Answers to questions about the content of The Picture of Dorian Gray

Assignment 1

Chapters 1-2

1. Who is Basil Hallward?

He is a London artist who paints the portrait of young Dorian Gray.

2. What completely captures Lord Henry Wotton's attention when he visits Hallward's

studio?

Lord Wotton isfascinated by Basil's subjectfor the painting, a beautiful young man

named Dorian Gray.

3. What reason does Basil give for not wanting to exhibit his painting of Dorian Gray?

Basil feels that he has put too much of his own self into the painting, and it reveals the

secrets of his soul.

4. What does Basil helieve are the only two eras of importance in the world's history?

He believes that the appearance of a new medium for art and the appearance of a new

personality for art are the only two eras of importance in the world's history.

5. Basil believes that his landscape painting is the finest work he's ever done. To what

does he attribute this success?

Dorian Gray was sitting beside Basil when he painted the landscape. Basil credits

"some subtle influence "from Dorian's presence to the success of the work.

6. Why doesn't Basil want to introduce Lord Henry to Dorian Gray?

Basil is afraid that Lord Henry will be a negative influence on the young Dorian.

7. What does Lord Henry claim is "the aim of life"?

Lord Henry claims that self-development is the "aim of life."

8. According to Lord Henry, what is "the only way to get rid of a temptation"?

Lord Henry believes that "the only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. "

9. What does Dorian Gray so desperately wish for that he "would give [his] soul" to have it

come true?

Dorian wishes that his portrait would age and that he would remain young and

untouched by the ugliness of life.

]O. To what does Basil attribute Dorian's negative reaction to his painting?

Basil attributes Dorian's reaction to Lord Henry's negative influence.

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