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Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde. Background. Poet, Playwright and Editor Born 1854, died 1900 Irish, son of a medical doctor – Sir William Wilde – and a writer – Jane Elgeé Studied at Trinity College, Dublin and Magdalen College, Oxford Married Constance Lloyd, had two sons; Cyril and Vyvyan. Politics.

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Oscar Wilde

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  1. Oscar Wilde

  2. Background • Poet, Playwright and Editor • Born 1854, died 1900 • Irish, son of a medical doctor – Sir William Wilde – and a writer – Jane Elgeé • Studied at Trinity College, Dublin and Magdalen College, Oxford • Married Constance Lloyd, had two sons; Cyril and Vyvyan

  3. Politics • Supported socialism – “It will be of value simply because it will lead to individualism” • Was libertarian, eventually became an anarchist • Also a pacifist, said “When liberty comes with hands dabbled in blood it is hard to shake hands with her.” • Advocated the legalisation of homosexuality

  4. Philosophy • Poked fun at the standards of society, refused to conform • Advocate of aestheticism – symbolic beauty in literature and arts • Lectured on the subject for a year in both the U.S. and Canada “’O, I eel just as happy as a bright Sunflower.’ Aesthete of Aesthetes! What’s in a name? The poet is Wilde, But his poetry’s tame."

  5. Works • Thirteen books, four books of poems, and nine plays • Many comedies and children’s stories, accessible to the general public • Only novel, The Picture of Dorian Grey, was very successful • Plays such as The Importance of Being Earnest are still performed today and have been adapted to film

  6. Legacy • Poetry and plays still widely circulated, considered one of the best playwrights of the Victorian Era • Known for his wit, often quoted – for example: • “I can resist everything except temptation.” • “What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” • “People who count their chickens before they are hatched act very wisely because chickens run about so absurdly that it's impossible to count them accurately.”

  7. Bibliography • Holland, Merlin. "The 10 Most Popular Misconceptions About Oscar Wilde.” guardian.co.uk. 2009. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003/may/07/top10s.oscar.wilde • Merryman, C. D. "Oscar Wilde." The Literature Network. 2008. http://www.online-literature.com/wilde/ • Oscar Wilde. 2003. http://www.cmgww.com/historic/wilde/ • The Oscar Wilde Collection. 2008. 21 http://www.oscarwildecollection.com/ • Oscar Wilde Online. 2009. http://www.wilde-online.info/

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