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O. Wilde

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Victorian Society on AboutBritain.com. "Etiquette" is the one word that aptly describes life during the reign of Queen Victoria.

Victorian Society on AboutBritain.com

For those in the upper echelons of society, rules such as the proper forms of address, and even what to wear (including which pieces of jewellery would be appropriate) were all considered very important. For the lower class, the poor, there wasn't time for etiquette. The Upper and Upper-Middle Class From the slightest burp (social ruin if it was heard) to how a gentleman spoke to a young lady, Victorian society was greatly concerned with every aspect of daily life. From the moment the upper class left their beds, their days were governed by do's and don'ts.

Characteristics of Victorian Era Society. The Victorian era in comparison to today’s times was extremely strict.

Characteristics of Victorian Era Society

Even their view of behavior had many things different than today. Things as little as a man sitting down before women just prior to eating was considered extremely rude. In a time today where I frequently sit at the table with a hat on, it was inappropriate for men to even sit down at a table with gloves on, much less leaving a hat and gloves on for an entire meal. The ladies did not have a much easier time. If they used an older mans first name this was considered inappropriate and a lack of respect. The way that society dressed also showed how strict they were. Even though society as a whole would be viewed as very conservative, the era was actually a very progressive era. Another thing that this society began to put value in was education. However, by the end the term gentlemen were also associated with the men who had received good educations.

Double entendre. Lodgings to Let, an 1814 engraving featuring a double entendre.

Double entendre

He: "My sweet honey, I hope you are to be let with the Lodgins! " She: "No, sir, I am to be let alone". A double entendre (/dʌbᵊl ɒnˈtɒndʒrə/, /duː-/, /-ʒrə/; French pronunciation: ​[dubl ɑ̃.tɑ̃dʁ(ə)]) is a figure of speech or a particular way of wording that is devised to be understood in either of two ways, having a double meaning. The Motif of Inversion in the Importance of Being Earnest. Victorian era. Queen Victoria, after whom the era is named.

Victorian era

How do puns and paradoxes contribute to the satirical tone in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. - Homework Help. The main contribution of puns and paradoxes to the satirical tone of the play is the fact that they intensify the humor of the satire by presenting contrasting ideas that are both ridiculous and almost impossible to concede in everyday situations.

How do puns and paradoxes contribute to the satirical tone in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. - Homework Help

In turn, this brings out the main message that there is triviality and humor in everything, even in situations that are considered too mature, or too tedious, or even boring. Bunburying - The Literature Network Forum. No Subject Bunburying is a system in which Algernon invented and uses to escape from unwanted social obligations.

Bunburying - The Literature Network Forum

No Subject While Bunburying is certainly a method for Algernon to escape his unwanted social responsibilities, Wilde was also tipping his hat to the homosexual audience of the time. A bunburyist was code for a homosexual, much as "gay" was, until heterosexuals figured out what it meant. Wilde isn't neccessarily implying that Algie's gay, he's alluding to the catch-phrase of the time. No Subject Bunburying is not an actual "thing".Algernon made up hid friend Bunbury so he could go "visit"him when he did not want to visit relatives.Hence the phrase "Bunburying" No Subject If you have read the play, you should know what bunburying is. Are you sure you're an English teacher?

Posting Permissions You may not post new threadsYou may not post repliesYou may not post attachmentsYou may not edit your posts Forum Rules. What function does the concept of Bunburying play in connection to gender and identity in The Importance of Being... - Homework Help. The central conflict of the this great play comes about because of Bunburying.

What function does the concept of Bunburying play in connection to gender and identity in The Importance of Being... - Homework Help

According to Algernon, both he and Jack are "confirmed Bunburyists. " Jack has no idea what he is talking about and either does the audience until Algernon explains that he has an imaginary friend who is very ill. This man's name is Mr. Bunbury, and whenever Algernon has a social obligation he would rather avoid, he claims that his good friend Bunbury needs his immediate help in the country. Once he we hear his explanation, we realize we are ALL Bunburyists. Jack is also a Bumburyist. What function does the concept of Bunburying play in connection to gender and identity in The Importance of Being... - Homework Help. What is "bunburying,"and its significance, and how does it relate to Wilde's critique of Victorian earnestness? - Homework Help. Bunburying has several connotations: It was said by Aliester Crowley, according to Neil McKenna, that Oscar Wilde once "took the coach to Banbury, met a Public School boy there, and the agreed to meet in Sunbury" for a secret meeting.

What is "bunburying,"and its significance, and how does it relate to Wilde's critique of Victorian earnestness? - Homework Help

Algernon Moncrieff in The Importance of Being Earnest. Character Analysis Algy and Jack Jack and Algernon certainly are a lot alike.

Algernon Moncrieff in The Importance of Being Earnest

So much so that it feels like we’re writing a Siamese twin character analysis. Take a look at the first section of Jack’s "Character Analysis" and come back for more Algernon-specific details. Algernon’s Dandy Ancestors. The Importance of Being Earnest as a Comedy of Manners. The Importance of Being Earnest is an enlightening example of comedy of manners as it makes fun of the behavior of Victorian aristocracy which attaches great value to hypocrisy, frivolity, superficiality, artificiality and money mindedness.

The Importance of Being Earnest as a Comedy of Manners

The Victorian upper class society judged things by appearance and the present play makes us laugh at those values by turning them upside-down through a language which is satirical, funny and witty.