12/15/08 - Classwork and Vocabulary

By Stanley Switalski
Aim: How can we recall information about the text and organize our thoughts and ideas in various forms?
Do Now: Complete the following sentence, I am Dorian Gray and my greatest sin so far is...and give a reason why?
I am Dorian Gray and my greatest sin so far is killing Basil Hallward over envy. He was a good friend and innocent gentleman who was just looking out for me. However, my personality changed because of how envious I was of his painting and felt the need to kill him. How cruel of me, and yet I can do nothing but try to forget that terrible night.

Servility (Adj.) Having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others.
All the children in the class silenced in a servile manner.
Garrulous (Adj.) Excessively talkative, esp. on trivial matters.
Some state that Henry talks in a garrulous manner, especially when it comes to sports.
Impecuniosity (N) Having little or no money.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had died in impecuniosity.
Obsequious (Adj.) Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree.
Dorian's butler is extremely obsequious, as it is part of his job description.
Renunciation (N) The formal rejection of something, typically a belief, claim, or course of action.
To become an excellent driver, it requires the renunciation of all possible distractions in the car.
Sensual (Adj.) Of or arousing gratification of the senses and physical, esp. sexual, pleasure
When eating, I only pay attention to the sensual features of the food and not the sensual features of the environment.
Poignant (Adj.) Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.
"Your poignant attitude is not appreciated at this memorial service," my cousin whispered.
Fopperies (N) A man who is concerned with his clothes and appearance in an affected and excessive way; a dandy.
Some say that I am one of many fopperies that they know, however I beg to differ.
Profligacy (N) Recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources.
Americans are world-renowned for their profligacy in automotive choices.
Pathos (N) A quality that evokes pity or sadness.
Exams and quizzes always manage to invoke pathos into my overall attitude.
Alchemist (N) The medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the supposed transformation of matter. It was concerned particularly with attempts to convert base metals into gold or to find a universal elixir.
Some people today still believe in alchemists and their medicinal powers.
Frescoes (N) A painting done rapidly in watercolor on wet plaster on a wall or ceiling, so that the colors penetrate the plaster and become fixed as it dries.
Becoming popular because of his frescoes, people from all of the world come to see how the artist is able to create such beautiful pieces of work.
Calumnies (N) The making of false and defamatory statements in order to damage someone's reputation; slander.
Although some may not believe their calumnies have a lasting affect, they eventually find out the hard way that rumors are not fun and games.
Ego (N) A person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance.
Although there are some people who are entitled to having an ego, it often leads to arrogance and a terrible personality.
Ennui (N) A feeling of listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occupation or excitement.
In order to sidestep any ennui, I will either browse the internet or make origami figures out of regular loose leaf paper.
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12/10/08 - Our Eulogy for Sibyl Vane

By Stanley Switalski
Please download the word document here


Specific Responsibilities
  • Nahida Aktar - Conclusion & Selection of Song
  • Pablo Chavez - Quotes and Citations
  • Stanley Switalski - Body
  • Juanita Trujillo - Introduction & Images
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12/9/08 - Classwork

By Stanley Switalski
Our Eulogy as it stands
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12/8/08 - A Eulogy for Sibyl Vane

By Stanley Switalski
How can we use and review a rubric to synthesize and produce a narrative account in the form of a eulogy of Sibyl Vane?
Recall: A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing. The word is derived from two Greek words - ευ (pronounced "you") meaning good or well and λογος (pronounced "logos") meaning word, phrase, speech, etc.

Do Now: Take out your picture of Sibyl Vane (this was your weekend homework) and write in your journal why you think this image best represents Sibyl Vane.
This is a perfect image of Sibyl Vane. She looks beautiful and like a seventeen-year-old child. However, she looks extremely naïve. She has the look of someone who knew nothing other than acting, just like Sibyl. Because of this perfect combination of beauty and naiveté, I feel as though this image best represents Sibyl Vane.

Outline of our Eulogy

Theme: Sibyl had two loves, Dorian and Acting. Both were the death of her.

Birthday: June 20th, 1890 (Date the original "The Picture of Dorian Gray" was published)
Death: August 6th, 1907

Career: She was an actress in the Royal theatre in Holborn.

