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The Picture of Dorian Gray KEY TO THE ACTIVITIES

Page 14 • activity 6 a. He has put too much of himself into it. b. Because telling his name is like losing a part of him. Transcript from “I can’t exhibit it,”… to “a bit foolish” (pages 7 and 9)

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At Basil’s studio Page 6 • activity 1 A picture can be: a. a painting or drawing b. a photograph c. an image on a television screen d. a description e. a mental image or memory. In the first sentence the meaning is a. – the second is b. – the third is c. – the fourth is e. Page 6 • activity 2 Free answer.

f. g. h. i.

He is a good husband and doesn’t want to show his virtues. He felt a strange sensation of terror. Two months before. At his aunt Lady Agatha’s. Parker.

Page 12 • activity 2 a. Lord Henry – b. Lady Brandon – c. Lady Agatha – d. Dorian Gray – e. Lord Henry – f. Basil Page 13 • activity 3 a. laughter – b. branches – c. painter – d. gifts – e. sofa – f. a laurel tree – g. gallery – h. a daisy – i. pain

Page 6 • activity 3 a. inspiration – b. exhibit – c. painter, portrait – d. artists – e. sitter

Page 14 • activity 4 a. are – b. went, sat – c. think, are – d. met – e. stopped, was leaving – f. do, see – g. told, was

Page 12 • activity 1 a. A strong smell of roses and a heavy scent of lilacs. b. In the middle of room. c. It is the best work Basil has ever done. d. The ugly and the stupid.

Page 14 • activity 5 a. It is the best work you have ever done. b. My wife never knows what I am doing. c. What did Lady Brandon say about him? d. Lord Henry struck a light and began to smoke a cigarette.

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Lord Henry Wotton and Sibyl Vane Page 26 • activity 1 Free answer. Page 26 • activity 2 a. It is in Mayfair. b. Henry’s wife. c. Because he had to bargain for hours for a piece of old brocade. d. No, he doesn’t. e. With an actress. f. About three weeks.

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A wonderful picture e.

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Page 17 • activity 1 Free answer. Page 17 • activity 2 Free answer.

Transcript Page 17 • activity 3 a. 3 – b. 5 – c. 6 – d. 2 – e. 7 – f. 1 – g. 4 Page 24 • activity 1 a. F (… book of music.) – b. T – c. T – d. F (… impress Dorian.) – e. T – f. T – g. T – h. T – i. T Page 24 • activity 2 a. 2 – b. 5 – c. 6 – d. 1 – e. 3 – f. 4 Page 24 • activity 3 a. 5 – b. 6 – c. 4 – d. 2/3 – e. 2 – f. 5 – g. 1 – h. 6 – i. 3/2 Page 25 • activity 4 a. grew, would – b. weren’t, wouldn’t look – c. would, think – d. would you do, agreed – e. paid, would be Page 25 • activity 5 Free answer.

from A month later… to About three weeks’ (pages 30 and 31) Page 34 • activity 1 Down: 1. grandson – 2. father – 3. mother Across: 4. aunt – 5. son – 6. daughter – 7. nephew – 8. uncle Page 34 • activity 2 One evening Dorian went out in search of some adventurous experience. At the theatre they were performing one of the most famous Shakesperian tragedies. Dorian met the girl at the end of the play. Sibyl called him Prince Charming. Page 35 • activity 3 Age: 17 – Face: little – Hair: dark brown – Eyes: violet – Lips: rose – Voice: like music – Personality: shy and gentle

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Page 35 • activity 4 A month later Dorian was at Lord Henry’s house. One evening Dorian went out in search of some adventure. At 8.30 in He passed by a little the evening theatre. That same night Dorian met Sibyl. Tonight Sibyl plays Imogen. Tomorrow Sibyl plays Juliet. That night after Lord Henry saw midnight a telegram. Page 36 • activity 5 a. entered, he had already paid b. met, she had already played c. began to think, had left d. arrived home, had already sent e. lit, had gone f. had told, started Page 36 • activity 6 Suggested answer. A month later Dorian was at Lord Henry’s house. One evening Dorian went out in search of some adventure. At 8.30 in the evening he passed by a little theatre. That same night he met Sibyl. Tonight Sibyl is playing Imogen. Tomorrow she is playing Juliet.

