Oscar Wilde

What the page covers

Most of the page is mind maps, and most of those are on The Picture of Dorian Gray. Separate maps cover themes, context, settings, characters and critics, plus individual figures such as Lord Henry and Basil Hallward. One map asks how Wilde shows both the attractions and dangers of hedonism. Another compares mortality in the novel with The Catcher in the Rye.

The Importance of Being Earnest has its own maps on gender identities, class, the Dandy figure, satire and contrasts, and on minor characters such as Miss Laetitia Prism and Dr. Frederick Chasuble. The Canterville Ghost maps cover characters, culture clash and forgiveness.

Where to start

1. Open an overview map for your text, such as Themes in The Picture of Dorian Gray or the map titled The Importance of Being Earnest.
2. Move to the character and context maps to see how the ideas connect.
3. Read the notes, including the one on the conflict between aestheticism and morality in Dorian Gray.
4. Finish with quotes flashcards and quizzes.

Using quizzes and maps together

Study a map first, then take a quiz on the same text. The Canterville Ghost has chapter-by-chapter quizzes, and there are several on The Model Millionaire. Dorian Gray has a Quotes Quiz, a Critics Quiz and a Dorian Gray Quiz. When an answer surprises you, go back to the matching map branch and read it again.

Flashcard decks on quotes and critics are handy for short, repeated sessions. There is also a deck on male relationships.

Where it sits

This unit belongs to the Nineteenth-Century Prose strand of Literature. The listed resources mention GCSE English Literature and A-level English Literature, and nearly all of them are made for school level. Teachers can use the maps as ready-made starting points for lessons.

Make it your own

Once you have worked through a few resources, try building a map of your own for the text you are studying. Writing out themes and quotations in your own words is a good way to see what you remember.