Recall Knowledge Questions - Context Flashcards
Why did Oscar Wilde go to prison and when?
Convicted for homosexuality and ‘gross indecency’ in 1895
What is a dandy?
A man who places importance on physical appearance and has refined aesthetic taste
When was Oscar Wilde born?
1854
When did Wilde meet Lord Alfred Douglas?
1891
What year was De Profundis written?
1897
What year did Oscar Wilde die?
1900
How did London expand from 1800-1900
Population grew from about 1 million in 1800 to over 6 million by 1900, making it the largest city in the world
How did slums and overcrowding impact London?
The rapid influx of people led to severe overcrowding, with poor sanitation in working class areas like the east end
What was the class system like in Victorian society?
Rigid class system - Victorian society was highly stratified with a clear divide between the upper, middle and working classes
What was aristocracy and nobility like in Victorian society?
The upper class dominated politics and culture, living in lavish estates in areas like Mayfair and kensington
Why was there a rising middle class in Victorian society?
Industrialisation created new wealth, enabling a growing middle class of professions, merchants and entrepreneurs
What were working class struggles like in Victorian society?
Poor wages, long working hours, and harsh conditions defined life for most labourers, especially in factories and docks
How was charity and philanthropy presented in Victorian society?
As poverty became more visible, charitable organisations and philanthropists like Charles booth attempted to alleviate some suffering
What were crime rates like in Victorian London?
Urban poverty and overcrowding led to increased crime, including theft, prostitution and gang violence
How was policing changed in the Victorian society?
The establishment of the metropolitan police in 1829 by sir Robert peel helped reduce crime, though corruption and inefficiency were issues
Who was a notorious criminal in 1888 and what fears did he highlight?
Jack the Ripper - highlighted fears about crime, particularly in the slums of th east end
Where did the poor often end up in Victorian society?
Workhouses or prisons, where conditions were notoriously harsh and aimed at deterring pauperism
What was Victorian morality like?
A strong emphasis on sexual restraint, family values, and social propriety defined middle and upper class behaviour
What did Aestheticism emphasise?
The idea that art should exist solely for its beauty and not serve moral, political or practical purposes.
What did the aesthetic movement emerge in response to?
The rigid moralism and industrial utilitarianism of Victorian society. It promoted individual expression, sensory pleasure and a celebration of beauty over conventional values and functionality
What is mimesis?
Art imitates life
What is anti-mimesis?
Life imitates art
Is Wilde’s view mimetic or anti mimetic?
Anti mimetic. What art really mimics is the individual viewing it.
What genre is the novella?
A decadent gothic
What is hedonism?
A philosophy that prioritises the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain as the highest good in life
Who is Adonis in Greek mythology?
The God of beauty, fertility and permanent renewal. He is known as a god who was forever young, the one who would live and die only to be born again
Who is narcissus?
Known for his beauty. He rejected all romantic advances, eventually falling in love with his own reflection in a pool of water, staring at it for the remainder of his life
When was ‘Dr Faustus’ written and by who?
Christopher Marlow in 1604
What happens in Dr Faustus?
A scholar, dr Faustus, who makes a pact with the devil, trading his soul for 24 years of unlimited knowledge and magical power, leading to his eventual damnation
What is a Faustian bargain?
Any deal where a person sacrifices their moral integrity or ‘soul’ in exchange for earthly gains
What does faustus’ desire represent?
Human hubris, illuminating how overreaching ambition and the neglect of moral responsibility can lead to self destruction
What does ‘de Profundis’ mean?
‘From the depths’ or ‘out of the depths’
What was de profundis?
A long love letter addressed ‘dear bosie’ whcih Wilde was allowed to write towards the end of his prison term
What does Wilde write about in de profundis?
Suffering during imprisonment, tumultuous relationship with Alfred, reflects on dangers of unrestrained hedonism and more
How does Wilde’s critique of hedonism in de profundis link to Dorian gray?
De Profundis serves as Wilde’s personal reflection on the dangers of hedonism, echoing themes from Dorian Gray, where Dorian’s pursuit of pleasure and beauty leads to his moral and physical decay.
How does Wilde’s discussion of suffering and redemption in de profundis link to Dorian gray?
In both works, Wilde emphasises the transformative power of suffering. While Dorian resists redemption, Wilde in De Profundis acknowledges suffering as a path to spiritual growth, contrasting Dorian’s refusal to change.
How does Wilde’s discussion of art and morality in de profundis link to Dorian gray?
De Profundis deepens Wilde’s exploration of the relationship between art and morality, seen in Dorian Gray. Wilde critiques his former aesthetic philosophy, questioning the separation of art from moral consequences - something central to Dorian’s downfall.
What is exoticism?
The quality of being exciting and unusual because someone or something comes or seems to come from far away