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In love Page 38 • activity 1 Free answer. Page 38 • activity 2 Free answer. 3

Page 38 • activity 3 a. Perhaps he is her brother/friend/relative. b. He belongs to a lower class. c. He is quite tall, he has got an oval face with brown eyes, black hair with sideburns. He is wearing a beret and a black round neck sweater. Page 38 • activity 4 a. Acting b. money, debts c. watch d. marriage e. wrong f. love Page 44 • activity 1 a. Mrs Vane is happy when she sees Sibyl act. b. Sibyl’s family needs Mr Isaac’s help because they are poor. c. James Vane is Sibyl’s brother. d. James is afraid that Dorian could do her any wrong. e. They returned home soon after 5 o’clock. f. They met at the Bristol Club. g. The evening before Sibyl was playing Rosalind. h. No, he hasn’t. i. Dorian thinks he has changed because Sibyl makes him forget all Lord Henry’s fascinating but wrong theories about life, love, and pleasure. j. No, he isn’t. Page 44 • activity 2 2 – 6 – 1 – 5 – 3 – 4 Mrs Vane put her thin white hands on her daughter’s head. Sibyl and Jim went walking in Euston Road. A six o’clock Jim kissed her mother and went away.

The Picture of Dorian Gray – EDISCO

Basil, Lord Henry and Dorian met at the Bristol Club. After the performance Dorian told Sibyl that he loved her. Then they put on their coats and went to the theatre. Page 45 • activity 3 a stupid thing: ‘Whenever a man does a stupid thing, it is always from the noblest reasons.” what women are like: “Women are always more practical than we are.” secrets (Chapter 1): “I am a married man and secrets are absolutely necessary for a charming marriage.” influence (Chapter 2): “All influence is immoral, because to influence a person is to give him one’s own soul, to make him become an echo of someone else’s music.” becoming young again (Chapter 3): “Well, to get back to one’s youth, one has to commit them over and over again.” why people get married (Chapter 3): “Men marry because they are tired; women because they are curious: both are disappointed.” women (Chapter 3): “Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say but they say it charmingly.” Page 45 • activity 4 a. isn’t she? b. hasn’t he? c. didn’t they? d. will he? e. weren’t they? f. aren’t you? g. did he? h. can he? i. won’t we?

Page 46 • activity 5 a. the – Love is more important than money. b. how – He was like a common gardener walking with a rose. c. most noble – Whenever a man does a stupid thing, it is always from the noblest reasons. d. Women are always more practical than we are. e. best – I like people more than principles. f. better – It’s the best work you’ve ever done. Page 46 • activity 6 Lord Henry was sitting on the sofa in Basil’s studio. His friend Basil Hallward had almost finished the full-length portrait of a beautiful young man, Dorian Gray. Basil was very pleased with his work, but he didn’t want to show it. The reason was that he thought he had shown the secret of his soul in the portrait: in fact, when he had first met the boy he had realised his personality would greatly influence him. While they were talking, Dorian arrived and was immediately fascinated by Lord Henry’s witty and brilliant conversation. When the portrait was finished, Dorian stood in front of it silently and then expressed his wish: he would give his soul if he could always be young.

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Tragedy Page 47 • activity 1 Free answer. The Picture of Dorian Gray – EDISCO

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Page 47 • activity 2 Place

theatre

Time when Sibyl appeared on the stage

after a quarter of an hour

What Sibyl’s words were like

artificial

What her tone of voice was like

quite false

What Dorian was like

pale, confused, anxious

What the audience’s reaction was like

began to talk loudly and hiss

Lord Henry’s reaction at Sibyl’s acting

got up, put on his coat and left

Basil’s reaction at Dorian’s disillusionment

he tells Dorian ‘Love is a more wonderful thing than Art.’

Transcript That night the theatre was particularly crowded. A quarter of an hour after Lord Henry, Basil and Dorian had arrived, Sibyl appeared on the stage to act Juliet. ‘Charming, charming!’ murmured Lord Henry as he saw her. But when she began to speak her words were thoroughly artificial. Her voice was wonderful but the tone was absolutely false. She was a failure. Dorian grew pale as he watched her. He was puzzled and anxious. The audience got restless and began to whistle. When the second act was over Lord Henry put on his coat and said: ‘She can’t act, Dorian. Let’s go!’ ‘I’m sorry!’ Dorian answered. ‘This evening she’s a mediocre actress but I want to see the whole play.’ ‘My dear Dorian, don’t worry. I think Miss Vane is ill. We will come some other night,’ said Basil. Page 55 • activity 1 a. F (It was particularly crowded and the fat manager was smiling cheerfully) – b. T – 5

c. F ( Lord Henry got up and put on his coat in order to go.) – d. T – e. T – f. F (Dorian looked down at her, left her and went away.) – g. T – h. T – i. F (He put it aside.) – j. T – k. T – l. F (No, he went to the Opera.) Page 55 • activity 2 a. Lord Henry b. Basil c. Dorian d. Sibyl e. Dorian f. Lord Henry Page 56 • activity 3 fat/thin – horrible/wonderful – ill/healthy – artificial/spontaneous – lie/tell the truth – selfish/generous – worse/better – failure/success – hate/love – badly/well – young/old beautiful/ugly Page 56 • activity 4 moon – flight – feet – visible – at home – silly Page 56 • activity 5 a. he was going to begin.