Education: Although she had no formal education, she had gained all of her acting skills from her mother, as she was an actress.

Who would most likely give the eulogy of Sibyl Vane?
It would most likely be both her mother and James. This is because both of them were the only ones who knew Sibyl the best. They are the only ones who would be able to passionately and accurately talk about Sibyl and her life.
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12-5-08 - Homework

By Stanley Switalski
Bring in an image of what you think Sibyl Vane looks like.

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12/5/08 - A Eulogy for Sibyl Vane

By Stanley Switalski
Aim: How can we honor Sibyl Vane's death in a eulogy?
Do Now: Complete the following as a journal entry---The most beautiful speech I have ever heard is..., At my _funeral gave a speech that was..., At my graduation, birthday party, wedding, special event, _paid tribute to...
At my boss’ mother’s funeral, his father gave a speech that was very touching and fitting. Instead of talking about how terrible death is and all other negative topics, he decided to think about all the good memories that their family shared. It was really a reminder of how great of a person she was, and not how we will all be missed. Through his speech, everyone got the sense that she lived on past her death, which is very important to remember.
Key Elements of a Eulogy
  • Memories
  • Family
  • Closeness
  • Emotions
  • Funny Stories
  • Relationship to the Living
  • Praising
  • Favorite things
  • How the person treated others
  • Cause of Death
  • Feelings toward the Person
  • Communication
  • History
  • Education
  • Pictures
  • Accomplishments achieved
  • Experiences that describe their personality
Each group will gather information about Sibyl Vane from the book (cite your sources)
Persons age/date of birth
Sibyl was only seventeen when she died. She was born on the 20th of June in 1890 and died on a July Night in 1907.
“I see by The Standard that she was seventeen.”
Oscar Wilde’s first publication was on the 20th of June in 1890 and the setting sounds like it is summer when Sibyl had died.
“It was an exquisite day. The warm air seemed laden with spices. A bee flew in and buzzed round the blue-dragon bowl that, filled with sulphur-yellow roses, stood before him.”
Family and other close relationships
Sibyl had a mother, an actress by the name of Mrs. Vane, a younger brother, a sailor shipping off to Australia and went by the name James, Mr. Isaacs, a family friend, and a father, who died when Sibyl was young. Finally, Sibyl had her “Prince Charming.” His real name was Dorian Gray.
“Mrs. Vane winced.”
“Mr. Isaacs has been most considerate.”
“The whole thing is most inconvenient, and really, when James is going away to Australia … I hope you will be contended, James, with your sea-faring life.” "I am sixteen," he answered.
“Were you [Mrs. Vane] married to my father?” “No” she answered. "I knew he was not free. We loved each other very much. If he had lived, he would have made provision for us.”
Education/work/career
Although we do not know of any formal education, Sibyl was an excellent actress. She worked for a gentleman who owned “an absurd little theatre, with great flaring gas-jets and gaudy play-bills.” The name of the theatre was “Royal Theatre in Holborn.” She was extremely talented at what she did as “night after night” Dorian goes back to see her perform.
Hobbies or special interests
From what we know, she does not have any hobbies or special interests. Her only interest was first with acting, and now with "Prince Charming" Dorian Gray.
“Dorian, Dorian," she cried, "before I knew you, acting was the one reality of my life. It was only in the theatre that I lived. I thought that it was all true.”
Places the person lived
We can assume that Sibyl has lived in London all her life. She had lived in a “shabby house in the Euston Road.”
It was stated that the Setting of this novel was in London.
How did she die?
She was leaving the theater with her mother when she stated that she forgot something in her dressing room. She had went back to get whatever that was, and hadn’t returned in a long time. Upon going to the dressing room, they found Sibyl dead. They believe that it was suicide because they found she swallowed something by "mistake". The substance must have contained prussic acid or white lead in it.
"I have no doubt it was not an accident, Dorian, though it must be put in that way to the public. It seems that as she was leaving the theatre with her mother, about half-past twelve or so, she said she had forgotten something upstairs. They waited some time for her, but she did not come down again. They ultimately found her lying dead on the floor of her dressing-room. She had swallowed something by mistake, some dreadful thing they use at theatres. I don't know what it was, but it had either prussic acid or white lead in it. I should fancy it was prussic acid, as she seems to have died instantaneously."
Time of death?
It was around 12:30 at night.
“about half-past twelve or so.”
Special accomplishments
Sibyl did not have any special accomplishments that are noted in the novel. The only accomplishment might be how well of an actress she was.
Use at least 3 vocabulary words from the Vocabulary Word List from Portrait that is appropriate for a eulogy.
Absolution, illusion, and Fidelity
What is your image of Sibyl Vane?
I see Sibyl Vane as a simple, beautiful person. She never really seemed to want much from the world. She just lived her life in a theatre and was contented doing so. While others are always trying to become rich or gain a better position, Sibyl was happy with being a simple actress in a simple theatre.
What other things can we list about Sibyl?
She is a little childish and foolish. First, she hadn’t even asked for his name but instead called Dorian Prince Charming. Second, she rushed into a marriage/love just like children do. Finally, she had let Dorian’s actions get to her. She had thought that Dorian was her world, and without Dorian, she had no world. That is absolutely foolish. What about the acting career she built up? Killing herself over a man is down right foolish. To quote the novel, ""Foolish child! foolish child!" was the parrot-phrase flung in answer."
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12/4/08 - Homework

