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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 is Basil’s occupation?

2. What does Sibyl say is the cause of her performance in Chapter Seven?

3. What does James learn about his parents at the end of Chapter Five?

4. What threat does Dorian make to Basil in Chapter Nine?

5. What news does Dorian receive at the beginning of Chapter Eight?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Lord Henry believe one’s life should be spent, according to Chapter Three? Who is he targeting with these comments?

3. Why is Dorian intrigued by Lord Henry in Chapter Two?

4. How does Lord Henry want Dorian to see Sibyl’s death?

5. Why was Dorian in the slums in Chapter Four?

6. What drew Dorian to Sibyl?

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

8. What is the reason for the change in Sibyl in Chapter Seven?

9. What does Lord Henry think of the story of Dorian’s past?

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

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

Explain the effect Dorian’s sins have on his psyche. How does he feel about his sins? How does he deal with his feelings? Why do Dorian’s sins affect him if the portrait is meant to take on the burden of his sins?

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