The Picture of Dorian Gray Comprehension Questions

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Comprehension Questions

Drag and Drop

Who painted Dorian´s portrait? (a)  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Basil Hallward

Lady Brandon

Lord Henry Wotton

Dorian Gray

The Grosvenor

In Chapter 1 of The Picture of Dorian Gray why does Basil Hallward describe Dorian Gray as "a dream of form in days of thought"?

Multiple Choice

Basil sees Dorian as his muse and believes the young man represents beauty for beauty's sake. Dorian's influence allows Basil to see and think of things differently. Now when he paints, he can "recreate life in a way that was hidden from me before."

• True

• False

Multiple Select

How does Wilde portray women in The Picture of Dorian Gray?

• Women are treated like art.

• Women are given little respect.

• Most are weak, and the ones who are strong are criticized for it.

• Women were portrayed as geniuses.

Multiple Choice

In Chapter 19 Dorian Gray attempts to confess to Lord Henry Wotton that he has murdered Basil Hallward. However, Lord Henry doesn't believe Dorian to be capable of murder, specifically because he considers crimes to be activities performed solely by the lower class.

• False

• True

​What is revealed about Lord Henry Wotton when he suggests history would have been different if cavemen knew how to laugh in Chapter 3 of The Picture of Dorian Gray?

Multiple Select

What is revealed about Lord Henry Wotton when he suggests history would have been different if cavemen knew how to laugh in Chapter 3 of The Picture of Dorian Gray?

• Lord Henry rejects seriousness and prefers not to have serious conversations.

• according to Lord Henry's philosophy, is that since life is merely an imitation of art it need not be taken seriously.

• It is the setting in which Dorian sees and falls in love with Sibyl Vane

• The symbol of flowers is invoked in a number of ways to convey beauty throughout the story.

Replace this text with your title

In Chapter 7 of The Picture of Dorian Gray how does the symbol of the theater help develop tensions in the plot?

Multiple Choice

Sibyl performed in ______?

• Romeo and Juliet

• Hamlet

• Macbeth

• Othello

• King Lear

Multiple Select

How does the symbol of the theater help develop tensions in the plot?

• It is the setting in which Dorian sees and falls in love with Sibyl Vane—not for who she truly is but for what she represents on the stage, for her ability to bring art to life.

• He is not stirred by her actual love but rather by her ability to portray love.

• This conflict draws out the tension between art and life in the novel. Sibyl's inability to act after she falls in love suggests that love kills art.

Replace this text with your title

Multiple Choice

After witnessing her disastrous performance in Romeo and Juliet, Dorian tells Sibyl that she has killed his love and "you used to stir my imagination. Now you don't even stir my curiosity. You simply produce no effect." Dorian's inability to love Sibyl when she loses her ability to perform well has the effect of elevating art over life.

• True

• False

In Chapter 2 of The Picture of Dorian Gray what suggestion is there that an intimate relationship may develop between Dorian Gray and Lord Henry Wotton?

Multiple Choice

In Chapter 2 of The Picture of Dorian Gray what suggestion is there that an intimate relationship may develop between Dorian Gray and Lord Henry Wotton?

• Lord Henry speaks at length about how women approach romance all wrong.

• He tells Dorian to stop being so serious and play him some music.

• Dorian tells Sibyl that she has killed his love.

• Dorian's influence allows Basil to see and think of things differently.

Multiple Select

In Chapter 3 of The Picture of Dorian Gray what point of view does Mr. Erskine represent?

• Mr. Erskine puts forward Wilde's point of view that paradoxes are the way to truth.

• Mr. Erskine's use of language—transforming truths into flying acrobats—reflects the flair of the aesthetic movement

• This dialogue demonstrates Lord Henry's belief that faithfulness is an act of laziness.

• This portrayal demonstrates widespread attitudes of anti-Semitism in Europe at the time.

What is revealed about Lord Henry Wotton's relationship with his wife when Lady Victoria Wotton is first introduced in Chapter 4 of The Picture of Dorian Gray?

Multiple Select

What is revealed about Lord Henry Wotton's relationship with his wife when Lady Victoria Wotton is first introduced in Chapter 4 of The Picture of Dorian Gray?