The Picture of Dorian Gray – EDISCO

b. c. d. e. f.

he he he he he

meant. could say such a horrible lie. should do. was heartless. got his letter that morning.

Page 57 • activity 6 wish – may remain – grows – Has my – come true? – cannot – there is – holds – my – is – my – is its – have – been – will not commit – will – will not see – will go back – ask – marry – try – have been Page 57 • activity 7 Suggested answer: My dear Sibyl, Don’t be so desperate because I think Dorian doesn’t deserve your love. His behaviour has been really horrible and he is a selfish and cruel man. You shouldn’t think about him too much. You are young and a good actress. Concentrate on your work and you will certainly meet a good boy who will love you. Love, Yours …

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The portrait and the yellow book Page 59 • activity 1 Lord Henry Wotton paid a visit to his Uncle George to get some information about Dorian’s background: his life story was a real modern romance and Harry liked influencing him so much. A month later Dorian paid him a visit and told him he had fallen in love with an unknown actress whose name was Sibyl Vane. He had met

her in a horrid and vulgar theatre in the East End but she had a great talent. Sibyl loved Dorian very much too but her brother James, who was leaving for Australia, was worried about her future. One evening Dorian, Harry and Basil went to see her act. Her acting was horrible and the young boy decided to leave her. The following day Lord Henry paid him a visit and informed Dorian that Sibyl had committed suicide. Page 59 • activity 2 NO – NO – YES – YES – YES Page 59 • activity 3 Basil – Because of Sibyl’s death. – With his ideas. In fact, he talks as if he had no heart. Transcript ‘I’m so glad I have found you, Dorian. I passed a dreadful night. I was worried for you because of Sibyl’s death.’ ‘My dear Basil, don’t worry. What is done is done. What past is past. I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to be the master of them.’ ‘Dorian, this is horrible! You talk as if you had no heart. It’s all Harry’s influence!’ Page 67 • activity 1 a. 3. a sailor b. 5. Harry’s sister c. 2. Prince Charming d. 6. a servant e. 1. the housekeeper f. 4. the frame-maker Page 67 • activity 2 a. Lady Gwendolen, Harry’s sister. b. the inquest which is taking place that afternoon.

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c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.

Perfection. Basil will never see it before. In the schoolroom at the top of the house. A note and a book in yellow paper. The verdict was death by misadventure. Ill-famed taverns. The greatest of the arts. Fashion and dandysm. The young men of London high society.

Page 68 • activity 3 fascinating – fascination astonish – astonishment pleasant – pleasure degrade – degrading adore – adoration Page 68 • activity 4 a. He used to be a simple boy but now he isn’t. b. He didn’t use to lead a dissolute life but now he does. c. He didn’t use to think his life was a work of art but now he does. d. He used to see his old friends but now he doesn’t. e. He didn’t use to go to the theatre but now he does. f. He didn’t use to disguise himself but now he does. g. He used to be generous but now he isn’t. Page 69 • activity 5 You: Why do the young men of London high society imitate your way of dressing? You: What attracts you mostly? You: Do you like music? You: Your tastes are extremely refined, 7

aren’t they? Do you also like exotic flowers? You: What about reading? You: How did you get it?

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Murder Page 70 • activity 1 Suggested answer: Dorian: Basil, do you really want to see the picture again? Basil: Yes, of course! Dorian: Well, here it is! Basil: Oh, my God! It’s disgusting! How can it be possible? Dorian, what does it mean? Page 70 • activity 2 a. after – b. in – c. by – d. with – e. of – f. with – g. of – h. with Page 70 • activity 3 a. 9 – b. 5 – c. 6 – d. 1 – e. 7 – f. 8 – g. 10 – h. 3 – i. 4 – j. 2 Page 77 • activity 1 38th – Basil – Paris – the rumours against him – soul – attic – shocked – kneel down – stabbed – bag and coat – twenty minutes to two – fur coat and hat – his front door key Page 77 • activity 2 a. 11 p.m. b. Cold and foggy. c. He felt a strange sense of fear. d. By the midnight train. e. The Duke of Berwick. f. It is the native land of the hypocrite. g. It was full of dust and smelt mouldy.

