I.Fattori

Exercises - "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

-FIRST PART-

Ex 1

• 1) What Lord Henry values in life most of all

Lord Henry's values in life are youth and beauty, he said that beauty is the wonder of wonders, and only shallow people don't judge by appearance.

• 2) What he exhorts Dorian to do

He exhorts Dorian to live, to live the wonderful life that is in him. He invite him to be always searching for now sensations, he said "Be afraid for nothing...A new Hedonism".

Ex2

• 1) What influence do Lord Henry's words exert on Dorian?

Lord Henry had stirred him at the time, and now, as he stood gazing at the shadow of his own loveliness, the full reality of the description flashed across him. He can do it with his strange panegyric on youth, his terrible warning of brevity.

• 2) What wish does Dorian express?

Dorian expresses his wish that he will  never be older than that particular day of June. He said that he would give his soul for be always young and the picture grow old for him.

• 3) Why is Lord Henry's wish to own the picture consistent with his philosophy of life?

Lord Henry's wish to own the picture is a artificious for help Dorian to understand the importance that this picture have for him.

-SECOND PART-

Ex1

• 1) What happened to the artist that painted Dorian's picture

Dorian Gray had stabbed Basil Hallward, the painter, by a knife.

• 2) What happens to Dorian and to the picture itself.

When servants entered to the room they found, hanging upon the wall, a splendid portrait of their master has they had last seen him, in all the wonder of his exquisite youth and beauty. Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart. He was withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage.

Ex2

1)     What does Dorian hope to achieve with his action? What is its consequence?

Dorian hopes killing the picture to achieve peace, and the consequence of this action is to die.

2)     What feelings and thoughts have prompted Dorian to behave as he does?

Dorian behave as he does because the picture kept him awake at night, it had filled with terror Dorian lest other eyes should look upon it. It had brought melancholy across his passion.

• 3) How do you think the figure of Dorian is perceived by the other characters in the text?

The other characters in the text perceived the figure of Dorian with mistrust and curiosity but they are also a little bit afraid by him.

• 4) Do you think the writer passes any judgement on the figure of Dorian?

Yes, I think that the writer passes any judgement on the main character.

Ex3

• 1) What kind of narrator tells the story? How does his point of view shift? What is the effect of this shift on the reader?

It is a third person omniscient narrator, and his point of view shift on line 15 when he said " There was a cry heard, and a crash". The effect of this shift on the reader is to create curiosity and suspense. 

• 2) What kind of atmosphere is created? What details contribute to it?

It created a critical atmosphere, contribute in its creation the final suspense .