Oscar Wilde's "The picture of Dorian Gray"

You all have read Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray"! Now it is time to explore the novel further by yourselves!

For reading up on instructions look in the folder labeled "Process" in "Tasks" you will find the Sources for your webquest for your group.

Enjoy!

Expert Group A:  Aestheticism and Decadence at the Fin de Ciecle

What is the Aestheticism and Decadence and how does it influence "The Picture of Dorian Gray"?

Are there similarities between Wilde's and Gray's life? 

What does the Preface tell us about art?

What’s a Dandy? Who would be considered a Dandy today?

 

https://www.britannica.com/art/Aestheticism

https://lusme.atavist.com/oscarwilde

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dandy

https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/aestheticism-and-decadence

https://blogs.bl.uk/english-and-drama/2014/06/portraits-behaving-badly-decadence-degeneration-and-the-picture-of-dorian-gray.html

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Expert Group B Victorian London

What was the city like? (Environment, Housing, Pollution)

How did class structure society? 

Does this part of Victorian society appear in "The Picture of Dorian Gray"?

http://victorian-era.org/london-during-victorian-times2.html

http://www.aboutbritain.com/articles/victorian-london.asp

http://victorian-era.org/victorian-era-society.html

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Expert Group C:  Role of women  

How does the role of women in the 19th century contrast that of the woman in the fin de siècle?

How are women portrayed in the Story?

What role do Dorian’s mother/ Sybil / Lord Henry’s wife play?

https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/daughters-of-decadence-the-new-woman-in-the-victorian-fin-de-siecle

https://laurenlindessays.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/women-in-dorian-gray/

https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/gender-roles-in-the-19th-century

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Expert Group D: Oscar Wilde's life

Give a Brief intorduction to his life as a writer

In what ways may Wilde's personal life have influence the character of Dorian Gray?

Why was he trialed and how was it perceived in the rest of English society? (consequences)

https://www.wilde-online.info/oscar-wilde-biography.html

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/oscar-wilde/ 

https://americanhistory.si.edu/steinwaydiary/annotations/?id=854

+ your copy of the book!

Expert Group E: Literary elements in the novel

What elements of the gothic novel be found in "The Picture of Dorian Gray"? 

Explain symbolism, imagery, allegory and find examples for these terms in the text. 

https://www.shmoop.com/picture-dorian-gray/yellow-book-symbol.html

https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-picture-of-dorian-gray/symbols

https://www.yorknotes.com/alevel/english-literature/the-picture-of-dorian-gray-advanced/study/critical-approaches/02010100_themes

+ your copy of the book!

1. Get together in Groups of 5
2. each Group is assigned one of the Five Topics 
   • Aestheticism and Decadence at the Fin de Ciecle  
   • Victorian London
   • Women
   • Literary elements
3. There are two computers/laptops per group. Use the links provided for your expert group to find out more about the background to the novel! 
4. Goal: produce a Handout for the rest of the class with your findings (2 pages)
5. Expert round: the Groups are split up and new groups are formed. Each new group will be formed containing one expert from each initial group who will explain and share his/her knowledge  with the rest of the students. 

You will be assessed on grounds of  

• Teamwork abilities
•  Handout and presentation