An Ideal Husband
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Act 1, Part 1 Act 1, Part 2 Act 1, Part 3 Act 2, Part 1 Act 2, Part 2 Act 3, Part 1 Act 3, Part 2 Act 4, Part 1 Act 4, Part 2
Themes
All Themes The Natural and the Artificial Romance, Boredom, and Delight The Trivial and the Serious Wit, Charm, and Contrariness Love, Morality, and Forgiveness
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Lord Arthur Goring Sir Robert Chiltern Lady Gertrude Chiltern Mrs. Cheveley Baron Arnheim Lord Caversham Lady Markby Mabel Chiltern Phipps
Symbols
All Symbols The Stolen Brooch The Buttonhole
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Dramatic Irony Foreshadowing Genre Hyperbole Imagery Irony Metaphors Mood Pathos Personification Satire Setting Similes Style Tone Verbal Irony
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An Ideal Husband

by Oscar Wilde
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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Act 1, Part 1
  • Act 1, Part 2
  • Act 1, Part 3
  • Act 2, Part 1
  • Act 2, Part 2
  • Act 3, Part 1
  • Act 3, Part 2
  • Act 4, Part 1
  • Act 4, Part 2
Themes
  • All Themes
  • The Natural and the Artificial Theme Icon
    The Natural and the Artificial
  • Romance, Boredom, and Delight Theme Icon
    Romance, Boredom, and Delight
  • The Trivial and the Serious Theme Icon
    The Trivial and the Serious
  • Wit, Charm, and Contrariness Theme Icon
    Wit, Charm, and Contrariness
  • Love, Morality, and Forgiveness Theme Icon
    Love, Morality, and Forgiveness
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Lord Arthur Goring
  • Sir Robert Chiltern
  • Lady Gertrude Chiltern
  • Mrs. Cheveley
  • Baron Arnheim
  • Lord Caversham
  • Lady Markby
  • Mabel Chiltern
  • Phipps
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Stolen Brooch Symbol Icon
    The Stolen Brooch
  • The Buttonhole Symbol Icon
    The Buttonhole
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allusions
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Foreshadowing
  • Genre
  • Hyperbole
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Pathos
  • Personification
  • Satire
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Style
  • Tone
  • Verbal Irony
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)
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An Ideal Husband Literary Devices

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Allusions
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The Buttonhole
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The Buttonhole
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Allusions
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Allusions

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