The Picture of Dorian Gray

Published in?

1891

Who is the subject of Basil Hallward's greatest work of art?

Dorian Gray

Why does Basil say he will never exhibit Dorian's painting?

Because he put too much of himself into it.

Who is given the painting?

Dorian

Who is Dorian's 1st love?

Sibyl Vane

What is a doppelganger?

Two-sided nature of man, capable of both good and evil

Why does Sibyl commit suicide?

Because Dorian tells her she was terrible and he never wanted to see her again.

Who is Prince Charming?

Sibyl called Dorian that

Who tries to influence Dorian positively?

Basil

Who wants to influence Dorian negatively?

Lord Henry

What happens to Dorian's painting as the novel progresses?

The painting starts to look hideous and older

Why does Dorian move the portrait into a locked upstairs room?

He doesn't want anyone to see it and he doesn't want to look at it because it is him older.

Why does Dorian kill Basil Hallward?

When Basil comes over and looks at the portrait he tells Dorian to repent his sins. Dorian gets angry and stabs Basil; he hates Basil for even painting the portrait.

Why does Alan Campbell destroy Basil's body?

Because Dorian asked him to so there would be no trace of murder.

How is Basil's disappearance explained at first?

That he may have been murdered

What do the servants find after Dorian's death?

Find the portrait unharmed. On the floor lies Dorian as an old man, horribly wrinkled and disfigured, with a knife plunged into his heart

Which character speaks in cynical epigrams?

Lord Henry

In what ways do we see the aesthetic (artistic, beautiful) philosophy reflected in Lord Henry, Basil, and Dorian?

They all think Dorian is beautiful in their own way. Henry wants to take Dorian everywhere, Basil wants to paint him, and Dorian wants himself to stay young forever.

How does James Vane die?

Hunters accidentally shoot him, think he is a animal.

What does Lord Henry give Dorian?

A yellow book

How is Dorian able to maintain his position in society?

Because he remains young and beautiful

Allusion

reference to a person, place, poem, book, etc. which is not part of the story.

Foreshadowing

hints or clues in the story about what is coming

Dramatic Irony

audience knows more about a character's situation than the character does

Structural Irony

use of a naive hero

Verbal Irony ( Sarcasm)

discrepancy between what is said and what is really meant

Metaphor

a comparison of two things that are dissimilar, one described in terms of another

Personification

a figure of speech in which an object is given human characteristics

Simile

comparison between two different things with either like or as

Theme

central or dominant idea behind the story

Discuss the character of Lord Henry and his impact on Dorian.

Basil's friend and a nobleman. He is very clever and charming talker. He is not a nice person because he tells Dorian to do bad things

Discuss the relationship between Basil and Dorian.

Basil and Dorian have a great relationship at first as Basil would paint him. When Lord Henry was introduced, Basil and Dorian didn't stay close friends and Dorian ends up killing Basil.

Discuss the role of Sibyl Vane in the novel.

Sibyl Vane is a low budget actress that performs in a small theater and is poor. She falls in love with Dorian and when he tells her he never wants to see her again, she commits suicide

Why does Dorian decide to destroy the painting at the end of the novel?

Dorian wants to destroy the painting because he wants to start his life over and repent his sins but when he kills the portrait he was just killing himself

Compare and contrast the characters of Basil and Lord Henry.

a) Basil was a painter who led a normal life and was good friends with Dorian. He always tried to be positive with Dorian and lead him down the right path.
b) Lord Henry became friends with Dorian but was evil. He only told Dorian negative things that would hurt him in the end. He influenced him in the wrong way.