August 25 & 26, 2025

Agenda

Starter: 8/25 & 8/26

The Importance of Being Earnest Anticipation Guide: Highlight the response you most agree with, and then write a brief explanation of your response.

Presentation

Notes: Earnest Intro Notes

View the PowerPoint and take notes.

Required information from slides:

• Wilde’s Life and Times

• The Victorian Era in England

  • Social Classes

• Social Commentary in Wilde’s Works

  • 3 bullet points

• Plot of the Play

  • 4 plot elements (shortened)

• Themes of the Play

  • 4 bullet points

• The Concept of ‘Earnestness’

  • 4 bullet points

• Role of Language and Wit

  • 4 bullet points

• Use of Paradox and Aphorism

  • 2 terms & definitions

• Critique of Victorian Social Norms

  • 4 bullet points

• Analyzing Comedic Techniques

  • 4 bullet points

• Concept of ‘Bunburying’

  • 4 bullet points

• Significance of the Play’s Setting

  • 3 bullet points

• Themes of Morality and Morals

  • 4 bullet points

Assignment: Aesthetic Analysis of a Modern Work

• Pick a piece of modern art, music, fashion, or film that looks or sounds beautiful or interesting.

• Look closely at things like color, style, sound, or mood that stand out to you.

• Think about how the work focuses on beauty and feelings, not on teaching a moral or social lesson.

• Write 1–2 paragraphs explaining how the work shows aestheticism—how it values beauty and sensory experience “for art’s sake.”

• Use clear examples from the work to show how it makes you feel or what you notice.

• Don’t talk about whether the work is “good” or “bad” morally; focus on the beauty and emotions it creates.

• Submit your paragraphs in a text box on Canvas.

• Rubric

Activity: Tea Party

Each table should have:

• 5 colored sheets of paper

• Each person should select 1 paper.

• If there are only 4 people, leave the last one in the bag.

Objective: You are “attending” a high-society tea party in Victorian England.

Your goal: Stay in character and socialize with others while concealing your personal or family secrets.

Mingling: Move around the room, engaging in conversation with others

Try to:

• Learn about other characters without being too obvious

• Avoid revealing your own secret

• Be ready with excuses or distractions

• Guess others’ secrets or notice contradictions

• On a piece of paper, write down at least two secrets you’ve uncovered about another character. You will submit this on Canvas after.

If time: Have a Conversation with Oscar Wilde on School AI