As a discussion director, what broad theme thinking questions could be asked about the play "The Importance of Being Earnest."Consider...

You already have the basis of your request in your
posting.  The list of theme/topics you wrote is a great place to start this assignment.
Whenever you think about a piece of literature, you should be asking yourself, "what
point is the author trying to make?"  The answer(s) to that question are the statements
of theme.  The next thing to ask yourself is "how does the author
make the theme evident to the reader?"  The answers to that question will require you to
consider all of the literary techniques an author has at their disposal.  Start with the
essentials:  plot development/conflict and characterization.  Then consider other
literary devices such as language, tone, symbolism, structure,
etc.

For each of the above topics you could ask your group,
"What is Oscar Wilde saying about _______?"  What is he saying about marriage?  How is
that revealed through the differing attitudes about marriage as revealed by Jack as
opposed to Algernon? What does Lady Bracknell's behavior reveal about what is important
in a marriage and how married people should behave?

What is
Oscar Wilde saying about manners?  Who behaves rudely?  How is the behavior rude?  What
social mores are shown in the play?  What happens to the characters that break the rules
of society?

What is O. W. saying about gender?  What is
considered appropriate behavior for the women?  How are they treated? How are they
characterized?  Are they characterized as smarter or more foolish than the men?  What
are their ambitions? Are they taken seriously by the men?  What are their strengths and
weaknesses? What are some differences between Lady Bracknell and the younger generation
of women, Cecily and Gwendolyn?

What is O.W. saying about
artifice?  Who acts this way?  Why?  What do they gain for this behavior?  What are the
threats to the artifice?  How does the artifice showcase a level of creativity or
inventiveness?  Is the artifice admirable?  Necessary?  How? How does O.W. use
witticism here?

This is such a fun play, and there are so
many things to talk about, I can't imagine you will have trouble being a discussion
leader.