Faust, Goethe
Why does Basil warn Lord Henry to stay away from Dorian?
Basil is worried about Lord Henry's negative influence on Dorian.
Who painted the picture of Dorian?
Basil Hallward
Why does Dorian fall in love with Sibyl Vane?
Her acting ability
Describe Sibyl Vane's fate and Dorian's role in it.
Suicide after being rejected by Dorian
What color best represents innocence throughout the novel?
White (the "white purity of boyhood / rose-white boyhood," the white roses in the painting, young Dorian's "cool, white, flowerlike hands," the various times Sibyl appearance is described as "white," etc.)
What object best represents Lord Henry's influence, to the extent that Dorian describes it as having "poisoned" him?
The yellow book
Why doesn't Basil initially want to display the painting of Dorian?
He says he put too much of himself into the painting.
What does Sibyl call Dorian?
Prince Charming
Describe Basil Hallward's fate and Dorian's role in it.
Murdered by Dorian (stabbed with a knife) in a fit of rage
What color best represents moral decay throughout the novel?
Yellow (the yellow book, the repetition of yellow in descriptions of luxury and hedonism, Lord Henry's yellow gloves, the moon described as a "yellow skull" on the night Dorian visits the opium den, the yellowing faces of the dead Basil and the aging Lord Henry)
How does Lord Henry influence Dorian?
He leads Dorian to value his own beauty pursue his philosophy of "new hedonism," gives Dorian the yellow book, encourages him to dismiss his role in Sibyl's death, etc.
What is the curse/deal surrounding the painting?
Dorian remains young and beautiful while the portrait ages and grows ugly.
Why does Dorian reject Sibyl?
Describe Alan Campbell's fate and Dorian's role in it.
Suicide after Dorian blackmailed him into getting rid of Basil's body
Where does Dorian come face-to-face with James Vane?
An opium den
Define hedonism.
The painting is in essence a mirror, reflecting not Dorian's outer appearance, but instead his _____.
Soul
How does Dorian convince James Vane that he isn't the man he's looking for?
Describe James Vane's fate and Dorian's role in it.
Accidentally shot on a hunt while tracking down Dorian for revenge for Sibyl's death
How long does Dorian's life of hedonism last?
Eighteen years
How does Lord Henry choose his friends, acquaintances, and enemies?
Friends: beauty
Acquaintances: character
Enemies: intelligence
Why does Basil blame himself for what Dorian has become? Why does Dorian blame Basil?
Basil: He "worshiped" Dorian too much and imbued the painting with his idolatry. He says he and Dorian are both "punished" for it.
Dorian: Basil taught him to be vain about his beauty, creating the "ideal" he aspires to in his wish to stay young forever and pursuit of a hedonistic lifestyle.
Dorian believes he "spares" Hetty out of selflessness as his attempt to beginning reforming his character. What is the real reason?
Vanity: "Through vanity he had spared her. In hypocrisy he had worn the mask of goodness. For curiosity's sake he had tried the denial of self."
Describe Dorian Gray's fate.
Died after stabbing his painting with the knife he used to stab Basil (suicide?)
What is the famous final line of Oscar Wilde's Preface?
"All art is quite useless."