Let's give Them Something to Talk About: Dorian Gray

Now that you have finished reading Dorian Gray, you're ready for a scintillating, online discussion. Please share your thoughts about one or more of the following questions:
1. Who is most to blame for the tragedy of Dorian Gray--Lord Henry, Basil Hallward, or Dorian himself?
2. Could Dorian Gray be considered a tragic hero according to the classical definition? Why or why not?
3. What is the relationship between art and morality? Should art be moral? Should it serve some social good? Should the government have the right to censure works of art that it finds morally objectionable?
4. What symbolism is embedded in the final scene? What are some of the ironies it captures? Does it form effective closure to the book?
5. What do you think of the representation of women in the novel?
6. Is Oscar Wilde a better playwright, novelist, or poet?

Connections

During the next several weeks we will read, study, discuss, and write about several classics, current events, and literary/historical figures. Synthesizing will be a critical part of AP Language as we seek to make connections between a variety of sources.

To foster this process, I'm creating a site where students may share interesting articles, stories, essays, and other literary "gems" they discover on their own. When you discover such a gem, post the link on this site along with a brief description of the piece you find. For example, I just read about the poet, Elizabeth Alexander, who will read at Obama's Inauguration tomorrow.

To become a better reader, writer, speaker, and critical thinker, you must READ, READ, READ! You will also be creating some of your own synthesis questions, which will require at least six sources. So let the sharing begin. . .