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COMEDY
GLOSSARY:
Aphorism: a concise observation which contains a general truth
Comedy of manners: a genre of realistic, satirical comedy that questions and
comments upon the manners and social conventions.
Horatian Satire: a light-hearted and tolerant type of satire that gently mocks
folly and vice.
Farcical: very silly, unlikely, or unreasonable, in a way that is humorous
Melodrama: a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and
exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions.
COMPLEX PLOTTING
Wilde follows traditional farcical conventions in the complex plotting of the play.
The play moves from the relative order of the opening act to the disorder when
Algernon adopts the role of ‘Ernest’. Cecily and Gwendolen each declare the
other ‘detestable’ and the minutes later, claim that in their pain they are now
‘sisters’. The comedic tension over Jack’s identity and the identity of the owner
of the hand-bag, brings the play to its climax, where all true identities are
revealed, allowing Jack to realise the ‘vital Importance of Being Earnest’.
COMIC STEREOTYPES
Algernon adopts the characteristics of the day, in the opening scene, he admits
that he doesn’t play the piano ‘accurately’ but that he ‘plays with wonderful
expression’ demonstrating the value he places on appearance and style. The
invention of his alter ego ‘Bunbury’ is suggested to be a common necessity in
the masculine world of high society.
Lady Bracknell is the stereotypical, a harridan full of pomposity and arrogance.
Her statement that Jack should ‘try and acquire some relations’ allows Wilde to
COMEDY 1
COMEDY
GLOSSARY:
Aphorism: a concise observation which contains a general truth
Comedy of manners: a genre of realistic, satirical comedy that questions and
comments upon the manners and social conventions.
Horatian Satire: a light-hearted and tolerant type of satire that gently mocks
folly and vice.
Farcical: very silly, unlikely, or unreasonable, in a way that is humorous
Melodrama: a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and
exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions.
COMPLEX PLOTTING
Wilde follows traditional farcical conventions in the complex plotting of the play.
The play moves from the relative order of the opening act to the disorder when
Algernon adopts the role of ‘Ernest’. Cecily and Gwendolen each declare the
other ‘detestable’ and the minutes later, claim that in their pain they are now
‘sisters’. The comedic tension over Jack’s identity and the identity of the owner
of the hand-bag, brings the play to its climax, where all true identities are
revealed, allowing Jack to realise the ‘vital Importance of Being Earnest’.
COMIC STEREOTYPES
Algernon adopts the characteristics of the day, in the opening scene, he admits
that he doesn’t play the piano ‘accurately’ but that he ‘plays with wonderful
expression’ demonstrating the value he places on appearance and style. The
invention of his alter ego ‘Bunbury’ is suggested to be a common necessity in
the masculine world of high society.
Lady Bracknell is the stereotypical, a harridan full of pomposity and arrogance.
Her statement that Jack should ‘try and acquire some relations’ allows Wilde to
COMEDY 1