The Picture of Dorian Gray – EDISCO

h. i. j.

It has the eyes of a devil. Dorian’s valet. At nine.

Page 77 • activity 3 a. shrug b. shiver c. sob d. stab e. grin f. grasp Page 78 • activity 4 a. Dorian cried not to touch him. b. Sibyl whispered not to leave her. c. Lord Henry told him not to talk like that. d. Lord Henry told Dorian to think of her as all the heroines of romance. e. Dorian told Basil to stop talking. f. Hallward told Dorian not to shrug his shoulders. Page 78 • activity 5 a. They were: stealing, prostitution, murder, rape and robbery. b. They were gangs of orphans and abandoned children who stole. c. It was the first women’s prison. d. He was the most famous criminal in the Victorian Age. e. They were: hangings, imprisonment or transportation to the colonies. f. It was horrible, it was unhygienic and many prisoners died from disease. Transcript One of the main causes of crime in Victorian England was poverty and sickness as a consequence of urban development. In the new towns living conditions were awful. Stealing was the commonest form of crime and for many people it

represented the only way to survive: there were a lot of pickpocket gangs composed of orphans and abandoned children. Another sort of crime which allowed people to make money was prostitution. A law of 1861 made the women seeking an abortion guilty of crime as well as the abortitionist. The first women’s prison – Brixton – was opened in 1853. But there were also the so-called indictable crimes, that is the major ones: murder, rape, robbery. etc The most famous criminal in the Victorian Age was ‘Jack the Ripper’ who killed women and then cut them with a long knife and removed their organs. We don’t know who he really was. Crimes were punished with hangings but also, of course, with imprisonment or transportation to the colonies, in particular in Australia, where the convicts who managed to arrive (many died on the long journey) had to work for 7 or 14 years or life. Life in prison was horrible, it was unhygienic and many prisoners died from disease. The harsh system if Victorian prisons was characterised by repetitive work, monotonous food and hard bed.

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Alan Campbell Page 80 • activity 1 Free answer. Page 80 • activity 2 4 – 2 – 1 – 3 – 6 – 5 – 7 Transcript When, at 9 o’clock the next morning, the servant came in, Dorian was sleeping

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peacefully. After opening his eyes, he turned round and while sipping his chocolate, he gradually remembered the events of the preceding night. How horrible that was! The dead Basil was still sitting at that table! He got up quickly, dressed himself with great care and then went through his correspondence. He sat down at the table and wrote two letters. He put one into his pocket and asked his valet to take the other one to Alan Campbell’s house. Page 80 • activity 3 peacefully suddenly quietly terribly usually ordinarily a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h.

quickly horribly strangely

usually – suddenly peacefully quietly terribly horribly ordinarily quickly strangely

Page 86 • activity 1 a. F (Dorian wrote two letters.) – b. T – c. F (Alan came.) – d. T – e. T – f. F (Dorian went to the party.) – g. F (They talked about politics.) – h. F (He burnt the painter’s coat and bag.) – i. F (No, he went out.) – j. T Page 86 • activity 2 a. 3 – b. 1 – c. 4 – d. 5 – e. 6 – f. 2 Page 87 • activity 3 no – on – to – or – nor – not – ton – iron – corn – coat – coin – torn – riot – ratio – ration – Victor – Victoria – Victorian (con, cot, roan, tot) 9

Page 87 • activity 4 a. turn round – b. get up – c. go through – d. sit down – e. wait for – f. bring back – g. keep to – h. take out – i. come back – j. go over Free answer. Page 88 • activity 5 3 – 2 – 4 – 1 – 2 Page 88 • activity 6 a. needn’t/doesn’t need to b. must c. need d. mustn’t e. needn’t/doesn’t need to Page 88 • activity 7 Suggested answer: Perhaps Alan Campbell was involved in a crime whose responsibility had never been found out and Dorian – who was once one of his closest friends – is the only person who knows the truth. Dorian shows a letter which Alan had written to him in which he tells him the real facts.

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James Vane Page 89 • activity 1 Suggested answers: a. To an ill-famed tavern. b. Because it is dangerous. c. What he smelt from the box is the cause of his decision to go out to look for more paste.

