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Quizzes > Literature & Language > Books & Literature

Test Your Knowledge: 'The Importance of Being Earnest' Quiz

Think you can ace this Oscar Wilde trivia? Start the classic literature quiz now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of Oscar Wilde The Importance of Being Earnest quiz books quill question marks on sky blue background

This Importance of Being Earnest quiz helps you see what you remember from Oscar Wilde's play - who's who, sharp lines, Bunburying, and the famous handbag mix-up. Use it for quick practice before class or a test; when you're ready, take the quiz , or try more Wilde with The Happy Prince .

Who wrote The Importance of Being Earnest?
Samuel Beckett
George Bernard Shaw
Oscar Wilde
Harold Pinter
The Importance of Being Earnest was written by Oscar Wilde and first performed in 1895. Wilde is renowned for his wit and satirical take on Victorian society. This play is considered one of his masterpieces of comic drama. .
What genre best describes The Importance of Being Earnest?
Comedy of manners
Melodrama
Tragedy
Historical drama
The play is a classic comedy of manners, poking fun at the social conventions of Victorian England. Wilde uses sharp dialogue and absurd situations to satirize his characters. The light, witty tone is characteristic of this genre. .
In which century is the play set?
17th century
20th century
18th century
19th century
The Importance of Being Earnest premiered in 1895 and is set in Victorian era England, which is the 19th century. The play reflects the manners and social codes of that period. Wilde's critique is aimed squarely at late 19th-century values. .
What is the name of Jack Worthing's alter ego in the city?
Algy
Ernest
Cecily
Bunbury
Jack Worthing adopts the persona of 'Ernest' when he goes to town, allowing him to escape his country life. This double identity is central to the play's comedic misunderstandings. The confusion around the name Ernest drives much of the plot. .
What is the name of Jack's young ward?
Lady Bracknell
Gwendolen Fairfax
Cecily Cardew
Miss Prism
Cecily Cardew is Jack Worthing's spirited young ward living at his country estate. Her vivid imagination and romantic notions add to the play's humor. Cecily becomes infatuated with the idea of marrying 'Ernest'. .
Who invents a fictional invalid friend named Bunbury?
Miss Prism
Jack Worthing
Lady Bracknell
Algernon Moncrieff
Algernon Moncrieff creates an imaginary friend named Bunbury to escape unpleasant social engagements. This practice, known as 'Bunburying', highlights the characters' desire to avoid societal duties. It sets up many of the play's comic episodes. .
Who is Gwendolen Fairfax's mother?
Miss Prism
Cecily Cardew
Lady Bracknell
Lady Harbury
Lady Bracknell is Gwendolen Fairfax's imperious mother, known for her strict social values. She famously interrogates Jack Worthing on his suitability as a suitor. Her character embodies the play's critique of aristocratic snobbery. .
Which food item does Algernon famously request when Lady Bracknell visits?
Tea cakes
Cucumber sandwiches
Scones
Fruitcake
Algernon entertains Lady Bracknell with cucumber sandwiches and comments on their freshness. This simple detail underscores the trivialities of high society. The scene also sets the comedic tone of the play. .
Which character famously declares "The truth is rarely pure and never simple"?
Lady Bracknell
Algernon Moncrieff
Miss Prism
Jack Worthing
Algernon Moncrieff makes this wry observation in Act I, reflecting Wilde's penchant for epigrammatic wit. The line critiques the idea of absolute honesty in social interactions. It captures the playful yet critical tone of the play. .
What personal item reveals Jack's assumed name to Gwendolen?
Pocket watch
Handbag
Cigarette case
Letter
Gwendolen sees the inscription on Jack's cigarette case - 'From little Cecily, with her fondest love to her dear Uncle Jack' - and assumes his name is Ernest. This misunderstanding propels their romance. The miscommunication is a key comic device. .
Why does Cecily become infatuated with 'Ernest' before meeting him?
Because of rumors in the town
Because she saw his portrait
Because of the romantic connotations of his name
Because Lady Bracknell praised him
Cecily's fascination with the name 'Ernest' stems from its implication of earnestness and sincerity, qualities she finds thrilling. She creates an entire imaginary romance around him in her diary. This highlights Wilde's satire of romantic ideals. .
In Act II, who appears unexpectedly at Jack's country estate?
Algernon Moncrieff
Gwendolen Fairfax
Lady Bracknell
Miss Prism
Algernon arrives at Jack's country house disguised as Ernest, causing confusion with Cecily who believes she's betrothed to the real Ernest. His visit deepens the play's theme of mistaken identities. This surprise entrance fuels the comedy of Act II. .
Why does Lady Bracknell initially disapprove of Jack as a suitor for Gwendolen?
He was found in a handbag at a railway station
He has no formal education
He is in debt
He refuses to call himself Ernest
Lady Bracknell is scandalized that Jack was discovered as a baby in a handbag at Victoria Station. For her, respectable lineage and proper origins are paramount. This exchange satirizes Victorian class prejudices. .
Why does Jack lead a double life as Ernest in the city?
To attend university anonymously
To write under a pseudonym
To escape social duties and enjoy freedom
To hide from the law
Jack adopts the Ernest persona to shed the responsibilities of his country life and indulge in the pleasures of London. This contrast between duty and pleasure is central to the play's humor. His double life highlights themes of identity and social obligation. .
What is the name of Cecily's governess?
Mrs. Cardew
Miss Prism
Miss Fairfax
Lady Bracknell
Miss Prism is Cecily's governess and plays a pivotal role in the subplot involving a misplaced manuscript. Her character pokes fun at the moralizing attitudes of the era. She inadvertently left the baby that became Jack in a handbag. .
In which county is Jack's country estate located?
Hertfordshire
Lancashire
Yorkshire
Kent
Jack's country estate is described as being near Woolton in Hertfordshire. This setting contrasts with the urban scenes in London. The rural backdrop underscores the rigid social structures the play satirizes. .
What does the term "Bunburying" refer to in the play?
Writing under a false name
Inventing a fictitious person to avoid social obligations
Secretly inheriting property
Adopting a child without consent
Bunburying is Algernon's practice of feigning visits to a non-existent invalid friend named Bunbury to escape unwanted engagements. The device satirizes the lengths to which characters go to avoid societal expectations. It underscores themes of deception and identity. .
The play critiques which aspect of Victorian society most directly?
Strict social conventions and hypocrisy
Colonial expansion
Industrialization and labor conditions
Religious revivalism
Wilde's comedy targets the rigid class structures and superficial morality of Victorian society. Through witty dialogue, he exposes the hypocrisy underlying social etiquette. The characters' absurd priorities highlight this critique. .
What literary device is at play when Gwendolen and Cecily argue over who will marry Ernest?
Metaphor
Dramatic irony
Foreshadowing
Personification
The audience knows that there is only one Ernest, while both Gwendolen and Cecily believe they are engaged to him. This discrepancy creates dramatic irony, heightening the comedic tension. It also underscores the theme of mistaken identity. .
How is Jack's true parentage revealed in the final act?
By a confession from Lady Bracknell
Through a birthmark
Through a lost handbag containing a manuscript
Via a letter hidden in his diary
Miss Prism confesses that she misplaced a baby in a handbag and left a manuscript in its place. Lady Bracknell produces the handbag, proving Jack's identity as the late Mr. Moncrieff's son. This revelation resolves the play's central mystery. .
Which character interrogates Jack about his origins and social standing?
Lady Bracknell
Algernon Moncrieff
Miss Prism
Gwendolen Fairfax
Lady Bracknell subjects Jack to a rigorous and comical interview to assess his suitability as Gwendolen's husband. Her questions about his parentage and wealth lampoon aristocratic obsession with lineage. The scene is one of Wilde's most famous satirical set pieces. .
How many acts comprise The Importance of Being Earnest?
Three
One
Two
Four
The play is structured in three acts, each advancing the central comedy of mistaken identities and romantic entanglements. This tripartite form was conventional for Victorian comedies. It allows for exposition, complication, and resolution. .
Which theme is least prominent in the play?
Social satire
Identity
Death
Marriage and courtship
While identity, social satire, and courtship are central themes, death is not a focus of this lighthearted comedy. The play avoids dark or tragic elements, emphasizing wit and irony instead. Wilde's intent was to entertain and critique, not to explore mortality. .
Which literary device is used in the title's play on 'earnest' and 'Ernest'?
Allegory
Pun
Synecdoche
Irony
The title plays on the dual meaning of 'earnest' (sincere) and the name Ernest, creating a pun that drives the central joke. Wilde frequently used puns to layer meaning and wit into his works. The ambiguity of names and attributes is a hallmark of his style. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Major Plot Twists -

