The Importance of Being Earnest
Teacher’s notes
LEVEL 2
PENGUIN READERS Teacher Support Programme
The Importance of Being Earnest
Oscar Wilde
Act 1, pages 1–6 (line 8): The play begins in the sitting room of Algernon Moncrieff ’s flat in London. Algernon is expecting a visit from his aunt, Lady Bracknell. Before she arrives, his friend, Jack Worthing, visits him. Jack declares that he intends to marry Lady Bracknell’s daughter, Gwendolen. Algernon points out that Jack has overlooked the problem with another girl called Cecily, who Jack pretends at first not to know, but later says she is an aged aunt of his. Algernon produces Jack’s cigarette box with the words ‘to dear Uncle Jack from little Cecily’ written inside, and remarks that the message doesn’t sound like one an old woman would write. Jack reveals that Cecily’s grandfather had looked after him when he was young, and, that when he died, he became young Cecily’s guardian. Algernon wants to know why Jack calls himself Ernest in town and Jack when he in his country house. Jack replies he has invented a younger brother called Ernest as an excuse to come to London and live a bad life from time to time. Algernon admits that he too has an imaginary friend, Bunbury. Whenever he is invited to a boring party, he tells the host that Bunbury is ill and he has to visit him. Act 1, pages 6 (line 9)–15: Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen arrive. Jack and Gwendolen sit down together while Lady Bracknell and Algernon go to the music room. Jack tells Gwendolen he loves her and she tells him she loves him, and especially his name, Ernest. Jack says he doesn’t really like the name Ernest, and asks her what she thinks of the name Jack. She doesn’t like it and so he resolves to change his name. He proposes to her. At that moment, Lady Bracknell enters the room, and wants to know what is happening. After informing the couple that she makes the decisions about her daughter’s future husband, she sends Gwendolen out of the room and begins to interrogate Jack.
LEVEL 2
PENGUIN READERS Teacher Support Programme
The Importance of Being Earnest
Oscar Wilde
Act 1, pages 1–6 (line 8): The play begins in the sitting room of Algernon Moncrieff ’s flat in London. Algernon is expecting a visit from his aunt, Lady Bracknell. Before she arrives, his friend, Jack Worthing, visits him. Jack declares that he intends to marry Lady Bracknell’s daughter, Gwendolen. Algernon points out that Jack has overlooked the problem with another girl called Cecily, who Jack pretends at first not to know, but later says she is an aged aunt of his. Algernon produces Jack’s cigarette box with the words ‘to dear Uncle Jack from little Cecily’ written inside, and remarks that the message doesn’t sound like one an old woman would write. Jack reveals that Cecily’s grandfather had looked after him when he was young, and, that when he died, he became young Cecily’s guardian. Algernon wants to know why Jack calls himself Ernest in town and Jack when he in his country house. Jack replies he has invented a younger brother called Ernest as an excuse to come to London and live a bad life from time to time. Algernon admits that he too has an imaginary friend, Bunbury. Whenever he is invited to a boring party, he tells the host that Bunbury is ill and he has to visit him. Act 1, pages 6 (line 9)–15: Lady Bracknell and Gwendolen arrive. Jack and Gwendolen sit down together while Lady Bracknell and Algernon go to the music room. Jack tells Gwendolen he loves her and she tells him she loves him, and especially his name, Ernest. Jack says he doesn’t really like the name Ernest, and asks her what she thinks of the name Jack. She doesn’t like it and so he resolves to change his name. He proposes to her. At that moment, Lady Bracknell enters the room, and wants to know what is happening. After informing the couple that she makes the decisions about her daughter’s future husband, she sends Gwendolen out of the room and begins to interrogate Jack.