Beauty, influence, art and conscience collide in Oscar Wilde’s only novel. This five-question quiz checks the people and events that shape Dorian Gray’s dangerous pursuit of youth. Each answer is based on the public-domain text.
Spoiler note: The questions refer to important events in the novel. Listen to The Picture of Dorian Gray audiobook first if you want to meet the characters without advance clues.
Five questions
1. Who paints the portrait of Dorian Gray?
- A. Lord Henry Wotton
- B. Basil Hallward
- C. Alan Campbell
- D. James Vane
2. Who strongly influences Dorian with ideas about youth and pleasure?
- A. Lord Henry Wotton
- B. Basil Hallward
- C. Victor
- D. Sir Thomas Burdon
3. Which actress does Dorian say he loves?
- A. Hetty Merton
- B. Victoria Wotton
- C. Sibyl Vane
- D. Lady Agatha
4. What changes while Dorian keeps his youthful appearance?
- A. His house
- B. His voice
- C. His portrait
- D. His family name
5. Who is Sibyl Vane’s brother?
- A. James Vane
- B. Adrian Singleton
- C. Lord Fermor
- D. Francis
Show the answers
- B. Basil Hallward. The artist sits near the full-length portrait in his studio and calls Dorian central to his art.
- A. Lord Henry Wotton. His polished arguments about beauty, youth and pleasure awaken new desires in Dorian.
- C. Sibyl Vane. Dorian is captivated by the young actress and the Shakespearean heroines she performs.
- C. His portrait. Dorian remains young, but the painted face records cruelty, age and moral damage.
- A. James Vane. Sibyl’s brother seeks the man he believes destroyed her life.
Use your result
5 correct: You followed the novel’s characters and its central supernatural bargain closely. 3–4 correct: You know the main story, but a second listen may reveal how influence moves between Basil, Lord Henry and Dorian. 0–2 correct: Start with the opening chapters and notice who speaks about art, beauty and responsibility.
Text and editorial source: Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Project Gutenberg eBook 174. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States. The questions and explanations are original BookAud editorial material.