OSCAR WILD
The Importance of Being Ernest

Wild was the first reviewer of his work. In interviews given before the production of his new play he claimed that it was ‘exquisitely trivial, a delicate bubble of fancy, and it has it’s philosophy.’ He later wrote that the philosophy of the play was that of an exploration of treating the ‘trivial things of life very seriously, and all the serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality.’

Reviews of the play:

Theatre Magazine – “a bid for popularity in the direction of farce…. The advantage of being frivolous which, in a pecuniary sense, is likely to accrue to an author who caters for the less intelligent section of the public.’

Truth Magazine – “dressing up an old fashioned screaming farce in the very latest and smartest verbal fashion.”

Black and White Magazine – “It’s title is a pun, it’s story a conundrum, it’s characters are lunatics, it’s dialogue is galamatias and it’s termination is a sell!”

VOCAB
1.0 Pecuniary – of relating to or consisting of money. As financial.
He admitted obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception.
1.1 Pecuniarily
1.2 Pecuniarity

2.0 Frivolous – Not having any serious purpose or value.
2.1 Frivolity
2.2 Frivolously – Acting frivolously
2.3 Frivolity

Ex 1. Match the broken sentences

Now, go on! ___
What on earth do you _ (are you saying?)
In fact it’s __ (normal)
As a high moral tone can hardly be said ___ (without positive effect)
I haven’t the smallest intention ___

1. mean by Bunburyist?
2. perfectly ordinary.
3. to conduce very much for either one’s health or happiness.
4. of doing anything of the kind
5. tell me the whole thing.

Ex 2. Gap-fill

If it wasn’t for Bunbury’s bad health….
… for I have been __ engaged to Aunt Augusta for more than a week.
This __ with the question is absurd.
Nor do I in  approve of the modern __ with invalids.
.. one wants something that will encourage conversation, _ at the end
of the season when everyone has _ said whatever they had to say, which, in most cases, was _ not much.

Shilly-shallying / Practically / Any way / Particularly / Extraordinary / Sympathy
Probably / Really