View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. How was Oscar Wilde's novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," received?

2. How did Oscar Wilde escape from being prosecuted for homosexuality?

3. What is the name of the play Oscar Wilde wrote upon leaving Reading Gaol?

4. What did Oscar Wilde say about disciples?

5. When did Oscar Wilde return to Paris?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the outcome of Oscar Wilde's lawsuit against his lover's father, Lord Queensberry?

2. How did the English see the crime of sodomy?

3. How is "The Picture of Dorian Gray" seen as a work about homosexuality?

4. Were Oscar Wilde and his lover, Lord Alfred Douglas, faithful to each other?

5. What is the plot of Oscar Wilde's novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray"?

6. What happens to Oscar Wilde's allowance from his mother after he leaves prison?

7. What disturbing incidents does Oscar Wilde witness before leaving prison?

8. How do conditions change for Oscar Wilde when Major Nelson takes over at Reading jail?

9. How do Oscar Wilde's aesthetics develop during his time in Paris in 1891?

10. How is "Lady Windermere's Fan" received when it premieres in London?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Oscar Wilde as a lecturer. What were his themes? What was his style? Where did he derive his authority from? What drew crowds to hear him speak? How did Wilde generate the 'buzz' that brought audiences? How was he received? Were audiences coming to see a public personality or to hear Wilde's thoughts on aesthetics and art?

Essay Topic 2

Oscar Wilde was not only homosexual, but openly, even flagrantly homosexual. What explains his openness? What did he gain by it? How did it hurt him personally? How did it affect his career?

Essay Topic 3

Oscar Wilde's parents both espoused Irish independence. How does the Irish cause figure in Oscar Wilde's life? How does he espouse Irish values? Did he become more English than Irish? In what ways did he remain Irish?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 755 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample