TIOBE : Jack

Question 1

Country and Town dichotomy

“When one is in town one amuses oneself…”

Answer 1

“When one is in the country, one amuses other people.”
- Jack Act 1

Question 2

Triviality

“Why all these cups? Why cucumber sandwiches?…”

Answer 2

“why such reckless extravagance in one so young?”
- Jack Act 1

Question 3

Triviality and detatchment of the upper classes.

“Do you mean to say you had my cigarette case all this time? I wish to goodness you had let me know…”

Answer 3

“I have been writing frantic letters to Scotland Yard about it. I was very nearly iffering a large reward.”
- Jack Act 1

Question 4

Slapstick comedy

(moving to Sofa…)

Answer 4

(and kneeling upon it) “[…] For Heaven’s sake give me back my cigarette case!”
- Jack Act 1

Comedy arises from the difference between Jack and Algernon’s behaviour vs thier appearance / status

Question 5

Duplicity

“You look as if your name was Ernest…”

Answer 5

“you are the most earnest-looking person I ever saw in my life. It’s perfectly absurd your saying that your name isn’t Ernest.”
- Algernon Act 1

Question 6

Duplicty / hypocrisy

“When one is placed in the position of guardian, one has to adopt a very high moral tone on all subjects…”

Answer 6

“It’s one’s duty to do so.”
- Jack Act 1

Question 7

Triviality

(*Algernon, from the other room,…)

Answer 7

(strikes up the Wedding March)
- Act 1

Underscores the triviality of the conversation that just occured between Jack and Lady Bracknell.

Question 8

Excessiveness, triviality, foolishness

‘Enter Jack slowly from the back of the garden…’

Answer 8

‘He is dressed in the deepest mourning, with crape hatband and black gloves’
- Act 2

Question 9

Duplicity

“What nonsense…”

Answer 9

“I havent’ got a brother.”
- Jack Act 2

Question 10

Duplicity

“It is very painful for me to be forced to speak the truth…”

Answer 10

“It is the first time in my life that I’ve ever been reduced to such a painful position, and I am really quite inexperienced in doing anything of the kind.”
- Jack Act 2

Question 11

“Gwendolen, it is a terrible thing…”

Answer 11

“for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth. Can you forgive me?”
- Jack Act 3

Question 12

“I’ve now realised for the first time in my life…”

Answer 12

“the vital importance of being Earnest.”
- Jack Act 3

In order to be moral, one must be open about their immorality

Question 13

Duplicity

“My deat fellow, the truth isn’t…”

Answer 13

“quite the sort of thing one tells to a nice, sweet, refined girl.”
- Jack Act 1