Oscar Wilde

a cura di D.P. Madrigali
 
 It is the only novel written by Oscar Wilde. Dorian Gray expresses the wish that his portrait could get older and he, instead, stay young, charming and handsome forever. His wish comes true and the more he lives a life of pleasure, the uglier and older his portrait becomes, while Dorian himself never changes. However, the wish for eternal youth will lead him to a tragic end.
 Stimulating inserts on Victorianism and other themes related to that period enrich the book. 
 
 Teacher's Resources available online: Answer Key - Audioscripts - Summing-up Activities
 
 The Picture of Dorian Gray è l’unico romanzo di Oscar Wilde. Dorian esprime il desiderio che il suo ritratto invecchi e che lui, invece, rimanga giovane e bello. Il suo desiderio viene esaudito e più persegue una vita di piaceri, più brutto e vecchio diventa il ritratto, mentre Dorian rimane sempre lo stesso. Tuttavia, il desiderio dell’eterna giovinezza condurrà il protagonista ad un tragico epilogo.

Chapter 1 – At Basil’s studio

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: Victorianism

Chapter 2 – A wonderful picture

Chapter 3 – Lord Henry Wotton and Sibyl Vane

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: The Aesthetic Movement

Chapter 4 – In love

Chapter 5 – Tragedy

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: Dandysm

Chapter 6 – The portrait and the yellow book

Chapter 7 – Murder

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: The theme of the double

Chapter 8 – Alan Campbell

Chapter 9 – James Vane

Chapter 10 – Death

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Extension: Dorian Gray revisited

Summing-up activities

Glossary

1  At Basil s studio Chapter BEFORE READING 1 What is a picture? Read its definition in a monolingual dictionary. Then read the following sentences and discuss its different meanings with the teacher. He painted a large picture of Venice. We took a picture of the children while they were playing in the garden. The pictures of the war on TV were horrible. I have a very vivid picture of the first time I kissed him. 2 Tick the characteristics you consider most important for a work of art. c c c 3 realistic conveying feelings abstract c skilfully coloured c pleasant to look at The words below are key words from Chapter 1. They all refer to art. Find out their meanings in a monolingual dictionary and then fill in the sentences. portrait   exhibit   painter   sitter   inspiration   artist a. b. c. d. His innocent and pure face provided the ...................... for the painting. The Modern Gallery will ................. several famous paintings. The ................ mixed the colours and started the ................ . The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of young .............. who reacted against the materialism of their age. e. Dorian is a wonderful ............... and I always feel excited when I look at him. Qui ci potrebbe stare ancora un illustrazione 6 

Dorian Gray At Basil s studio Chapter 1 m There was a strong smell of roses in the studio and a heavy u scent1 of lilacs was carried through the open door by the light summer breeze. Lying on the sofa Lord Wotton was smoking as usual, looking outside at the blossomed branches2 in the garden. In the middle of the room stood the full-length portrait of an extremely beautiful young man. Basil Hallward, the painter, was sitting in front of it smiling with pleasure.  It is the best work you have ever done, Basil , said Lord Henry.  You should send it to the Grosvenor gallery, which is the only suitable place for it.   No, I won t send it anywhere  he answered.  Why?  asked Lord Henry, looking at him in a perplexed way.  What strange people you painters are. You would do anything to become famous and when you are you throw it away: remember that it s far better being talked about than not being talked about. And this picture would make you the most outstanding3 artist in England.   I can t exhibit it,  Basil replied,  I have put too much of q myself into it.   Basil, I didn t imagine you were so vain4: you are not like him at all. There s a big difference between your hard face and black hair and the delicate beauty of this young man. Of course, you have an intellectual expression but when one sits down to think, the harmony of any face is destroyed. Your mysterious young friend, whose name I don t know yet, never thinks, I m sure. You are not in the least like him, Basil, believe me.   Of course I am not like him and I wouldn t like to be. Each one of us has been given gifts5 by the gods and we shall m 1. scent: perfume. 2. blossomed branch: when flowers appears on parts of trees. 3. outstanding: impressive, important. 4. vain: a person who is very proud and thinks that they are attractive or special. 5. gift: present. 7 

Narrativa inglese, livello B1 pre-intermedio. Classico di Wilde: Dorian Gray chiede l'eterna giovinezza, ma il ritratto rivela il suo oscuro destino.

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Collana RAINBOWS

Level B1 • Pre-Intermediate - Collana RAINBOWS

The Picture of Dorian Gray

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