1. Oscar Wilde
(1854-1900) led a wonderfully colourful life which we will look at on Monday.
In the book, Lord Henry Wotton often talks using aphorisms, can you find an
example? Which quote did you like/enjoy the most? Look online for more witty
quotes by Oscar Wilde and choose your favourite to share.
2.
What is the
relationship between Basil and Dorian...from beginning to end? How important is
that relationship to the story?
3.
Talk about
Lord Henry: what code or set of beliefs does he live by? Why, for instance,
does he believe it is futile and wrong for the individual to resist temptation?
4.
In what way
does Lord Henry affect Dorian's character? Why does Lord Henry choose Dorian as
his disciple? And why does Dorian follow him?
5.
Is Lord
Henry's belief in the freedom of the individual truly evil? Or does Dorian
misconstrue it? Does Lord Henry actually practice the ideas he talks about?
6.
Talk about the
role of the yellow book. (Although Wilde never gives it a title, critics
believe it is based on Joris-Karl Huysman's novel, A
Rebours, meaning "Against the Grain" or "Against
Nature").
7.
Why does Sibyl
commit suicide and what impact does her death have on Dorian?
8.
Discuss
Dorian's portrait. What does it represent? What does it suggest about the
effect of experience on the soul? Why does Dorian hide it in the attic?
9.
Dorian's
scandalous behaviour shocks his peers, yet he remains welcome in social
circles? Why? What is Wilde suggesting about "polite" London society?
10. Dorian desires to reform his life after
the death of James Vane. Why doesn't he succeed?
11. Discuss the ending: what does it mean?
12. Do you find any of these characters
believable? Why or why not? (If not, do you think Wilde might have purposely
drawn them as such?)
13. If you could ask the author a question,
what you would ask him?
13 questions adapted from
www.litlovers.comJ
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