CliffsNotes on

The Picture of Dorian Gray

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Book Summary

Oscar Wilde Biography

Childhood to Adulthood
Writing and Reputation

About The Picture of Dorian Gray

Summary, Analysis, and Original Text by Chapter

Preface
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapters 12–13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapters 17–18
Chapters 19–20

Character List

Critical Essays

Oscar Wilde's Aesthetics
On Tour: Lectures in America, 1882
Three Trials: Oscar Wilde Goes to Court, 1895

Study and Homework Help

Full Glossary for The Picture of Dorian Gray
Quiz
Essay Questions

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Study and Homework Help

Quiz

1:  Why does Basil choose not to exhibit the portrait of Dorian Gray?

a. He would be embarrassed because it is not his best work

b. His inner feelings would be revealed.

c. People would mock the unconventional painting.

d. Aestheticism is out of fashion.
2:  Lord Henry influences Dorian to

a. value youth and beauty

b. invest his money wisely

c. reject future requests to sit for portraits

d. never yield to temptation
3:  Dorian wants to help Sibyl

a. start a new career

b. work at a different theatre

c. stay young and beautiful

d. find her father
4:  James has heard rumors that his mother

a. was a poor actress

b. worked as a theatre manager

c. inherited wealth from her grandfather

d. never married his father
5:  According to Lord Henry, unselfish people

a. make conscious tradeoffs

b. know themselves well

c. lose their individuality

d. do not make judgments
6:  Dorian decides to apologize to Sibyl because

a. he realizes that she is more than her performances

b. he can convince her to continue acting

c. he genuinely loves her

d. he wants to avoid cruelty in the future
7:  Sibyl’s death

a. drives Dorian to tears

b. makes Dorian realize that he loved her

c. feels like a play to Dorian

d. gets on Dorian’s nerves
8:  According to Dorian, Basil is

a. afraid of life

b. a great romantic

c. not a gifted painter

d. heavily influenced by Lord Henry
9:  As Dorian grows older, he

a. regrets his wish for eternal youth

b. becomes bloated and wrinkled

c. remains unchanged in appearance

d. looks anything but innocent
10:  Basil’s reaction to the transformation in his portrait is to

a. blame his poor vision

b. ask Dorian to repent

c. threaten to blackmail Dorian

d. tell the police
11:  To hide evidence of Basil’s death, Dorian

a. cleans the entire attic

b. writes to an old friend

c. buries the body

d. asks for another wish
12:  James seeks to avenge his sister’s death by

a. exposing Dorian’s wish

b. seeing Dorian hanged for murder

c. beating and killing Dorian

d. marrying Dorian’s sister
13:  When Dorian is at his country estate, he faints because

a. he needs medical help

b. his sins weigh heavily on his mind

c. he sees the face of James

d. he thinks Basil’s eyes are following him
14:  What is Lord Henry’s reaction to Dorian’s claim that he killed Basil?

a. He doesn’t believe it.

b. He calls the police.

c. He quotes scripture.

d. He plays the piano.



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