The Ballad of Reading Gaol Flashcards
What had been abolished?
Although public executions had been abolished in 1868, private executions still took place.
What was Wilde’s aim?
Wilde’s aim was to capture the reality of capital punishment and contribute to the debate on penal reform.
What was Wilde found guilty of?
‘Acts of gross indecency with other male persons’ and sentenced to two years’ hard labour.
Where was Wilde sent?
First to Pentonville, then to Wandsworth and finally to Reading Gaol.
What did Wilde do when he was released and sent to Dieppe?
Wilde wrote two letters to the Daily Chronicle protesting about the brutalities of prison life, including the inhumane treatment of children in gaol.
What did Wilde sign the poem as?
Its publication gave the author’s name as C.3.3 (Wilde’s number in Reading Gaol, his cell being the third on the third floor of Block C).
What did critics think?
The poem was praised for its social realism, but, as Wilde had feared, many critics felt the poem’s propagandist aims undermined its aesthetic achievements.
When did Wilde die?
Wilde died in 1900 at the age of 46, a mere 12 years after publishing his first work of fiction.
Where was Wilde buried?
He was initially buried in a pauper’s grave at Bagneaux cemetery on the outskirts of Paris.
