TITLE: “The picture of Dorian Gray”

PUBLISHING HOUSE: Oxford University Press

GRADE: Stage 3

NOVELIST: Oscar Wilde

 

CHARACTERS

 

Dorian Gray: he is the main character; he was represented in a portrait that Basil Hallward had drawn for him. He wished that he could always stay young and the picture could grow old. He was known like “Prince Charming” by many people.

 

Basil Hallward: he wass the artist who drew Dorian Gray in a portrait. He did not want to exhibit his portrait in an art gallery, because he was afraid that the picture showed the secret of his heart.

 

Henry Wotton: he was also called Harry; he was a friend of Basil Hallward and he thought that the portrait of Dorian Gray was the best that Basil had ever painted. Henry Wotton transmitted to Dorian the bad idea that when his youth goes, his beauty will go with it.

 

Lady Brandon: she was only quoted within the book, when Basil spoke about a party.

 

Lady Agatha: she was Lord Henry’s aunt; she gave much information about Dorian Gray.

 

Lord Kelso: he was Dorian’s grandfather.

 

Lady Margaret Devereux: she was a beautiful woman that married a poor soldier. She died soon after her son, Dorian, was born.

 

Lord Burdon: he was only quoted within the book, when Lord Henry had lunch at his aunt.

 

Sybil Vane: she was the beautiful actress that fell in love with Dorian. She killed herself because Dorian, after that he had seen that she had not recited good in the part of Juliet, left her and he did not want to marry her.

 

Mrs Vane: she was Sybil Vane’s mother.

 

James Vane: he was Sybil Vane’s brother and a sailor. He swore to get his own back on his sister, if “Prince Charming” hurts Sybil. At the end of the story he was killing Dorian but he did not do this, because Dorian seemed to be too good-looking to have 40 years.

 

Lord Berwick and Lord Stavely: they were only quoted in one of Basil’s speech.

 

Alan Campbell: he destroyed Basil’s dead body only because Dorian blackmailed him with a letter.

 

Lady Monmouth: she was a married woman; she was amusing, clever and seemed to like Dorian Gray very much.

 

SETTINGS: London and country.

 

Basil’s house, an art gallery, Lady Agatha’s house, Dorian Gray’s house, a theatre and a bar.

 

 

TOPIC

 

The book speaks about a portrait that was painted by Basil Hallward and it represented the young Dorian Gray. Dorian, influenced by Henry Wotton, a Basil’s friend, wished that he could stay young while the picture could grow old. He lived a bad life; he killed indirectly his love Sybil, then he killed Basil. When he did a bad thing the portrait became worse. One day he tried to be a kind person, to change his life, but when he looked that the picture did not became better, he decided to destroy it. But after that he became horrible like the picture in the portrait, the picture returned how it was at the beginning and he unwittingly killed himself.

 

THEMES

 

Friendship: because Henry, Basil and Dorian were friends, although Dorian killed Basil.

 

Love: because Dorian loved Sybil Vane.

 

Revenge: because James Vane wanted to kill Dorian to get his own back on his sister.

 

MESSAGE

 

This book teaches that we must live their life without hearing always the others and learning to accept our mistakes.

 

GOOD SENTENCES

 

“Summer days can sometimes be too long.”

“Always! What a terrible word! Women use it much too often. What does it mean? It’s today that is important.”

“Women have nothing to say, but they say it beautifully.”

“There are only five women in London who can give you real conversation.”

“I went in to look for adventure, but I found love.”

“When we are happy, we are always good, but when we are good, we are not always happy.”

“I am what I am.”

 

 

NEW WORDS

 

THE ARTIST

 

Scent = odore

To pretend = fingere

Portrait = ritratto

Trouble = guai

 

THE FRIEND

 

Indeed = davvero

To bite-bit-bitten = mordersi (le labbra)

To lip = accendere

Enemy = nemico

Clever = intelligente

After a while = dopo un pò

 

THE YOUNG MAN IN LOVE

 

To warn = avvisare

To shout-ed-ed = urlare

Soul = anima

 

THE DEATH OF LOVE

 

To lift-ed-ed = sollevare,scoprire

To stare-ed-ed = fissare

To lend-lent-lent = prestare

 

THE THIEF OF TIME

 

Skin = pelle

 

THE HAND OF THE KILLER

 

Plenty = molto

To dig-dug-dug = conficcare

Drip = sgocciolio

To fetch-ed-ed = andare a prendere

 

THE SAILOR

 

To hurry = andarsene (di fretta)

To reach = avvisare

Backwards = all’indietro

Edge = limite

 

THE PICTURE

 

Loud = forte

Crash = fracasso

To knock = colpire

Roof = tetto