    Demonstrate your ability to remember and describe the key events and surprising turns in The Importance of Being Earnest Quiz.

  2. Analyze Wilde's Witty Dialogue -

    Identify examples of Oscar Wilde's signature humor and wordplay, and explain how they contribute to the play's charm.

  3. Identify Character Traits -

    Distinguish between the personalities and motivations of characters like Jack Worthing, Algernon Moncrieff, and Gwendolen Fairfax.

  4. Evaluate Core Themes -

    Understand the social satire and themes of identity, marriage, and class that drive the narrative of this classic literature quiz.

  5. Apply Oscar Wilde Trivia -

    Test and expand your knowledge of Oscar Wilde trivia by answering questions about his life, style, and other works.

  6. Strengthen Quiz-Taking Skills -

    Improve your performance on classic literature quizzes by practicing with a fun, interactive set of Importance of Being Earnest questions.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Satirical Lens on Victorian Society -

    Wilde's play pokes fun at the strict social codes of late 19th-century England by turning respectability on its head. Remember that characters like Lady Bracknell epitomize societal expectations - review British Library notes on Victorian manners to see how Wilde twists them. A handy mnemonic is "Satire = Society's Mirror," helping you recall how dialogue reveals hypocrisy.

  2. Importance of Double Identities -

    The twin deceptions - Jack's "Ernest" and Algernon's "Bunbury" - drive both plot and humor. Refer to academic analyses on JSTOR showing how mistaken identities critique rigid social labels. Recall "Two Names, Twice the Trouble" as a memory aid to link character names with their secret lives.

  3. Wilde's Witty Epigrams and Wordplay -

    Key Oscar Wilde trivia often centers on famous lines like "All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy." Practice matching quotes to scenes using flashcards from reputable university literature guides. Think of the formula: Quote + Character + Context to cement epigrams in your memory.

  4. Character Dynamics and Motivations -

    Understanding motivations - Jack's desire for inheritance, Cecily's romantic fantasies, Gwendolen's obsession with the name Ernest - sharpens quiz responses. The Cambridge University Press emphasizes mapping these relationships in a chart to visualize conflicts and alliances. Use a simple table: Character | Goal | Obstacle to clarify each role.

  5. Comedy, Structure, and Theatrical Conventions -

    Notice how Wilde deploys acts and scenes to build farcical tension - e.g., the handkerchief mix-up is a classic stage trope. Review theatre manuals or the Oxford Dictionary of Plays to see how timing and rapid dialogue heighten humor. An easy mnemonic is "3 Acts, 2 Engagements, 1 Happy Reveal" to remember the play's arc.

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