The Importance of Being Earnest
What are the characters?
What are they talking about?
Who is being earnest?
G: I am engaged to Mr. Worthing, Mamma.
LB: Pardon me, you are not engaged to any one. When you do become engaged to someone, I or your father, will inform you of the fact. And now I have a few questions to put to you. Mr. Worthing. While I am making these enquiries, you, Gwendolen, will wait for me below in the carriage.
G: Yes, Mamma. (goes out, looking back at Jack)
Who is being earnest?
Why is she so earnest?
What does it tell you about her?
Line 1-7
Line 8-18
Is Lady Bracknell being earnest?
What does she want to know in earnest?
LB: (pencil and note-book in hand) How old are you?
J: Twenty-nine
LB: A very good age to be married at. What is your income?
J: Between seven and eight thousand a year.
LB: (makes a note in her book) In land, or in investments?
J: In investments, chiefly.
LB: That is satisfactory. You have a house, I hope?
J: Well, I own a house in Belgrave Square.
LB: What number is Belgrave Square?
J : 149
LB: (shaking her head) The unfashionable side.
LB: To lose one parent, Mr Worthing, may be ragarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness. Who was your father?
LB: Found!
LB: Where did the charitable gentleman find you?
LB: A handbag?
LB: In what locality did this Mr Thomas Cardew come across this ordinary handbag?
LB: Mr Worthing, I confess I feel somewhat bewildered by what you have just told me. To be found in a handbag in a cloakroom at a railway station could hardly be regarded as an assured basis for a recognised position in good society.
LB: I would strongly advise you , Mr Worthing, to make a definite effort to produce one parent, of either sex, before the season is quite over. Good moring, Mr Worthing!
(LB sweeps out in indiganation.)
Line 18- the end
Is LB being earnest the whole time?
J: I have lost both my parents
LB: To lose one parent, Mr Worthing, may be ragarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness. Who was your father?
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Reflection
Who is being earnest?
In what aspect(s) is he/she being earnest?
Why is it important for him/her to be earnest?
Act it out!
Line 8-27
Pay attention to
the tone, stress and stage direction
Homework
Why are the audience laugh so hard at a play where actors are acting so earnest?
Thank You !
feelings
reasons
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