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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. Lady Plymdale wants her husband to meet Mrs. Erlynne so that:

2. Augustus asks:

3. Lord Darlington believes people are either:

4. Why does Lady Windemere claim to be upset with Lord Darlington?

5. When Mrs. Erlynne reads her daughter's letter, she asks:

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Dumby's opening remarks reveal about his character?

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

3. What truth has Lady Windemere discovered about her husband and Mrs. Erlynne?

4. Why does Lord Darlington suggest that Lady Windemere may need a friend some day?

5. What suggestion does the Duchess have for Lady Windemere's problem with her husband?

6. Why is the Duchess so interested in Lady Agatha's dance card?

7. Why does Darlington plan to leave England?

8. Why does the Duchess claim to feel totally secure at the Windemeres' house?

9. What is Mrs. Erlynne's opinion of the party guests?

10. What is Dumby's attitude about marriage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider the development of Wilde's plot over the course of the play. Then write an essay in which you:

1) Identify one of the acts as the most significant to the development of theme in the play.

OR

2) Identify one of the acts as the most significant to the development of characters in the play.

OR

3) Rank the four acts in order of general importance to the plot of the play.

Use examples from the text to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Consider the motif of loyalty explored in the play. Write an essay in which you:

1) Define at least three characters as loyal or disloyal, 2) Explore Wilde's message about loyalty in the play, or 3) Explore one character's actions and describe them as either loyal or disloyal.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay in which you discuss the significance of Lady Erlynne's "explanations" to:

1) the development of her character, 2) her relationship with Augustus, or 3) her relationship with her daughter over the course of the play.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 756 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample