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Chapter 1, page 14

Table of Contents

"Remembered what, Harry?"

"Where I heard the name of Dorian Gray."

"Where was it?" asked Hallward, with a slight frown.

"Don't look so angry, Basil. It was at my aunt, Lady Agatha's. She told me she had discovered a wonderful young man who was going to help her in the East End, and that his name was Dorian Gray. I am bound to state that she never told me he was good–looking. Women have no appreciation of good looks; at least, good women have not. She said that he was very earnest and had a beautiful nature. I at once pictured to myself a creature with spectacles and lank hair, horribly freckled, and tramping about on huge feet. I wish I had known it was your friend."

"I am very glad you didn't, Harry."

"Why?"

"I don't want you to meet him."

"You don't want me to meet him?"

"No."

"Mr. Dorian Gray is in the studio, sir," said the butler, coming into the garden.

"You must introduce me now," cried Lord Henry, laughing.

The painter turned to his servant, who stood blinking in the sunlight. "Ask Mr. Gray to wait, Parker: I shall be in in a few moments." The man bowed and went up the walk.

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Chapter 1, page 15

Table of Contents

Then he looked at Lord Henry. "Dorian Gray is my dearest friend," he said. "He has a simple and a beautiful nature. Your aunt was quite right in what she said of him. Don't spoil him. Don't try to influence him. Your influence would be bad. The world is wide, and has many marvellous people in it. Don't take away from me the one person who gives to my art whatever charm it possesses: my life as an artist depends on him. Mind, Harry, I trust you." He spoke very slowly, and the words seemed wrung out of him almost against his will.

"What nonsense you talk!" said Lord Henry, smiling, and taking Hallward by the arm, he almost led him into the house.

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Question #2

The first two paragraphs set the scene, describing the garden surrounding Basil Hallwood's home in London. It is a summer day, with no breeze. Through the open door of the studio, Wotton sees and smells the flowers; he hears "the sullen murmur of the bees shouldering their way through the long unmown grass."

What does the word "murmur" mean?





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Question #3

Wotton encourages Basil Hallwood to exhibit the portrait of Dorian Gray, but Basil says he will not, explaining, "I have put too much of myself into it."

Wotton takes Basil's words too literally and says, "Why, my dear Basil, he is a Narcissus, and you well, of course you have an intellectual expression, and all that. But beauty, real beauty, ends where an intellectual expression begins."

What does the word "intellectual" mean?





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Question #4

What is the reason that Basil gives for not wanting to tell Lord Wotton the name of the young man in the portrait?





Please enter the first three words of a sentence that shows your answers is correct.

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Question #5

Describing his first meeting with Dorian Gray, Basil tells Wotton, "I had a strange feeling that Fate had in store for me exquisite joys and exquisite sorrows. I knew that if I spoke to Dorian I would become absolutely devoted to him, and that I ought not to speak to him. I grew afraid, and turned to quit the room."

What does the word "exquisite" mean?





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Question #6

Basil met Dorian at a party given by Lady Brandon, a woman whom Wotton also knows. When Basil comments on her "shrill horrid voice", Wotton uses a witty metaphor to describe her: "Yes; she is a peacock in everything but beauty,"

Based on Wotton's description, which of these characteristics does Lady Brandon possess?





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Question #7

Explaining his attachment to Dorian, Basil tells Harry Wotton: "Dorian Gray is merely to me a motive in art. He is never more present in my work than when no image of him is there. He is simply a suggestion, as I have said, of a new manner. I see him in the curves of certain lines, in the loveliness and the subtleties of certain colors. That is all."

What does the word "motive" mean?





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Question #8

At the end of the chapter, Basil's butler announces that Dorian Gray has arrived. Wotton is happy because this means Basil cannot avoid introducing him to Dorian, but Basil is not as pleased. Why not?





Please enter the first three words of a sentence that shows your answers is correct.