Упражнения к тексту "Who was Oscar Wilde?"
Who was Oscar Wilde?
Oscar Wilde was an Anglo-Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest
playwrights of the Victorian Era. In his lifetime he wrote nine plays, one novel, and numerous poems, short
stories, and essays.
Wilde was a proponent of the Aesthetic movement, which emphasized aesthetic values more than moral or
social themes. This doctrine is most clearly summarized in the phrase 'art for art's sake'.
Fast Facts
Birth name: Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde
Birth date: October 16, 1854
Birth place: Dublin, Ireland
Nationality: Irish
Educated:
Trinity College (Dublin)
Magdalen College (Oxford)
Father: Sir William Wilde (eye doctor)
Mother: Jane Francesca Elgee (poet and journalist)
Siblings: brother William, sister Isola
Spouse: Constance Lloyd
Children: two sons - Cyril and Vyvyan
Occupation: Playwright, novelist, poet, editor, critic
Period: Victorian era (1837–1901)
Literary movement: Aestheticism
Famous Works:
The Picture of Dorian Gray (novel)
The Importance of Being Earnest (play)
The Ballad of Reading Gaol (poem)
Died: November 30, 1900 (aged 46) in Paris, France
Resting place: Le Pére Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France
A Short Biography
Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin on 16 October 1854 to Sir William Wilde and his wife Jane. Oscar's
mother, Lady Jane Francesca Wilde (1820-1896), was a successful poet and journalist. She wrote patriotic Irish
verse under the pseudonym "Speranza". Oscar's father, Sir William Wilde (1815 - 1876), was a leading ear and eye
surgeon, a renowned philanthropist and gifted writer, who wrote books on archaeology and folklore. Oscar had an
elder brother, Willie, and a younger sister, Isola Francesca, who died at the early age of 10.
He was educated at Portora Royal School (1864-71), Trinity College, Dublin (1871-74), and Magdalen
College, Oxford (1874-78). While at Oxford, he became involved in the aesthetic movement and became an
advocate for 'Art for Art's Sake' (L'art pour l'art). Whilst at Magdalen, he won the 1878 Newdigate Prize for his
poem Ravenna.
Oscar Wilde in New York After he graduated, he moved to Chelsea in London (1879) to establish a literary
career. In 1881, he published his first collection of poetry - Poems that received mixed reviews by critics. He
worked as an art reviewer (1881), lectured in the United States and Canada (1882), and lived in Paris (1883). He
also lectured in Britain and Ireland (1883 - 1884).
On May 29, 1884, Oscar married Constance Lloyd (died 1898), daughter of wealthy Queen's Counsel
Horace Lloyd. They had two sons, Cyril (1885) and Vyvyan (1886). To support his family, Oscar accepted a job
as the editor of Woman's World magazine, where he worked from 1887-1889.
In 1888, he published The Happy Prince and Other Tales, fairy-stories written for his two sons. His first
and only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was published in 1891 and received quite a negative response. This
had much to do with the novel's homoerotic overtones, which caused something of a sensation amongst Victorian
critics. In 1891, Wilde began an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, nicknamed 'Bosie', who became both the love of
his life and his downfall. Wilde's marriage ended in 1893.
Wilde's greatest talent was for writing plays. His first successful play, Lady Windermere's Fan, opened in
February 1892. He produced a string of extremely popular comedies including A Woman of No Importance
(1893), An Ideal Husband (1895), and The Importance of Being Earnest (1894). These plays were all highly
acclaimed and firmly established Oscar as a playwright.
He spent the rest of his life wandering Europe, staying with friends and living in cheap hotels. He died of
cerebral meningitis on November 30, 1900, penniless, in a cheap Paris hotel.
