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The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde
Study Guide
Full Text
Summary
Plot Overview
Summary & Analysis
The Preface–Chapter Two
Chapters Three–Four
Chapters Five–Six
Chapters Seven–Eight
Chapters Nine–Ten
Chapters Eleven–Twelve
Chapters Thirteen–Fourteen
Chapters Fifteen–Sixteen
Chapters Seventeen–Eighteen
Chapters Nineteen–Twenty
Characters
Character List
Dorian Gray
Lord Henry Wotton
Basil Hallward
Main Ideas
Themes
Motifs
Symbols
Key Facts
Quotes
Important Quotations Explained
Quotes By Theme
Appearances
Art
Good vs. Evil
Mortality
Influence
Quotes By Section
The Preface – Chapter 2
Chapters 3–4
Chapters 5–6
Chapters 7–8
Chapters 9–10
Chapters 11–12
Chapters 13–14
Chapters 15–16
Chapters 17–18
Chapters 19–20
Quotes By Character
Dorian Gray
Lord Henry Wotton
Basil Hallward
Sibyl Vane
James Vane
Further Study
Context
Full Book Quiz
Section Quizzes
Context
Plot Overview
Character List
Analysis of Major Characters
Themes, Motifs & Symbols
The Preface–Chapter Two
Chapters Three–Four
Chapters Five–Six
Chapters Seven–Eight
Chapters Nine–Ten
Chapters Eleven–Twelve
Chapters Thirteen–Fourteen
Chapters Fifteen–Sixteen
Chapters Seventeen–Eighteen
Chapters Nineteen–Twenty
Study Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Writing Help
How to Write Literary Analysis
Suggested Essay Topics
Sample A+ Essay
How to Cite This SparkNote
Full Book Quiz
Further study
Full Book Quiz
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1.
What famous phrase appears in the Preface to
The Picture of Dorian Gray
?
“All happy families resemble one another, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”
“All art is quite useless”
“The best way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it”
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”
2
. What is Basil Hallward’s occupation?
Writer
Chef
Painter
Sculptor
3
. Why does Basil not wish to exhibit his portrait of Dorian?
He thinks it is a poor work of art
He feels he has put too much of himself into it
Dorian Gray has asked him not to
He plans to put it over his own mantelpiece
4
. How does Basil first meet Dorian?
Through a newspaper advertisement
In an opium den
When Lord Henry introduced them
At a party hosted by Lady Brandon
5
. What is the name of Sibyl’s brother?
James
Christopher
Wilfred
Alan
6
. When Dorian arrives at his studio, what request does Basil make of Lord Henry?
He asks Lord Henry not to mention the painting to Dorian
He begs Lord Henry not to influence Dorian
He asks Lord Henry not to tell Dorian his real name
He suggests that Lord Henry leave without meeting Dorian
7
. What best describes the philosophy that Lord Henry espouses?
Hedonistic
Devoutly religious
Altruistic
Existential
8
. Upon seeing his completed portrait, what does Dorian wish?
That he could take the painting home with him
That the painting would grow old while he remained eternally young
That the painting would bear the marks of his sins
That he looked as beautiful as the man in the painting
9
. To whom does Basil give the painting?
Dorian
Lord Henry
Lady Agatha
The British Museum
10
. What is Sibyl Vane’s occupation?
Prostitute
Noblewoman
Poet
Actress
11
. What is Sibyl’s nickname for Dorian?
Lord Gray
Prince Charming
The Radiant Youth
Young Apollo
12
. On the night that Lord Henry and Basil come to see her act, what does Sibyl resolve to do?
Forget her lines
Convince them that she truly loves Dorian
Impress them with her best rendition of Juliet
Give up acting
13
. How does Dorian escape James Vane when James accosts him?
He draws a knife and threatens him
He points out that he is much too young to have been in love with Sibyl eighteen years before
He tells him that another man was responsible for Sibyl’s suicide and gives him Basil’s address
He apologizes to him for his actions, claiming that he has realized the errors of his youth
14
. After Sibyl’s death, who convinces Dorian to have no involvement in the case?
Basil
Lord Henry
Mrs. Vane
Alan Campbell
15
. What gift from Lord Henry profoundly influences Dorian?
A statue
A piece of jewelry
A book
A painting
16
. As the years pass, what happens to Dorian’s body?
It becomes horribly ugly
It slowly disintegrates
It remains youthful and beautiful
It grows perpetually younger and stronger
17
. Over which issue does Basil confront Dorian the night of Basil’s death?
Sibyl Vane’s death
The whereabouts of the portrait
The rumors of Dorian’s wicked behavior that are being spread in polite society
Lord Henry’s divorce
18
. How does Dorian respond to Basil’s confrontation?
He shows Basil the horribly changed portrait
He orders Basil to leave the house
He laughs it all off
He sends for the police
19
. How does Dorian kill Basil?
He stabs him to death
He shoots him
He pushes him out a window
He chokes him
20
. To whom does Dorian turn for help with disposing of Basil’s body?
Lord Henry
Alan Campbell
James Vane
His servant
21
. What is finally done with Basil’s corpse?
It is locked away in the attic of Dorian’s home
It is buried in Dorian’s garden
It is thrown into the Thames
It is dissolved in acid
22
. Where does Dorian first encounter James Vane?
In a brothel
At Dorian’s country estate
In an opium den
In an art gallery
23
. What does Dorian resolve to do when he notices a change in his portrait after breaking up with Sibyl?
Make amends with her
Live sinfully without regret
Bequeath his estate to the Vane family
Rip up the portrait
24
. What fate befalls James Vane?
He is drowned in the Thames
He is accidentally killed by hunters at Dorian’s country home
He is killed in a duel with Lord Henry
His ship is lost at sea
25
. What happens when Dorian attempts to drive a knife into his portrait?
The weapon sinks into the canvas but cannot be pulled out again
The portrait is torn to bits, and the pieces show a beautiful young man once more
He is unable to bring himself to destroy the painting, and he throws the knife out the window
He becomes the disfigured image in the painting and, in effect, stabs himself
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The Picture of Dorian Gray: Popular pages
CHARACTERS
Character List
CHARACTERS
Dorian Gray: Character Analysis
QUOTES
Quotes by Theme
MAIN IDEAS
Themes
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