The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wild

Each student will be given an envelope with one of the following close reading topics on it. Throughout his/her reading the student is to copy passages onto index cards or small slips of paper and put them in the envelope. Groups will meet and share the contents of their envelopes and discuss why the passage was selected and the effect of the quoted passage on the meaning of the work. Envelopes may be used in various activities over the course of the novel.

Envelope 1: Epigrams. Wilde sprinkles the text liberally with witticisms, creating sayings that are fine examples of paradox, irony or antithesis. Find examples, note what gives each its impact (irony or inversion or paradox, etc.), and indicate what it reveals about the character or about Wilde.

Envelope 2: Evil may come in many guises. Find references to the charm of evil characters, and note what this charm is based on, considering the relative effectiveness of each example.

Envelope 3: Self-worship leads to self-destruction. Find evidence of both.

Envelope 4: Aestheticism as a movement was a reaction to Victorian morality. Find examples of the glorification of art and the condemnation of Victorian morality.

Envelope 5: Carpe Diem. Note each point at which a character seeks to defeat Time.

Envelope 6: Physiognomy is a term associated with the Middle Ages, but the idea that external features indicate internal morals lingers even today, and is very evident in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Find references to features intended to convey morality.

Envelope 7: Implied homosexuality. Find references to the suggestion that Dorian is loved more for his physique than for his character.

Envelope 8: Allegory. The Picture of Dorian Gray may be read as an allegory for the Faust legend. Trace the parallels.

Envelope 9: Allusions. There are many historical and literary allusions. Find and explain.

Envelope 10: The pursuit of earthly pleasures can never fully satisfy a human being. Find examples that show the emptiness of such a path.

Envelope 11: Social Class. Find scenes and sayings that reveal Wilde’s attitude towards social class.

Envelope 12: Marriage. Find scenes and sayings that reveal Wilde’s attitude towards marriage.

The Envelope Approach is taken from the AP English listserv, an approach nurtured by Leticia Hughes. Several of the topics are modified from www.cummingsstudyguides.net. Compiled by Eileen Bach, Concordia International School Shanghai, 2011 Not to be used with any distance or online learning program.