Chronology of Wilde's Life
1854 Born in Dublin
1864 - 1871 Attends Portora Royal School, Enniskillen
1871 - 1874 Attends Trinity College, Dublin
1874-1879 Attends Magdalen College, Oxford
1878 Wins Newdigate Prize for Ravenna (poem)
1881 Publishes his first collection of poetry – Poems
1882 Lectures in the United States and Canada. Writes his first play - Vera, or the Nihilists (was not a
success)
1883 Lectures in Britain and Ireland. Writes his second unsuccessful play, The Duchess of Padua
1884 Marries Constance Lloyd
1885 His son, Cyril, is born
1886 His son, Vyvyan, is born
1887-1889 Edits Woman's World magazine
1888 Publishes The Happy Prince and Other Tales
1889 – 1890 Publishes several essays
1891 Publishes two collections of short stories - Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and other Stories, and A
House of Pomegranates. Publishes The Picture of Dorian Gray, his first and only novel. Begins his friendship with
Lord Alfred Douglas – Bosie.
1892 Writes two plays: Lady Windermere's Fan (great success) and Salome
1893 Writes A Woman of No Importance
1894 Writes The Importance of Being Earnest
1895 Writes An ldeal Husband. At the height of his theatrical success, he sues Bosie's father for libel,
which leads to his own arrest for homosexual offenses. He is found guilty for the crime of sodomy and sentenced
to two years of hard labor.
1900 Dies of cerebral meningitis in Paris.
Who was Oscar Wilde?
Oscar Wilde was an Anglo-Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest
playwrights of the Victorian Era. In his lifetime he wrote nine plays, one novel, and numerous poems, short
stories, and essays.
Wilde was a proponent of the Aesthetic movement, which emphasized aesthetic values more than moral or
social themes. This doctrine is most clearly summarized in the phrase 'art for art's sake'.
Fast Facts
Birth name: Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde
Birth date: October 16, 1854
Birth place: Dublin, Ireland
Nationality: Irish
Educated:
Trinity College (Dublin)
Magdalen College (Oxford)
Father: Sir William Wilde (eye doctor)
Mother: Jane Francesca Elgee (poet and journalist)
Siblings: brother William, sister Isola
Spouse: Constance Lloyd
Children: two sons - Cyril and Vyvyan
Occupation: Playwright, novelist, poet, editor, critic
Period: Victorian era (1837–1901)
Literary movement: Aestheticism
Famous Works:
The Picture of Dorian Gray (novel)
The Importance of Being Earnest (play)
The Ballad of Reading Gaol (poem)
Died: November 30, 1900 (aged 46) in Paris, France
Resting place: Le Pére Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France
A Short Biography
Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin on 16 October 1854 to Sir William Wilde and his wife Jane. Oscar's
mother, Lady Jane Francesca Wilde (1820-1896), was a successful poet and journalist. She wrote patriotic Irish
verse under the pseudonym "Speranza". Oscar's father, Sir William Wilde (1815 - 1876), was a leading ear and eye
surgeon, a renowned philanthropist and gifted writer, who wrote books on archaeology and folklore. Oscar had an
elder brother, Willie, and a younger sister, Isola Francesca, who died at the early age of 10.
He was educated at Portora Royal School (1864-71), Trinity College, Dublin (1871-74), and Magdalen
College, Oxford (1874-78). While at Oxford, he became involved in the aesthetic movement and became an
advocate for 'Art for Art's Sake' (L'art pour l'art). Whilst at Magdalen, he won the 1878 Newdigate Prize for his
poem Ravenna.
Oscar Wilde in New York After he graduated, he moved to Chelsea in London (1879) to establish a literary
career. In 1881, he published his first collection of poetry - Poems that received mixed reviews by critics. He
worked as an art reviewer (1881), lectured in the United States and Canada (1882), and lived in Paris (1883). He
also lectured in Britain and Ireland (1883 - 1884).
On May 29, 1884, Oscar married Constance Lloyd (died 1898), daughter of wealthy Queen's Counsel
Horace Lloyd. They had two sons, Cyril (1885) and Vyvyan (1886). To support his family, Oscar accepted a job
as the editor of Woman's World magazine, where he worked from 1887-1889.
