The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of Oscar Wilde’s masterpieces and best-known story. Its narrative is fabulous and its themes reflect the kind of society of the late 19^th century England.

I challenge you to a quest in which you have to answer a series of questions on the novel and its author. First, you have to read all the questions through and click on the link below the corresponding questions to access to the webpage that gives you the answer; secondly, once you know the answer, you should write it on the worksheet I have prepared for you.

I hope you enjoy this quest and, at the end of it, you can understand what was what made Wilde write this masterpiece!!

QUESTIONS ON OSCAR WILDE’S BIOGRAPHY AND TIMES:

1. What did Oscar Wilde’s father do? (his job)

2. What was Wilde’s real name?

3. When was Oscar born? And where was he born?

4. What did Oscar study? Did he get any award for his studies? If yes, which ones?

5. Which cities did Wild visit? What for? Name what he wrote and who he met there.

6. Which was Wilde’s most creative period of life? Why? Which stories did he write?

7. Who was Lord Alfred ‘Bosie’ Douglas?

8. What happened in 1895? Why was Wilde arrested?

9. What was his last piece of work? Why did he write it?

10. When did he die? What from?

Click here to access to Wilde’s official website.

QUESTIONS ON THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY

1. Name the main characters of the novel.

2. Is there any meaning behind the name ‘Dorian’ in accordance with the ancient Greek? Which one? What is the connection between the character of Dorian Gray and Adonis, one of the Greek Gods?

3. Name and briefly define the themes present in the novel. Can you think of more themes not mentioned in the Wikipedia and also important in the novel (e.g.: marriage, social classes,…)?

For questions 1, 2 and 3, access to the Wikipedia. Click here.

4. Relate the following characters with one of these topics. Give a reason to your answer. Characters: Dorian Gray, Basil Hallward, Lord Henry and Sybil Vane. Topics: Art and beauty, Appearance, youth and beauty and romantic love.

5. Do you think Dorian Gray is influenced by Lord Henry at the beginning of the book? Why/ Why not? If yes, what does L. Henry convince him of?

6. Does Dorian love Sybil Vane? Why does Dorian reject Sybil?

7. What happens to Dorian’s portrait when he returns home after the scene after the theatre performance?

8. Why does Dorian think it is necessary to hide his portrait? Does it have something to do with his murdering Basil?

9. Write your opinion of the novel. Do you like it? Why/why not? Do you think that appearance is so important in modern life? Why?

Click here to access to The Picture of Dorian Gray in e-text.

OTHER RESOURCES:

Click here to access to a dictionary.

Click here to access to an encyclopaedia.

You have already read this fabulous story by Mark Twain. You do not know much about Mark Twain and some of the themes which appear in the story and which made him write it. I challenge you to a webquest, where you are going to find some links which will help you to answer the key questions.

TASKS:

First, you have to click on the link you will find below this text; secondly, you have to read the webquest main questions; after that, you should surf those webpages to give an answer to the main question and, finally, you should write your answers on the worksheet I have prepared for you.

You will find that it is not so difficult as it appears at first sight! Good luck and, above all, enjoy it!

Click here to access to the webquest on Huckleberry Finn.