 The use of the name Earnest may have been a homosexual in @-@ joke . In 1892 , three years before Wilde wrote the play , John Gambril Nicholson had published the book of pederastic poetry Love In Earnest . The sonnet Of Boys ' Names included the verse : " Though Frank may ring like silver bell / And Cecil softer music claim / They cannot work the miracle / – ' Tis Ernest sets my heart a @-@ flame . " The word " earnest " may also have been a code @-@ word for homosexual , as in : " Is he earnest ? " , in the same way that " Is he so ? " and " Is he musical ? " were employed . 
 The use of the name Earnest may have been a homosexual in @-@ joke . In 1892 , three years before Wilde<a href='been_done' title='1'><mark></mark></a> wrote the play , John Gambril Nicholson <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> published the book of pederastic poetry Love In Earnest . The sonnet Of Boys <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'</mark></a>Names included the verse : " Though Frank may ring like silver bell / And Cecil softer music claim / They cannot work the miracle / – ' Tis Ernest <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>sets</mark></a> my heart a @-@ flame . " The word " earnest " may also have been a code @-@ word for homosexual , as in : " Is he earnest ? " , in the same way that " <a href='drop_aux' title='5'><mark>Is</mark></a>he so ? " and " <a href='drop_aux' title='6'><mark>Is</mark></a>he musical ? " <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> employed . 
Da use of the name Earnest may have been a homosexual in @-@ joke . In 1892 , three yrs b4 Wilde been wrote tdaplay , John Gambril Nicholson done published the book of pederastic poetry luhhh In Earnest . The sonnet Of Boys  Names included the verse : " doe Frank may ring like silver bell / And Cecil softer music claim / They cannot wrk the miracle / – ' Tis Ernest set my heart a @-@ flame . " Thdaord " earnest " may also have been a code @-@ word fir homosexual , as in : " Is he earnest ? " , in thedame way that " he soo ? " and " he musical ? " was employed .