Alquin Oscar Wilde

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Themes & 

Background

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

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 

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Summary

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Assignments page 55

What is the
aesthetic movement?

Some questions and answers:

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.

A

• 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.

• 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?
• Basil gives Henry the blame for it.

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

A

• 9. Dorian behaves rather badly even when still young. 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.

• 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.
  

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

Extra material

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.”

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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