• The first description of Lady Victoria is her "shrill voice."

• she mentions that Lord Henry has 17 photographs of Dorian.

• The narrator seems to mock Lady Victoria, whom Lord Henry may have married for the sake of appearances.

• Lady Victoria is portrayed as an unfortunately dressed woman, who despite her efforts to appear picturesque in the fashion of the time only manages to appear untidy.

In Chapter 2 of The Picture of Dorian Gray how does Wilde explore the relationship between beauty and genius?

Multiple Select

In Chapter 2 of The Picture of Dorian Gray how does Wilde explore the relationship between beauty and genius?

• Dorian need not trouble himself with genius because he has surpassed it with beauty.

• When Dorian claims that Sibyl is a genius, Lord Henry says that "no woman is a genius.

• Dorian claims himself a genius

• Basil thinks that Dorian is a genius

Replace this text with your title

Multiple Select

In Chapter 7 of The Picture of Dorian Gray why does Wilde personify the painting when Dorian Gray discovers its change?

• Dorian Gray and Faust sell their souls for benefits in their lives.

• The painting is described as having power to influence Dorian's life.

• The painting has changed in the aftermath of his cruelty to Sibyl.

• the painting begins to take on human qualities.

Replace this text with your title

In Chapter 9 of The Picture of Dorian Gray how does Wilde create dramatic irony?

Multiple Choice

While Basil has great idea why Dorian won't let him view the painting—the reader knows that Dorian cannot allow him to see that the portrait has changed. This situation causes conflict between these good friends and shows evolution in Dorian's character.

• False

• True

Multiple Choice

While Dorian has no idea why Basil won't let him view the painting—the reader knows that Basil cannot allow him to see that the portrait has changed. This situation causes conflict between these good friends and shows evolution in Henry's character. Since the conflict is left unresolved at the end of the chapter—Basil still has no idea why Dorian would refuse to show him his own painting—the plot is advanced by the need for future resolution.

• False

• True

Multiple Choice

While Basil has no idea why Dorian won't let him view the painting—the reader knows that Dorian cannot allow him to see that the portrait has changed. This situation causes conflict between these good friends and shows evolution in Dorian's character. Since the conflict is left unresolved at the end of the chapter—Basil still has no idea why Dorian would refuse to show him his own painting—the plot is advanced by the need for future resolution.

• True

• False

In Chapter 5 of The Picture of Dorian Gray how do the opinions of Mrs. Vane and Sibyl Vane differ on the subjects of Mr. Isaacs and Dorian Gray?

Multiple Select

In Chapter 5 of The Picture of Dorian Gray how do the opinions of Mrs. Vane and Sibyl Vane differ on the subjects of Mr. Isaacs and Dorian Gray?

• Mr. Isaacs, the theater manager, has advanced money to the Vanes.

• Mrs. Vane and Sibyl Vane didn't like Mr. Isaacs.

• Mr. Isaacs admired Dorian

• Mrs. Vane didn't like Dorian because he was not rich.

Dropdown

​

Select answer

Dropdown

​

Select answer

Dropdown

​

Select answer

The Picture of Dorian Gray | Themes

Multiple Select

Themes

• Art versus Life

• Appearance versus Reality

• Reputation versus Character

• Death versus Life

Dropdown

​

Select answer

Dropdown

​

Select answer

Multiple Choice

What kind of figurative device is included in the following statement:

"The studio was filled with the rich odour of roses, and when the light summer wind stirred..."

• Imagery

• metaphor

• simile

• personification

Drag and Drop

What kind of figurative language device is the following statement:

"Courage has gone out of our race"

​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Personification

Metaphor

Hyperbole

Onomatopoeia

Idiom

Alliteration

Drag and Drop

"...day-dreams and sleeping dreams whose mere memory might stain your cheek with shame"

This statement includes an example of:​ ​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Alliteration

Onomatopoeia

Simile

Idiom

Personification

Drag and Drop

"Punctuality is the thief of life" is an example of:​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Metaphor

Onomatopoeia

Alliteration

Simile

Hyperbole

Drag and Drop

What kind of figurative language device is the following statement:

"The panes glowed like plates of heated metal" ​

Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Simile

Metaphor

Alliteration

Hyperbole

Idiom