Author and Events
July 1890
What is the year that The Picture of Dorian Gray was published?
This object serves as the ultimate symbol of Dorian’s inner corruption, reflecting his moral decay while his physical appearance remains unchanged.
What is the portrait?
This major event occurs at the end of the novel when Dorian attempts to destroy the painting.
What is Dorian stabs the portrait, killing himself and restoring the painting to its original form?
This character, the artist who paints Dorian’s portrait, represents the theme of beauty and innocence and struggles with the morality of his creation.
Who is Basil Hallward?
A key figure in the Aesthetic Movement, emphasizing "art for art’s sake," and was known for his epigrams, wit, and eventual fall from Victorian society.
Who is Oscar Wilde?
This book, given to Dorian by Lord Henry, symbolizes the power of art to influence and even corrupt; it becomes a blueprint for Dorian’s hedonistic life.
What is the yellow book?
After Dorian cruelly ends his relationship with Sibyl Vane, this tragic event occurs the next day.
What is Sibyl Vane commits suicide?
Known for his epigrams and influence over Dorian, this character embodies the philosophy of hedonism and aestheticism, leading Dorian toward a life of excess.
Who is Lord Henry Wotton?
The Aesthetic Movement, closely linked to Oscar Wilde, flourished in the late 19th century and emphasized this artistic principle, rejecting moral or political function in art.
What is "art for art’s sake"?
Symbolizing secrecy, guilt, and moral burden, this space becomes a prison for Dorian’s true self.
What is the locked room?
Dorian's desire to stay young and beautiful forever, no matter the cost, shows this truth about human nature.
What is people fear aging and often value appearance over morality?
This character, Dorian’s love interest, is tragically caught in Dorian’s downward spiral, and her death marks a turning point in the novel.
Who is Sibyl Vane?
This late 19th-century scientific theory, which emphasized survival of the fittest, influenced social and literary thinking—and may have fueled Dorian's sense of superiority and aesthetic detachment.
What is Social Darwinism?
Used in Dorian’s final act of desperation, this object symbolizes both his attempt to destroy guilt and his inability to escape judgment.
What is the knife?
Lord Henry’s influence over Dorian reveals this about how easily people can be swayed.
What is human nature is vulnerable to manipulation, especially when it aligns with personal desires?
This character is driven by revenge against Dorian after his sister’s tragic death, and he ultimately plays a key role in Dorian’s downfall.
Who is James Vane?
The best AP Lit teacher
Who is Mrs.Stanley?
DAILY DOUBLE!!!!
Though easily overlooked, this setting—a neglected, locked room at the top of Dorian’s home—serves as a powerful symbol of repression, guilt, and the hidden consequences of a hedonistic life.
What is the old schoolroom (or attic)?
Even though Dorian gets away with crime and vice for years, the ending shows this truth about guilt.
What is internal guilt and conscience are unavoidable, even if external consequences are delayed?
This character’s descent from innocent youth to corrupted aristocrat mirrors the novel's exploration of vanity, the dangers of influence, and the consequences of living a life detached from morality. His ultimate fate is marked by the moment he confronts his own portrait.
Who is Dorian Gray?