Oscar Wilde Flashcards
What type of life did Wilde adopt?
he adopted the aesthetic ideal as he affirmed in one of his famous conversations: “My life is like a work of art”
What role did he paly in society?
He lived the double role of rebel and dandy
What is Wilde’s dandy?
is an aristocrat whose elegance is a symbol of the superiority of his spirit
he uses his wit to shock and he is an individualist who demands absolute freedom
What was life meant for for Wilde?
Life was meant for pleasure and pleasure was an indulgence in the beautiful
Wilde’s interest in beauty had no moral stance
What did Wilde affirm in his Preface?
he affirmed “There is no such a thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written. That is all.”
What did Wilde reject?
he rejected the didacticism that had characterized the Victorian novel in the first half of the century
Where was the term dandy used first?
in the song Yankee Doodle Dandy sung by the British troops during the American Revolution
Where does the term dandy come from?
probably derives from the Scottish nickname for Andrew
What did the words of this song mock?
the colorful uniforms of the American soldiers
How was the imaginary character depicted?
He was depicted riding a pony with a feather in his hat
What did the term dandy refer to?
the term dandy referred to a man who boasted about his appearance eve though he was wearing odd and ordinary clothes
What did Oscar believe about art?
He believed that inly art as the cult of beauty could prevent the murder of the soul
How did Wilde perceive the artist?
he perceived the artist as an alien in a materialistic world, he wrote only to please himself and was not concerned about communicating his theories to his fellow beings
What was the act of pursuing beauty seen as?
his pursuit of beauty and fulfillment was the tragic act if a superior being inevitably rejected as an outcast
Where and when does the novel take place?
the novel is set in London at the end of the 19th century
