Oscar Wilde and Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde was born on 16th October 1854 in Dublin, Ireland. His father was an important surgeon and his mother was an Irish nationalist poet.

He studied at Trinity College in Dublin and in 1875, at the age of 20, won a scholarship to study at Oxford University, where he was an outstanding student.

While he was at Oxford, he was deeply influenced by aesthetic theories. In fact, he pursued beauty in all its forms - literature, the arts, clothes, furniture and objects.

In 1879, he moved to London where he began writing and mixing with high society. He soon became known as a great wit. He shocked and delighted listeners with his very clever amusing conversations.

In 1884, he married Constance Lloyd and they had two sons. While he adored his sons, he was never happy with his wife.

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" (1891) was his only novel and it was immediately attacked by the critics because of its ambiguous morality and allusions. However, the scandal that followed its publication contributed to the success of the novel.

In 1895, Wilde was accused of homosexuality, which was illegal in England at the time. After the trial he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and hard labour. After his release from prison, he was a ruined man. He went to live in France. He died in poverty in Paris on 30 November, 1900. He rests in Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY

Click on the photo to see an adaptation of the novel

INDIVIDUAL TASK

4B. You will receive an invitation to participate in the following presentation. You have to create a slide in which you write a short description (about 100 words) of Dorian Gray from the point of view of a fashionable young man who wants to copy him. Make sure you make your slide as attractive as possible.

4C. You will receive an invitation to participate in the following presentation. You have to create a slide in which you write a short description (about 100 words) of Dorian Gray from the point of view of a gentleman who leaves the room when he enters. Make sure you make your slide as attractive as possible.

GROUP TASK

When we think about Dorian Gray, we think about the evil side of human beings straight away. How can people change so much? How can people can get so carried away by their own ego as to destroy everything and everybody around them?

Listen to this song by Marina and The Diamonds:

Do you agree that there is an evil side to all of us? If so, can you give examples?

4C. Prepare a presentation using Emaze, Google Slides, Prezi in which you connect the song by Marina and The Diamonds to examples of evil behaviour shown by Dorian Gray and Lord Henry. Make sure you explain the examples you choose in detail. Use references from the novel. Your work will be presented orally to the rest of the class on Monday, 18th January.

Students' work:

CLEMENTE, JOSÉ JUAN, PEDRO,

ANTONIO, PABLO AND RICARDO

ALEJANDRO, MÁXIMO AND JESÚS

CELIA PÉREZ, LORENA AND

Mª JOSÉ BERMÚDEZ

CARLOS, MIGUEL AND JAIME

GABRIEL, MAKSYM, ALEX AND ANDRÉS

SILVIA, MELISSA, Mª JOSÉ BERMÚDEZ, RAQUEL AND CELIA CAMPUZANO

VERO, BERTA, MARINA, ALBERTO

AND ÁNGELA MARTÍNEZ