1/09/09
Objective: Students will illustrate their understanding of Wilde's novel in open class discussion.
Chapter nineteen and twenty: Dorian resolves to change his ways and become good. Lord Henry and Dorian discuss the value of a soul. Dorian wearily reflects on his wasted life and realizes that his self-love has changed to self-hate. He attempts to destroy the hated portrait. His servants find the portrait intact, showing a youthful and handsome Dorian, and a loathsome corpse in the locked room.

Aim: How can Dorian change that one aspect/flaw that may prohibit him from accomplishing his goals or being a good person?
Do Now: If I can change one flaw about myself it would be...because...
Why do you think Dorian resolves to be good and self righteously thinks he has made a good beginning by sparing Hetty Merton from his further advances.
Dorian alludes to the possibility of murder; Lord Henry responds there was not reason why Basil would be murdered. Dorian "confesses"; Lord Henry says that is impossible because Dorian does not have it in him to commit such a vulgarity. Why?
Analyze Lord Henry's reference to, "What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" What is Dorian's response to Lord Henry's quote. What is this an allusion to?
Why does Lord Henry wish to exchange places with Dorian?
What does Dorian blame Lord Henry for?
What is Dorian's summation of his life and the implications?
How does Dorian react to the final viewing of his portrait and what this leads him to do?
Why do you think it may be too late for Dorian to reform?
What is the significance of the knife and where was the fatal wound?
How did they know the "withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage" that was laying on the floor was Dorian?
How is his death a work of art?

Cooperative Learning:
Illustrate your own cause and effect with your self love image and use a cause (one of the seven deadly sins) and show the effect of the sin on the image.