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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What causes Dorian’s composure to crack in Chapter Nine?

2. What does Basil do while Lord Henry and Dorian talk in Chapter Two?

3. What does Dorian devote himself to in Chapter Eight?

4. What is Dorian’s servant’s name, according to Chapter Ten?

5. What is Dorian’s housekeeper’s name, according to Chapter Ten?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Basil say he originally did not want Dorian to see the painting?

2. Why does Basil not want to exhibit the portrait of Dorian, according to Chapter One?

3. What pledges do James and Sibyl each make at the end of Chapter Five?

4. Why is Dorian’s past considered dark?

5. How does Dorian react when Basil offers his condolences about Sibyl’s death?

6. What does Lord Henry muse over at the end of Chapter Four?

7. What reaction does Dorian have to the yellow book? What does the yellow book signify?

8. Why is Dorian heartbroken at the beginning of Chapter Seven?

9. Why does the portrait of Dorian make him unhappy?

10. Why does Dorian see a faint sneer on his portrait at the end of Chapter Seven?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define theme. Give at least one example of a theme in The Picture of Dorian Gray. How is this theme identified in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the character of Dorian Gray with the author Oscar Wilde. How are they similar? How are they different? Does this make Dorian a more effective character? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Define point of view. Identify the types of point of view. What is the point of view of The Picture of Dorian Gray? How do you know?

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