English Literature / Unit 15 ENL 1432 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Importance of Being Earnest
Captions available
The idea
The Importance of Being Earnest, a Trivial Comedy for Serious People, first performed in February eighteen ninety-five, follows two men who lead double lives, Jack as "Ernest" in town and Algernon "Bunburying" in the country. Jack was found as a baby in a handbag. It satirizes Victorian high society.
In practice
Double lives, a handbag, a pun.
Where people slip
"Earnest" puns on the name.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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