The Picture of Dorian Gray – Novel by Wilde

Description

Write a short essay of approximately 1,200 words (longer is fine, but please don’t get too carried away) on Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” in connection with ONE of the following two prompts.  Note that although this assessment is referred to as a “final exam,” it is not timed and there is no requirement to start and finish it within a given time period; rather, it should be treated in the same way as previous essays, and will be assessed similarly.  The one big difference is that the cut-off date is firm, and no late submissions or extensions will be accepted – by all means do inform the instructor if an emergency arises, but note that requirements for prompt mark submission after final exams make leniency on deadlines difficult at this point in the semester.  Identify a theme or idea that is present in Wilde’s novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” via the dialogue and behavior of its characters, and assess the impact of this theme or idea.  You may either reflect upon the novel as a whole, highlighting specific incidents or speeches throughout, or focus on one particular chapter – either approach is fine, but your intro paragraph should make your intentions clear either way.  Your thesis should take the form of an answer to one of the following kinds of question, or something similar: What is something valuable that you have learned from reading Wilde’s novel and witnessing its characters’ dialogue, behaviors and interactions? What ideas in Wilde’s novel might be harmful if a person were to try living their life in accord with them? What ideas in Wilde’s novel might be harmful if misunderstood or misapplied (as one could argue the characters themselves sometimes do), yet are nonetheless defensible so long as they are understood and applied in a constructive way? To what extent does Dorian / Henry / some other character live in accord with Romantic ideals, according to the definition of Romanticism used in this course?  (Advice: if you do not feel that you understand what “Romanticism” means, in connection with the lectures on Paradise Lost, the lyrics pack, etc., then do not attempt this prompt.) What themes or ideas does Wilde’s novel have in common with another required reading in this course of your choice?  (Note: you can pick anything from the whole of the semester for this, but you must refer to an actual reading, not just to slides.  Also and importantly, do not repeat content/arguments used in previous assessments, as re-use of assignment content is considered a form of academic misconduct and will be treated as such.  Students in doubt about what is allowed here, or concerned about any other aspect of what the essay should entail, are encouraged to consult with the instructor before going ahead.) IMPORTANT: all essays should include at least three citations, and the quotes thus-cited must be clearly relevant to your paper’s arguments in order to “count.”  (Note too that some of the prompts listed above may require more than this minimum in order to really make your argument effectively – especially 2e.)  Ensure too that your paper follows all stipulations listed in the Assignment Guidelines document on BlackBoard with regard to structure, style, etc.