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Page 89 • activity 2 Transcript Dorian is on his way to the Opium Den. The cab driver was driving rapidly towards the river, in spite of the mist and rain. Dorian could hear the screams of the drunkards. “What right had Basil to judge the others?” After some time, they arrived at the top of a dark lane. Dorian got out and reached the small house. He entered. There was a sailor and two shabby women who were mocking a poor old man near them. Dorian passed them and went up a staircase into a darker room, where he met Adrian Singleton, an old friend of his he had ruined. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h.

the cab driver the drunkards Dorian Basil a sailor two women an old man Adrian

Page 89 • activity 3 a. Sibyl’s brother. b. He wants to kill Dorian. c. ‘Don’t move. I’ll kill you because my sister died because of you’. d. They are near the port.

Page 98 • activity 3 a. narrow and gloomy b. horrible c. dreadful d. green e. painful f. witty g. aromatic h. spotted Page 98 • activity 4 a. shouldn’t b. should c. shouldn’t d. should e. should Page 98 • activity 5 Suggested summary Dorian and his guests were spending a few days in his beautiful country house. While Dorian was sitting alone in the conservatory of his house, he fainted: he had just seen James Vane’s face watching him against the window. Dorian didn’t talk about it, but a few days later, during a shooting-party in the pine-wood, Sir Geoffrey, who wanted to shoot a hare, killed a man instead. It was James Vane.

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Page 97 • activity 1 4 – 5 – 1 – 2 – 3 (pictures) 3 – 1 – 4 – 5 – 2 (captions)

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Death

Page 97 • activity 2 a. At the top of a dark lane. b. A long room. c. A dark room. d. Under the light of a street lamp.

Page 99 • activity 1 Suggested answers: a. Dorian’s death. b. Perhaps. c. Lord Henry continues his way of life as usual while Dorian will die.

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Page 99 • activity 2 a. Lord Henry. b. He committed suicide. c. Lord Henry. d. Scotland Yard. e. Dorian. f. The man Lord Henry’s wife ran away with. Page 99 • activity 3 a. in – b. about – c. for – d. into – e. on – f. from – g. in – h. at – i. on – j. in Page 105 • activity 1 a. The day before in the country. b. A girl. c. Hetty. d. During the month of May. e. Like Sibyl Vane. f. It is always a mistake. g. Perhaps he fell into the Seine. h. James, Alan and Basil. i. The living death of his soul. j. To check the portrait. Page 105 • activity 2 a. 3 – b. 4 – c. 2 – d. 1 – e. 5 Page 105 • activity 3 thrilling – thrillingly inquire – inquiringly convince – convincing

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harm – harmfully exclusive – exclusively laugh – laughing hopeful – hopefully Page 106 • activity 4 a. Dorian’s beauty had fascinated Basil. b. He told Mrs Leaf to give the key. c. He asked Victor to wait for Lord Henry’s answer. d. Death terrifies Harry. e. The world has always worshipped you. Page 106 • activity 5 a. The picture was carried to the top of the house by the frame-maker and a young assistant. b. I was poisoned by you. c. He had been sent the evening paper by Lord Henry. d. He was told it was late by the valet. e. An exhibition will be held in Paris. f. He was haunted by the portrait. g. He was invited to the club by Henry.

SUMMING-UP ACTIVITIES Page 109 • activity 1 Dorian Gray – handsome, cruel, young, charming Lord Henry – witty, sceptical, selfish Basil Hallaward – good, sad Sibyl Vane – innocent, beautiful, pure, pretty/naïve/shy/gentle James Vane – furious, angry, jealous Alan Campbell – intelligent, desperate, unhappy Page 109 • activity 2 Free answer. Page 109 • activity 3 Free answer. Page 109 • activity 4 Beauty and youth are the most important things that really matter. We have to enjoy

our youth until we have it. Secrets are necessary for a charming marriage. Men marry because they are tired and women because they are curious and both are disappointed. Women are a decorative sex who have never anything to say but they say it charmingly. Moreover women are always more practical than men. Life should be a work of art. Opinion: free answer. Page 110 • activity 5 portrait – personality – friend – studio – wish – time – influenced – life – theatre – actress – marry – acting – badly – suicide – has changed – hide – rumours – meets – change – soul – birthday – body – opium-den – sailor – brother – shooting – knife – cry – old

Page 106 • activity 6 Suggested answer: ‘What’s happening?’ ‘Did you hear a loud cry?’ – ‘And a crash too!’ ‘It comes from upstairs.’ ‘Let’s go and see!’

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