Alquin Oscar Wilde

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

Today:

Learn about Oscar Wilde and his famous book. 

Practice exam skills: open vragen + juist/onjuist vragen

Oscar Wilde

• Born in Ireland
• Playwright, poet and writer 
• Novel: The Picture of Dorian Gray
• married, two children
• Homosexual
• Imprisonment
•  Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill

1854-1900

Oscar Wilde Quotes

• “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
• “Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”
• “I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.”
• “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
• “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
• “The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.”
• “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Summary

Excerpt 1 (copy)

Use three colours and higlight what the following characters say: 

• Lord Henry Wotton
• Basil Hallward
• Dorian Gray

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Assignments page 55: 6 t/m 10

Answer in DUTCH!

Stappenplan open vragen

Besteed tijd aan het lezen van de vraag. Ga NIET gelijk de tekst in.

1. Leer ik nog iets nuttigs over de inhoud van de tekst? (Tekst beter begrijpen / Welk detail moet ik zoeken)
2. Wat moet ik precies doen, waar moet ik naar op zoek? (Welke signaalwoorden kunnen daarbij helpen?)

 3. Hoe moet ik het precies opschrijven?

• welke taal, 
• beginnen met ja/nee?
• hoeveel opschrijven? 
• herhaal een deel van de vraag in je antwoord

 

Assignments page 95 - Relating to Excerpt 1

• 6. What is the most striking about the relationship between Dorian Gray and artist Basil Hallward?
• Basil adores Dorian. He considers him more handsome and finer that all material possessions. He is disappointed and hurt when Dorian behaves rudely. Dorian on the other hand, does not seem to care much about Basil’s feelings.

• 7.  Slogans which describe Dorian's behaviour: 
• vain, selfish, childish, shallow, unreasonable, severe, impulsive, naive, indecisive

• 8a. How does Basil himself explain Dorian's behaviour?
• Line 94-95: Basil gives Henry the blame for it.

• 8b. What is Lord Henry Wotton's opinion of this excuse?
• line 96-97: Henry insists that it is Dorian’s true nature.

Assignments page 95

• 9. Dorian behaves rather badly in this excerpt. To what extent might you nevertheless understand his doing so?
• Dorian is still young and inexperienced. He is very much influenced by the people around him, who only seem to like him because he is so handsome.

• 10. Why does Basil not wish to exhibit Dorian's portrait?

• He feels that he has put a great deal of himself into the picture.

Geef van de volgende beweringen aan of zij overeenkomen met de inhoud van Excerpt 2 van Dorian Gray.

1. Most of the time Dorian had liked looking at the picture.

2. By stabbing the picture, Dorian knew he would die.

3. One of the gentlemen rang the bell several times.

4. Dorian Gray was an esteemed citizen.

5. Francis left the house in a coach to get help.

6. The domestics could not immediately recognize their master.

Answers

1. Most of the time Dorian had liked looking at the picture. (waar)

2. By stabbing the picture, Dorian knew he would die. (onwaar)

3. One of the gentlemen rang the bell several times. (onwaar)

4. Dorian Gray was an esteemed citizen. (onwaar)

5. Francis left the house in a coach to get help. (onwaar)

6. The domestics could not immediately recognize their master. (waar)

Assignments page 95 - relating to Excerpt 2

• 11. What happens when Dorian stabs the painting with a knife?
• He becomes the deformed figure in the painting, and therefore stabs himself to death.
  

• 12. Explain why a passer-by sneer in line 36-37.
•  They also knew that Dorian had become dishonourable for his various excesses.

• 13. How could the body nevertheless be identified as that of Dorian Gray?
• By the rings on his fingers.

What is the
aesthetic movement?

Assignments page 95

1. Is the Picture of Dorian Gray a Gothic Novel?

Characteristics Gothic novel: 

1.  set in a vague, creepy, mediaeval world.

2.  soaked in mystery, torture, supernatural features, death, decay, madness and inherited curses.

3. The story’s setting is always dark and mysterious, such as castles and monasteries (often ruins), haunted houses, tombs, graveyards, etc.

4. the (main) characters are usually evil people

5. evokes extreme emotions and fears.

It is clear that this novel contains all of the above-mentioned characteristics.

Assignments page 95

• 2. Where in the story does the climax take place?
• With the murder of Basil Hallward.
  

• 3. Why does Dorian decide to destroy the picture?
• Because he thought it might make him a better person once more.
  

• 4. Explain the fact that Lord Henry Wotton is a static character. 
• He does not change in any way at all throughout the story.
  

• 5. What gift did Lord Henry Wotton give Dorian which greatly influenced him?
• The Yellow Book.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Themes & 

Background

Themes / Topics

• Theme of Faust: sell soul to devil in return for beauty, wisdom and pleasure. In the end nothing is gained. 
• immortal beauty of youth opposed to becoming older, uglier and meaner
• appearances are deceptive

Background:

• commotion after publication: homosexuality and mistresses 

Aesthetic Movement:

• Victorians: art had to have a clear objective: educate masses, distinguish good from bad. 

• Aesthetic Movement: the aim of art was to have no aims = Art for Art's sake 

Extra material

Oscar Wilde Quotes

• “Never love anyone who treats you like you're ordinary.”
• “A good friend will always stab you in the front.”
• “Women are meant to be loved, not to be understood.”
• “I don't want to go to heaven. None of my friends are there.”
• “I am not young enough to know everything.”
• “Everything in the world is about sex except sex. Sex is about power.”

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