Oscar Wilde

By Arely1019
  • Birth Date

    Birth Date

    Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin, Ireland. His birth name is Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wide. His mother was a successful poet and journalist.
  • Education

    Education

    Oscar Wilde attended Trinity College from 1871 to 1874 and Magdalen College from 1874 to 1878.

  • First Poem

    Wilde's first published poem is titled "A Chorus of Cloud Maidens" it appeared in the Dublin University Magazine.
  • Marriage

    Marriage

    Wilde married Constance Lloyd. She was the daughter of a prominent barrister. She was well-read, spoke many languages, and was outspoken.

  • First Play

    Wilde's first play is titled Vera. It was turned down in London, and instead opened in New York.
  • First Son

    First Son

    Wilde's first son was named Cyril Holland. His original last name was Wilde, but was later changed to Holland.
  • Second Son

    Second Son

    Wilde's second son was named Vyvyan Holland. His family used the spelling Vivian, however. His last name was also changed to Holland.

  • First and Only Novel

    Wilde's first novel is titled The Picture of Dorian Gray. It received a lot of negative response because of the homoerotic overtones in the novel.

  • Salome

    Salome is a one-act tragedy. It is about a woman who is the niece and step-daughter of a king.
  • Secret Relationship

    Secret Relationship

    Wilde began an affair with Lord Alfred Douglas. He had kept his sexuality a secret but was later found out by Douglas' father.
  • First Successful Play

    First Successful Play

    Wilde's first successful play was Lady Windermere's Fan.

  • A Woman of No Importance

    This is one of Wilde's most well-known works; it is a comedy.

  • Poems in Prose

    Poems in Prose is a collection of six prose poems that were published in the Fortnightly Review.

  • The Sphinx

    The Sphinx is one of Wilde's most well-known poems. It is about a man who questions the sphinx on the history of her sexual adventures.

  • The Importance of Being Earnest

    The Importance of Being Earnest is one of Wilde's most famous plays.
  • Imprisonment

    Imprisonment

    Wilde was imprisoned for gross indecency for being in a same sex relationship and he was sentenced to two years of hard labor. He was imprisoned at Reading Gaol.

  • An Ideal Husband

    This is another one of Wilde's most well-known plays. It is about blackmail and political corruption.

  • Separation

    Wilde and his wife never divorced, but she changed their son's last name and made him give up his parental rights after he was convicted and imprisoned.

  • Most Famous Poem

    The Ballad of Reading Gaol is Wilde's most successful poem. It is about his experience in prison.
  • Death

    Death

    Oscar Wilde was 46 years old when he died in Paris, France. He died from meningitis.