In 1888, he published The Happy Prince and Other Tales, fairy-stories written for his two sons. His first
and only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was published in 1891 and received quite a negative response. In
1891, Wilde began an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, nicknamed 'Bosie', who became both the love of his life
and his downfall. Wilde's marriage ended in 1893.
Wilde's greatest talent was for writing plays. His first successful play, Lady Windermere's Fan, opened in
February 1892. He produced a string of extremely popular comedies including A Woman of No Importance
(1893), An Ideal Husband (1895), and The Importance of Being Earnest (1894). These plays were all highly
acclaimed and firmly established Oscar as a playwright.
He spent the rest of his life wandering Europe, staying with friends and living in cheap hotels. He died of
cerebral meningitis on November 30, 1900, penniless, in a cheap Paris hotel.
Match the dates to Oscar Wild’s life fact and put the events in chronological order
1871 -
1874
Wins Newdigate Prize for Ravenna (poem)
1895
Attends Magdalen College, Oxford
1900
His son, Cyril, is born
1882
Attends Portora Royal School, Enniskillen
1887-
1889
Lectures in the United States and Canada. Writes his first play - Vera, or the Nihilists (was not a
success)
1883
Marries Constance Lloyd
1894
Born in Dublin
1886
Attends Trinity College, Dublin
1892
Publishes several essays
1854
Writes A Woman of No Importance
1885
Writes The Importance of Being Earnest
1891
Edits Woman's World magazine
1884
Lectures in Britain and Ireland. Writes his second unsuccessful play, The Duchess of Padua
1889 –
1890
Writes An ldeal Husband. At the height of his theatrical success, he sues Bosie's father for libel, which
leads to his own arrest for homosexual offenses. He is found guilty for the crime of sodomy and
sentenced to two years of hard labor.
1864 -
1871
Dies of cerebral meningitis in Paris.
1888
His son, Vyvyan, is born
1874-
1879
Publishes two collections of short stories - Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and other Stories, and A House
of Pomegranates. Publishes The Picture of Dorian Gray, his first and only novel. Begins his friendship
with Lord Alfred Douglas – Bosie.
1893
Writes two plays: Lady Windermere's Fan (great success) and Salome
1881
Publishes The Happy Prince and Other Tales
1878
Publishes his first collection of poetry – Poems
Answer the questions:
1. When and where was Oscar Wild born?
2. What’s his mother’s name? What was she?
3. What education did he get?
4. Who was O. Wild’s wife?
5. How many children did they have?
6. What magazine did Oscar work in 1887-1889 for?
7. Where did he spend his last days?
8. Name the most famous Wild’s works.
9. What literary movement (движение, течение) did his works belong to?
Who was Oscar Wilde?
Oscar Wilde was an Anglo-Irish playwright, novelist, poet, and critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest
playwrights of the Victorian Era. In his lifetime he wrote nine plays, one novel, and numerous poems, short
stories, and essays.
Wilde was a proponent of the Aesthetic movement, which emphasized aesthetic values more than moral or
social themes. This doctrine is most clearly summarized in the phrase 'art for art's sake'.
Fast Facts
Birth name: Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde
Birth date: October 16, 1854
Birth place: Dublin, Ireland
Nationality: Irish
Educated:
Trinity College (Dublin)
Magdalen College (Oxford)
Father: Sir William Wilde (eye doctor)
Mother: Jane Francesca Elgee (poet and journalist)
Siblings: brother William, sister Isola
Spouse: Constance Lloyd
Children: two sons - Cyril and Vyvyan
Occupation: Playwright, novelist, poet, editor, critic
Period: Victorian era (1837–1901)
Literary movement: Aestheticism
Famous Works:
The Picture of Dorian Gray (novel)
The Importance of Being Earnest (play)
The Ballad of Reading Gaol (poem)
Died: November 30, 1900 (aged 46) in Paris, France
Resting place: Le Pére Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France
A Short Biography
Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin on 16 October 1854 to Sir William Wilde and his wife Jane. Oscar's
mother, Lady Jane Francesca Wilde (1820-1896), was a successful poet and journalist. She wrote patriotic Irish
verse under the pseudonym "Speranza". Oscar's father, Sir William Wilde (1815 - 1876), was a leading ear and eye
surgeon, a renowned philanthropist and gifted writer, who wrote books on archaeology and folklore. Oscar had an
elder brother, Willie, and a younger sister, Isola Francesca, who died at the early age of 10.
