox?

". . . I know perfectly well whom she will place me next to . . ."
"She will place me next Mary Farquhar, who always flirts . . ."
"It is simply washing one’s clean linen in public."
"Besides, now that I know you to be a confirmed Bunburyist . . ."

C. "It is simply washing one’s clean linen in public."

What literary device is being used when a writer intentionally describes something as being less than it actually is?

epigram
paradox
understatement
pun

C. understatement

Read the excerpt from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest.

Algernon. Well, we might trot round to the Empire at ten?

Jack. Oh, no! I can’t bear looking at things. It is so silly.

Algernon. Well, what shall we do?

Jack. Nothing!

Algernon. It is awfully hard work doing nothing. However, I don’t mind hard work where there is no definite object of any kind.

What effect does the paradox in this excerpt have on the reader?

It causes the reader to think about the multiple meanings of the word bear in the play.
It causes the reader to think about how doing nothing should be easy, but in fact can be quite hard.
It causes the reader to realize that doing nothing is never hard work and that Algernon is wrong.
It causes the reader to realize that Jack thinks doing something is always better than doing nothing.

B. It causes the reader to think about how doing nothing should be easy, but in fact can be quite hard.

Read the excerpt from Act II of The Importance of Being Earnest.

Algernon. [Raising his hat.] You are my little cousin Cecily, I’m sure.

Cecily. You are under some strange mistake. I am not little. In fact, I believe I am more than usually tall for my age.

The pun used in the excerpt causes the reader to

realize that Cecily does not like Algernon.
think that Algernon is a funny person.
realize that Algernon is confused.
think that Cecily is a quick-witted person.

D. think that Cecily is a quick-witted person.

What literary device does Oscar Wilde use in the title of his play The Importance of Being Earnest?

epigram
understatement
pun
paradox

C. pun

Read the excerpt from Act II of The Importance of Being Earnest.

Cecily. [Rather shy and confidingly.] Dearest Gwendolen, there is no reason why I should make a secret of it to you. Our little county newspaper is sure to chronicle the fact next week. Mr. Ernest Worthing and I are engaged to be married.

Gwendolen. [Quite politely, rising.] My darling Cecily, I think there must be some slight error. Mr. Ernest Worthing is engaged to me. The announcement will appear in the Morning Post on Saturday at the latest.

Part of this excerpt would be considered an understatement because

when Cecily says, "There is no reason why I should make a secret of it to you," she actually does have a reason to keep it a secret.
when Cecily says, "Mr. Ernest Worthing and I are engaged to be married," she is actually making a joke.
when Gwendolen says, "I think there must be some slight error," she is actually referring to the large error of Cecily saying she is engaged to Ernest.
when Gwendolen says, "The announcement will appear in the Morning Post on Saturday," she is not telling the truth.

C. when Gwendolen says, "I think there must be some slight error," she is actually referring to the large error of Cecily saying she is engaged to Ernest.

Which line from Act I of The Importance of Being Earnest is a paradox?

"It is awfully hard work doing nothing."
"I have something very particular to say to Mr. Worthing."
"You are not quite old enough to do that."
"It may be necessary to do something desperate."

A. "It is awfully hard work doing nothing."

A type of wordplay that relies on two words that sound the same or a single word that has two distinct meanings is called a(n)

pun.
paradox.
epigram.
understatement.

A. pun