OSCAR WILDE CONTEXT

Question 1

The period from 1890-95 brought Wilde to the height of his writing career,
- The Picture of Dorian Grey (18___).
- An Ideal Husband (18___).

Answer 1

• TPODG, 1891.
• AIH, 1895.
  – Scandalous in their assault on Victorian morals, conquered the London stage.

Question 2

Wilde met…

Answer 2

Lord Alfred Douglas in 1891.
- His downfall.

Question 3

In 189___, the ___________ of _________ (…) left a… publicly addressed…

Answer 3

In 1895, Marquess of Queensbury (Douglas’ father) left a note at Wilde’s club publicly addressed “To Oscar Wilde, posing as a somodite”.

Question 4

After this letter, Wilde sued for…

Answer 4

Libel but dropped the charges when the trial turned in his disfavour.

Question 5

When was Wilde born???

Answer 5

16th October 1854, he lied about his age and said he was born in 1856 in his trial.

Question 6

He was born in… to…

Answer 6

• Born in Ireland.
• His mother was called Lady Jane Wilde (used ‘Speranza’ as her penname when writing about Nationalism) and his father Sir William Wilde, an eye surgeon, he was taken to court for rape.

Question 7

Wilde published his first volume of verse in…

Answer 7

1881.

Question 8

Wilde married ________ in 18____, they had two sons together… Their marriage was initially…

Answer 8

• Married Constance Wilde in 1884, they had 2 sons together Vyvyen and Cyril.
• Their marriage was initially real.

Question 9

From 188__-___ he edited…

Answer 9

1887-89, ‘The Woman’s World’, he transformed the magazine from gossip to one that was ‘ahead’ of his readership e.g. economics.

Question 10

In his second trial Wilde was tried for…

Answer 10

Gross Indecency, bein tried along with Alfred Taylor, a brothel keeper.

Question 11

In his third trial he was prosecuted and convicted for… Constance was…

Answer 11

Gross Indecency and sentenced to 2 years of hard labour (maximum sentence).
- Constance forced into exile with their two children.

Question 12

Constance died in 189__ and Wilde said he was “…“…

Answer 12

Constance died 1898, Wilde said he was “Wedded to poverty”.

Question 13

On the night of Wilde’s trial, ______ men left…

Answer 13

600/700 men left England.
- His court case may have put the idea of homosexual freedom.

Question 14

Wilde seemed to have been a dandy, he was described to have always been “…”

Answer 14

“Always carrying lavender gloves”.

Question 15

In early 18___’s Wilde was invited to America, gave _____ lectures…

Answer 15

Early 1880’s, he gave 140 lectures.

Question 16

(Lovers) Robbie ______, was a… he was…, Wilde claims…

Answer 16

• Robbie Ross, a lodger of Oscar & Constance. He was 17/18 years old.
• Wilde claims Robbie seduced him.

Question 17

When in prison Wilde wrote that the one thing he regretted was that he…

Answer 17

Had been too materialistic, he didn’t however, regret his sexual tendencies.

Question 18

An Ideal Husband was performed at the… Wilde said “…”

Answer 18

Heart of the West End, in both one of the most aristocratic venues as well as the poorer sides.
- Multiplicity & uncertainty of interpretation of plays due to many types of viewers.
- “It is the public, not the play, that I desire to make a success”.

Question 19

The real Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Sir _________ ________ (who had…) was brought down by…

Answer 19

• Sir Charles Bilk (had exchanged letters with Wilde), was brought down by a divorce scandal.
• He was thrown out and his career was ruined…

Question 20

Perhaps understandable that Wilde centres his play on…

Answer 20

A deeply flawed character with a shameful secret.

Question 21

What was the name of the affair that might have been influential of the fraudulent schemes in Wilde’s play?

Answer 21

Panama Affair.

Question 22

What act was Wilde charged under?

Answer 22

The Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885 that outlawed sexual relations between men.
- He was sentenced to 2 years’ hard-labour (the harshest punishment at the time).

Question 23

Wilde was an enthusiastic supporter…

Answer 23

Of the advent of women’s influence in politics.

Question 24

(Gender) Wilde remarked…

Answer 24

“The cultivation of separate sorts of virtues and separate ideals of duty in men and women has led to the whole social fabric being weaker and unhealthier than it need be”.

Question 25

Christ was for Wilde…

Answer 25

The supreme artist and individualist, the arch enemy of convention, he made Christ part of the Aesthetic cult

Question 26

Wilde’s opinion on the government…

Answer 26

“All modes of Government are failures.”

Question 27

(Wilde & Dandyism)
- Was a dandy…
- After graduating from…
- As soon as he became well-known…

Answer 27

• A dandy in dress for some time.
• After graduating from Oxford, he spent a few years dressing in what was then considered exquisite fashion when he went out in the evenings.
• He conformed, albeit always fashionably, to the more conservative tastes of the time.

Question 28

(Political Corruption)
As a young man, Sir Robert Chiltern was persuaded to…

Answer 28

Persuaded to sell a cabinet secret to Baron Arnheim. Sir Robert made his fortune with that illicit money.

Question 29

Wilde wanted the ‘Women’s World’ to be :

Answer 29

“An organ of women of intellect, culture and position”.