Literature-In-English Paper 3, May-June 2015

The Importance of Being Ernest

Examine Miss Prism’s importance in the play.

A good number of candidates attempted this question. However, many of them discussed Miss Prism’s character rather than dwell on her importance.

The required answers should include:

Though a minor character, she plays a most revealing role, particularly at certain defining moments.

Her actions initiate the various mistaken identities that dominate and largely shape the course of events in the play.

It is through her that the reader knows that Jack and Algernon are brothers.

Candidates’ performance in this question was poor.