He was educated at Portora Royal School (1864-71), Trinity College, Dublin (1871-74), and Magdalen
College, Oxford (1874-78). While at Oxford, he became involved in the aesthetic movement and became an
advocate for 'Art for Art's Sake' (L'art pour l'art). Whilst at Magdalen, he won the 1878 Newdigate Prize for his
poem Ravenna.
Oscar Wilde in New York After he graduated, he moved to Chelsea in London (1879) to establish a literary
career. In 1881, he published his first collection of poetry - Poems that received mixed reviews by critics. He
worked as an art reviewer (1881), lectured in the United States and Canada (1882), and lived in Paris (1883). He
also lectured in Britain and Ireland (1883 - 1884).
On May 29, 1884, Oscar married Constance Lloyd (died 1898), daughter of wealthy Queen's Counsel
Horace Lloyd. They had two sons, Cyril (1885) and Vyvyan (1886). To support his family, Oscar accepted a job
as the editor of Woman's World magazine, where he worked from 1887-1889.
In 1888, he published The Happy Prince and Other Tales, fairy-stories written for his two sons. His first
and only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, was published in 1891 and received quite a negative response. In
1891, Wilde began an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas, nicknamed 'Bosie', who became both the love of his life
and his downfall. Wilde's marriage ended in 1893.
Wilde's greatest talent was for writing plays. His first successful play, Lady Windermere's Fan, opened in
February 1892. He produced a string of extremely popular comedies including A Woman of No Importance
(1893), An Ideal Husband (1895), and The Importance of Being Earnest (1894). These plays were all highly
acclaimed and firmly established Oscar as a playwright.
He spent the rest of his life wandering Europe, staying with friends and living in cheap hotels. He died of
cerebral meningitis on November 30, 1900, penniless, in a cheap Paris hotel.
Match the dates to Oscar Wild’s life fact and put the events in chronological order
1871 -
1874
Wins Newdigate Prize for Ravenna (poem)
1895
Attends Magdalen College, Oxford
1900
His son, Cyril, is born
1882
Attends Portora Royal School, Enniskillen
1887-
1889
Lectures in the United States and Canada. Writes his first play - Vera, or the Nihilists (was not a
success)
1883
Marries Constance Lloyd
1894
Born in Dublin
1886
Attends Trinity College, Dublin
1892
Publishes several essays
1854
Writes A Woman of No Importance
1885
Writes The Importance of Being Earnest
1891
Edits Woman's World magazine
1884
Lectures in Britain and Ireland. Writes his second unsuccessful play, The Duchess of Padua
1889 –
1890
Writes An ldeal Husband. At the height of his theatrical success, he sues Bosie's father for libel, which
leads to his own arrest for homosexual offenses. He is found guilty for the crime of sodomy and
sentenced to two years of hard labor.
1864 -
1871
Dies of cerebral meningitis in Paris.
1888
His son, Vyvyan, is born
1874-
1879
Publishes two collections of short stories - Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and other Stories, and A House
of Pomegranates. Publishes The Picture of Dorian Gray, his first and only novel. Begins his friendship
with Lord Alfred Douglas – Bosie.
1893
Writes two plays: Lady Windermere's Fan (great success) and Salome
1881
Publishes The Happy Prince and Other Tales
1878
Publishes his first collection of poetry – Poems
Answer the questions:
1. What were Wild’s parents’ names?
2. How many brothers or sisters did he have? Who were they?
3. What was his father?
4. Where did Oscar work as a lecturer?
5. What were his children’s names?
6. What was his first published work? When was it?
7. What talent did Oscar Wild have for?
8. Name the most famous Wild’s works.
9. What literary movement (движение, течение) did his works belong to?
