The Importance of Being Earnest
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Act 1, Part 1 Act 1, Part 2 Act 2, Part 1 Act 2, Part 2 Act 3, Part 1 Act 3, Part 2
Themes
All Themes The Art of Deception: Fact v. Fiction The Pursuit of Marriage Cash, Class, and Character Name and Identity Hypocrisy, Folly, and Victorian Morality Men and Women in Love
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Jack
Symbols
All Symbols Town and Country Bunbury Ernest Tea Service Food The Dandy Orphans and Wards Christenings Jack’s Mourning Clothes Diaries Cecily’s Love Letters Miss Prism’s Three-volume-novel Jack’s Handbag Jack’s Cigarette Case Jack’s Business Card The Coatroom at Victoria Station and The Brighton Line The Army List
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Dramatic Irony Foreshadowing Genre Irony Metaphors Mood Paradox Parody Satire Setting Similes Situational Irony Style Tone
Quizzes
All Quizzes Act 1, Part 1 Quiz Act 1, Part 2 Quiz Act 2, Part 1 Quiz Act 2, Part 2 Quiz Act 3, Part 1 Quiz Act 3, Part 2 Quiz
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The Importance of Being Earnest

by

Oscar Wilde

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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Act 1, Part 1
  • Act 1, Part 2
  • Act 2, Part 1
  • Act 2, Part 2
  • Act 3, Part 1
  • Act 3, Part 2
Themes
  • All Themes
  • The Art of Deception: Fact v. Fiction Theme Icon
    The Art of Deception: Fact v. Fiction
  • The Pursuit of Marriage Theme Icon
    The Pursuit of Marriage
  • Cash, Class, and Character Theme Icon
    Cash, Class, and Character
  • Name and Identity Theme Icon
    Name and Identity
  • Hypocrisy, Folly, and Victorian Morality Theme Icon
    Hypocrisy, Folly, and Victorian Morality
  • Men and Women in Love Theme Icon
    Men and Women in Love
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Jack
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • Town and Country Symbol Icon
    Town and Country
  • Bunbury Symbol Icon
    Bunbury
  • Ernest Symbol Icon
    Ernest
  • Tea Service Symbol Icon
    Tea Service
  • Food Symbol Icon
    Food
  • The Dandy Symbol Icon
    The Dandy
  • Orphans and Wards Symbol Icon
    Orphans and Wards
  • Christenings Symbol Icon
    Christenings
  • Jack’s Mourning Clothes Symbol Icon
    Jack’s Mourning Clothes
  • Diaries Symbol Icon
    Diaries
  • Cecily’s Love Letters Symbol Icon
    Cecily’s Love Letters
  • Miss Prism’s Three-volume-novel Symbol Icon
    Miss Prism’s Three-volume-novel
  • Jack’s Handbag Symbol Icon
    Jack’s Handbag
  • Jack’s Cigarette Case Symbol Icon
    Jack’s Cigarette Case
  • Jack’s Business Card Symbol Icon
    Jack’s Business Card
  • The Coatroom at Victoria Station and The Brighton Line Symbol Icon
    The Coatroom at Victoria Station and The Brighton Line
  • The Army List Symbol Icon
    The Army List
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allusions
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Foreshadowing
  • Genre
  • Irony
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Paradox
  • Parody
  • Satire
  • Setting
  • Similes
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
Quizzes
  • All Quizzes
  • Act 1, Part 1 Quiz
  • Act 1, Part 2 Quiz
  • Act 2, Part 1 Quiz
  • Act 2, Part 2 Quiz
  • Act 3, Part 1 Quiz
  • Act 3, Part 2 Quiz
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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The Importance of Being Earnest Literary Devices

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Allusions
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