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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. Darlington describes the upcoming ball as:

2. What does Lady Windemere believe about her mother?

3. Confronted by Lady Windemere, Lord Darlington claims:

4. The Duchess carefully edits:

5. What does Lady Windemere claim she will do with the fan her husband has given her as a birthday gift?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why, according to Mrs. Erlynne, should Lady Windemere stay with her husband no matter what she suffers?

2. Why does Windemere say he wishes Mrs. Erlynne would have revealed her secret?

3. How is Mrs. Erlynne a "useful" woman, as Lady Plymdale claims?

4. Why has Lord Augustus asked Lord Windemere about Mrs. Erlynne?

5. Why does Darlington pretend to be "bad?"

6. How does Lady Windemere describe her feelings now that she is at Darlington's house?

7. What is Dumby's attitude about marriage?

8. Describe the Duchess of Berwick's character.

9. On what condition is Lord Darlington allowed to attend the ball at the Windemeres'?

10. Why does Mrs. Erlynne threaten to make her name infamous if Windemere reveals her identity?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Considering the motif of "good" and "bad" in Wilde's play, write an essay in which you discuss:

1) Which characters are "good" or "bad" women, 2) Which characters are "good" or "bad" men, or 3) Which characters cannot be do not qualify as either "good" or "bad."

Essay Topic 2

Consider Lord Darlington's statement that "[he] can resist anything but temptation." Write an essay in which you explore:

1) the statement's significance to the characterization of Lord Darlington

2) The statement's effect on Lady Windemere and her later actions

3) The statement's relevance to the events of the message of the play.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay in which you explore the nature of relationships in Wilde's play. Consider one of the following topics:

1) How do current couples compare in behavior and expectation to the couples in Wilde's play?

OR

2) Have marriage relationships and expectations changed since Wilde's play was first published? Why or Why not?

OR

3) How does the play reflect "present" attitudes about relationships between men and women in general?

(see the answer keys)

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