By Stanley Switalski
Cite sources: Where can we find the 5 stages of grief as it pertains to Dorian. Please also include:
Temes describes three particular types of behavior exhibited by those suffering from grief and loss. They are:
  • Numbness (mechanical functioning and social insulation)
  • Disorganization (intensely painful feelings of loss)
  • Reorganization (re-entry into a more 'normal' social life.)
    • Denial
    Dorian denies the fact that the painting had reflected his cruelty towards Sibyl.
    Was it all true? Had the portrait really changed? Or had it been simply his own imagination that had made him see a look of evil where there had been a look of joy? Surely a painted canvas could not alter? The thing was absurd. It would serve as a tale to tell Basil some day. It would make him smile.
    Anger
    Dorian is both in Denial and expresses anger when Lord Henry first informs him that Basil is dead. Often Denial can be expressed in a form of anger, as in this case.
    A cry of pain broke from the lad's lips, and he leaped to his feet, tearing his hands away from Lord Henry's grasp. "Dead! Sibyl dead! It is not true! It is a horrible lie! How dare you say it?"
    Bargaining
    Dorian is found bargaining when he decides to write a letter to Sibyl, essentially begging for forgiveness. By asking for forgiveness and writing about his foolishness, he is hoping that in return he can get Sibyl to marry him.
    Finally, he went over to the table and wrote a passionate letter to the girl he had loved, imploring her forgiveness and accusing himself of madness. He covered page after page with wild words of sorrow and wilder words of pain. There is a luxury in self-reproach. When we blame ourselves, we feel that no one else has a right to blame us. It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution. When Dorian had finished the letter, he felt that he had been forgiven.
    Depression
    Dorian finds himself in a small depression as soon as he realizes that he indirectly killed Sibyl. This is because a gloomy mood falls over Dorian as he tries to cope with the fact that Sibyl is dead and he never got the chance to apologize to her.
    "So I have murdered Sibyl Vane," said Dorian Gray, half to himself, "murdered her as surely as if I had cut her little throat with a knife. Strange, that my first passionate love-letter should have been addressed to a dead girl. Can they feel, I wonder, those white silent people we call the dead? Sibyl! Can she feel, or know, or listen? Oh, Harry, how I loved her once! It seems years ago to me now. She was everything to me. I can't tell you what it was, but it was terrible. I said I would go back to her. I felt I had done wrong. And now she is dead. My God! My God! Harry, what shall I do? You don't know the danger I am in, and there is nothing to keep me straight. She would have done that for me. She had no right to kill herself. It was selfish of her."
    "I was terribly cruel to her. You forget that."
    "She will never come to life again now," muttered the lad, burying his face in his hands.
    The evening darkened in the room. Noiselessly, and with silver feet, the shadows crept in from the garden. The colours faded wearily out of things.
    Acceptance
    At the end of chapter 8 and beginning of chapter 9, we start to see how Dorian has accepted Sibyl's death. This is partially due to Lord Henry's influences. He made Dorian realize what Dorian really loved about Sibyl and convinced Dorian to move on. Lord Henry used phrases such as "The girl never really lived, and so she has never really died" to force Dorian to move on and accept her death.
    "You have explained me to myself, Harry," he murmured with something of a sigh of relief. "I felt all that you have said, but somehow I was afraid of it, and I could not express it to myself. How well you know me! But we will not talk again of what has happened. It has been a marvellous experience. That is all. I wonder if life has still in store for me anything as marvellous."
    "Don't talk about horrid subjects. If one doesn't talk about a thing, it has never happened. It is simply expression, as Harry says, that gives reality to things."
    Numbness
    The only example of numbness that I can find is where Dorian sleeps extremely late. He has lost all sense of time and reality due to the fact that he had just seen his portrait degrade in beauty. After all, normal paintings cannot change.
    "It was long past noon when he awoke. He seemed to have forgotten all that he had gone through. Adim sense of having taken part in some strange tragedy came to him once or twice, but there was the unreality of a dream about it."
    Disorganization
    Again, a perfect example of disorganization would be where Dorian finds himself the indirect cause of Sibyl's death.
    "So I have murdered Sibyl Vane," said Dorian Gray, half to himself, "murdered her as surely as if I had cut her little throat with a knife. Strange, that my first passionate love-letter should have been addressed to a dead girl. Can they feel, I wonder, those white silent people we call the dead? Sibyl! Can she feel, or know, or listen? Oh, Harry, how I loved her once! It seems years ago to me now. She was everything to me. I can't tell you what it was, but it was terrible. I said I would go back to her. I felt I had done wrong. And now she is dead. My God! My God! Harry, what shall I do? You don't know the danger I am in, and there is nothing to keep me straight. She would have done that for me. She had no right to kill herself. It was selfish of her."
    "She will never come to life again now," muttered the lad, burying his face in his hands.
    Reorganization
    Dorian experiences the Reorganization stage when he agrees to go with Lord Henry to the theater. This is because going out places with Lord Henry is the norm for Dorian. If he wasn't spending time with Lord Henry, then he would not be able to completely enter the reorganization stage.
    "I think I shall join you at the opera, Harry. I feel too tired to eat anything. What is the number of your sister's box?"
    "Twenty-seven, I believe. It is on the grand tier. You will see her name on the door. But I am sorry you won't come and dine."
    "I don't feel up to it," said Dorian listlessly. "But I am awfully obliged to you for all that you have said to me.
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    12/4/08 - Continuation of Yesterday's The Picture of Dorian Gray Lesson

    By Stanley Switalski
    How old is Sibyl in chapter 8?
    “I see by The Standard that she was seventeen.”

    Analyze the conversation between Dorian and Basil about the portrait and why Basil has changed his mind about exhibiting it?
    The conversation was very emotional for both characters. Dorian did not want Basil, let alone anyone else, to see it because it had physically changed to reflect the real Dorian. Basil had wanted to see the portrait because he was hoping to use it as a star piece in an art museum. However, originally Basil did not want to display the portrait in the first place, as it reveals his secret. Dorian did not want to display it as it has changed and now contains his secret. However, by the end of the conversation, Dorian was able to trick Basil into revealing his secret.

    Literary Analysis:
    What internal conflicts do Basil and Dorian face in these chapters?
    Basil and Dorian obviously face a man vs. man conflict over the portrait. They also face a man vs. self-conflict as both Dorian and Basil want to talk about their secrets, but are confused and afraid what the outcome would be. Basil experiences a man vs. society conflict because he wants to use the portrait in a museum, but he is afraid that it will reveal his over infatuation for Dorian and men alike.

    Interpretive
    When Dorian said that he "cannot feel this tragedy," what stage of grief do you think he is experiencing?
    He must be experiencing denial.

    True or False: Dorian shows remorse for Sibyl's death?
    True because Dorian had originally felt remorse. However, Lord Henry had influenced his conscious and changed Dorian’s attitude to Sibyl.

    One can say that he experiences Anger and Disorganization.
    False, Dorian only experiences anger after the news of Sibyl’s death. He is not disorganized at all.

    Cooperative Learning:
    Please complete the following in your small groups Work in twos. You may need two laptops for your group to conduct the research of Narcissus and Echo. Additionally, Use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the reactions of Lord Henry and Basil to Sibyl's death. Give at least two entries for each
    Lord Henry’s Reaction Similarities Basil's Reaction
    Lord Henry did not expect anything of Dorian really. He just expected Dorian to have read his letter before he had gotten there.

    Lord Henry had told Basil not to worry about the loss of Sibyl. He wanted Dorian to move on as there are plenty more women to see.     		Both realized that Dorian had changed after Sibyl’s Death.

    They both had attempted to notify and talk to Dorian about Sibyl’s death.     		Basil was expecting to see Dorian a complete mess, breaking out in tears near ready to kill himself.

    Basil was completely shocked to find that Dorian was not in tears, and was even more surprised that he had went a night later to enjoy himself with Lord Henry. He expected Dorian to have at least visited Sibyl’s mother.

    Then refer to the legend of Narcissus. Compare and contrast Dorian's self-love with that of Narcissus and Narcissus' treatment of Echo with the way Dorian has treated Sibyl.
    Narcissus and Echo Similarities Dorian's Self-Love
    Echo had been chasing after Narcissus. (Female loving male)

    Narcissus (Male) rejected Echo's (Female) love for him.

    Narcissus falls in love with himself after staring at his reflection.     		Both Dorian and Narcissus eventually found Self-Love for themselves.

    Both Dorian and Narcissus were mean and unfair with their loves.

    Both the women in the stories had died. While Echo wasted away, Sibyl had killed herself.     		Dorian had been chasing after Sibyl. (Male loving Female)

    Sibyl (Female) accepts Dorian's (Male) love.

    Dorian only falls in love with his beauty after looking at his painting and listening to Lord Henry’s influence.
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    12/3/08 - Homework

    By Stanley Switalski
    Vocabulary
    Florid (adj.) Elaborately or excessively intricate or complicated.
    Affinity (N) A spontaneous or natural liking or sympathy for someone or something.
    Absolution (N) Formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment.
    Melancholy (N) A deep, pensive, and long-lasting sadness.
    Conjugal (Adj.) Of or relating to marriage or the relationship between husband and wife.
    Cognizance (N) Knowledge, awareness, or notice.
    Misanthrope (N) A person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society.
    Find any similies, metaphors, and personification.
    There were opiates for remorse, drugs that could lull the moral sense to sleep.
    Find his way through the sanguine labyrinth of passion.

    They affect us just as vulgarity affects us.
    When she knew its unreality, she died, as Juliet might have died.
    Like the gods of the Greeks, he would be strong, and fleet, and joyous.
    You became to me the visible incarnation of that unseen ideal whose memory haunts us artists like an exquisite dream.
    You come down here to console me. That is charming of you. You find me consoled, and you are furious. How like a sympathetic person!
    His hands were clenched, and the pupils of his eyes were like disks of blue fire.

    They give us an impression of sheer brute force, and we revolt against that.
    She was always a heroine.
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    12/3/08 - Chapters 8 and 9 of The Picture of Dorian Gray

    By Stanley Switalski
    Aim: Which of the five stages of grief does Dorian experience after Sibyl's death?
    Do Now: Complete the following statement as a journal entry--After death, or After the death of, I felt after...
    After the death of my uncle, I felt normal. I had no sign of grief, nor was I sad or depressed. I has been very indifferent about death. “God will take you when he wants to, and there is nothing you can do about that.”

    What happens the morning after Dorian's rejection of Sibyl?
    Dorian takes a look at his painting and finally comes to realize how rude he was to Sibyl. He actually takes time out to write an apology letter so that if, Sibyl were not to talk to him, at least she could read the letter at one point in time. After he finished writing the letter, Lord Henry had informed Dorian that Sibyl died.

    How does he learn about Sibyl's death?
    Lord Henry came to inform him about Sibyl’s Death.

    How did Sibyl die?
    She actually killed herself, or so it appears. She had left the theater with peers, and then stated that she forgot something. Therefore, Sibyl had gone back into the theater to get something. After not coming back out for a while, they started to question where she was. They discovered her dead in the dressing room. The killer part about this was that this was on the same night that Dorian “broke up” with Sibyl.
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    12/2/08 - Homework

    By Stanley Switalski
    I apologize if this is completely wrong, but I do not understand the HW assignment.

    "Her hair clustered round her face like dark leaves round a pale rose." Stated by Dorian

    "She trembled all over and shook like a white narcissus." Stated by Dorian

    "Her body swayed, while she danced, as a plant sways in the water." Stated by the narrator

    "Drunkards had reeled by, cursing and chattering to themselves like monstrous apes." Stated by the Narrator

    As for personification of nature, it is evident throughout Chapters 6 and 7. An example would be this famous quote.
    The curves of her throat were the curves of a white lily.
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    12/2/08 - Continuation of Yesterday's Lesson on Chapter 6

    By Stanley Switalski
    When Dorian confronts Sibyl what effect does it have on his painting?
    His painting had changed to display dispair and age. Specifically, there was a change around the mouth. “He had uttered a mad wish that he himself might remain young, and the portrait grow old; that his own beauty might be untarnished, and the face on the canvas bear the burden of his passions and his sins; that the painted image might be seared with the lines of suffering and thought, and that he might keep all the delicate bloom and loveliness of his then just conscious boyhood. Surely his wish had not been fulfilled? Such things were impossible. It seemed monstrous even to think of them. And, yet, there was the picture before him, with the touch of cruelty in the mouth.”

    What has truly caused Sibyl to quit or act badly?
    She has revealed who she really is. When Sibyl was acting, it was the only thing that she knew. Now that she has really found love, she has also found herself, which happens not to be an actor.
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    12/1/08 - Homework

    By Stanley Switalski
    Research: Analyze Dorian's relationship with Sibyl in the light of three very different mythological motifs: the stories of Actaeon and Artemis, Narcissus and Echo, and Adonis and Venus.
    Actaeon and Artemis
    The story of Actaeon and Artemis is unique. Artemis was born and had asked Zeus, her father, to allow her to keep virginity forever. This somehow was translated to the point where it was thought that Artemis hated men overall. Actaeon was a phenomenal hunter who, while hunting through the woods one day, saw Artemis bathing. Being a man, he had stopped and “stared at her ravishing beauty.” Because of her hate of men, Artemis punished Actaeon by forbidding him to speak. If he were to speak, Actaeon would be turned into a stag. Upon hearing a call from his hunting party, he shouted out to them and was immediately turned into a stag as promised. Being trained to do so, Actaeon’s hounds immediately tore him to shreds like they would have done to any other stag.
    The correlation between Dorian’s relationship and this story is found after Sibyl’s terrible performance. Dorian had immediately went straight to Sibyl and stated how upset he was. Instead of seeing Sibyl’s beauty like Actaeon saw Artemis’ beauty, Dorian saw no beauty, and like Actaeon, would never want to see Sibyl again.
    Narcissus and Echo
    In a nutshell, this story is about a failed love. Echo, a talkative nymph, had seen Narcissus as he was chasing “frightened deer into his nets.” After “burning with a closer flame,” Echo finally reveals her presence to Narcissus and describes her love for him. However, Narcissus rejects Echo. Afterwards, Echo wastes away and now Narcissus finds love in himself. Instead of falling in love with someone else, he wastes away with love for only himself.
    The correlation between Dorian’s relationship and this story is again found with the outcome of the relationship at the end of chapter 7. Even though Sibyl apologized many times and wished that Dorian would not leave her, much like Echo called out to Narcissus, Dorian completely ignored her, just like Narcissus. We find out later on that, like Echo wasted away, Sibyl had killed herself. The only difference is that Dorian feels absolutely terrible about what has just happened while Narcissus could care less about what happened to Echo.
    Adonis and Venus
    The story of Adonis and Venus is simple. Venus loved Adonis and tried to “rouse him to sexual desire” one day. However, Adonis just ignored Venus’ love and stated that he was going to go boar hunting the next morning. Although Venus did her best to not make him go, or at least hunt smaller prey, Adonis ignored her. The next morning, Venus hears the hunt and runs towards the area from which she heard them. As she approaches the hunt, she “comes upon the body of Adonis, fatally gored by the boar’s tusks.” After seeing her love killed, she places a curse upon love stating that it will always end badly and those who love like she did will know the most sorrow.
    The correlation between Dorian’s relationship and this story is the fatality in both stories. Just like the death in Adonis and Venus, Sibyl dies a terrible death. It wasn’t until after Dorian had thought about what he had said to her that he realized how unjust he was to her and how much he ignored her love, much like how Adonis ignored Venus’ love. Unfortunately, Dorian was too late and curses himself for not being more loving and more supportive. Although the characters are switched, in the sense that Sibyl and Adonis had died, the same concept holds true.
    Vocabulary:
    Infatuation (V) Be inspired with an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for.
    Virtues (N) A quality considered morally good or desirable in a person.
    Incorrigible (Adj.) (Of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed.
    Pompous (Adj.) Characterized by excessive self-esteem or exaggerated dignity.
    Spiritualize (Trans. V) Elevate to a spiritual level.
    Interminable (Adj.) Being or seeming to be without an end; endless.
    Fiasco (N) A thing that is a complete failure, esp. in a ludicrous or humiliating way.
    Profanation (Trans. V) Treat (something sacred) with irreverence or disrespect.
    Anodyne (Adj.) not likely to provoke dissent or offense; uncontentious or inoffensive, often deliberately so.
    Illusion (N) A false idea or belief.
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    12/1/08 - Chapter 6 of The Picture of Dorian Gray

    By Stanley Switalski
    Aim: How important is Wilde's credo "Art for Art sake" in Chapter six and What is the difference between Love and infatuation?

    Do Now: begin a journal entry with I have been infatuated with... and the reason why.
    I have been infatuated with technology ever since I was in kindergarten. This is because I am curious about and have a knack for technology. I do not like to sit by the way side and just let something be. I like to know how things work and why they work. Besides making life easier, this is why I am infatuated with technology.
    Interpretive: Please cite sources/find text support for your answers.
    Why does Lord Henry feel there is a class conflict between Dorian and Sibyl?
    “But think of Dorian's birth, and position, and wealth. It would be absurd for him to marry so much beneath him.”
    How can we compare and contrast both Sibyl and Dorian to Shakespeare's Juliet and Romeo?
    In their society, Sibyl can be seen as the low of the low while Dorian can be compared to a king. They each belong to two different classes of society that normally do not cross. Now in Romeo and Juliet, they both had belonged to different rival families. Because there is a rivalry, there should be no consideration that two would like to marry, much like the problem with Sibyl and Dorian. However, both the play and the novel have their characters marry against all olds. The difference between the play and novel is that Sibyl and Dorian have an issue of class while Romeo and Juliet have an issue with families.
    Another comparison could be made directly between Juliet and Sibyl. Both of them had killed themselves over their lover.
    "I represent to you all the sins you have never had the courage to commit" (Lord Henry)
    Lord Henry, from this quote, can be seen as a devil figure. After all, Lord Henry is the only one, so far, who has been controlling and manipulative. Now because he is the devil, of course he will represent all the evil and all the sins that Dorian could never even think of.
    Literary Device/techniques:
    How is Dorian's feelings about Sibyl ironic?
    What is ironic about Dorian’s feelings about Sibyl is that Dorian has fallen in love with the characters that Sibyl plays. He has not fallen in love with the actual Sibyl. Once Dorian starts to see the real Sibyl instead of the actress Sibyl, he becomes confused and annoyed/angry. How can you love someone so much then hate them with the white-hot intensity of a thousand suns just for not “putting on a good show.” “You [Sibyl] have killed my love.”
    How is the physical description of Sibyl a foreshadowing of her bad performance?
    The keywords such as “white lily” and “cool ivory” not only foreshadow her bad performance, as Dorian and company were cold to her, but they also foreshadow her death.
    What allusions are referenced/cited in these chapters?
    Chapter 6
    Messalina
    Narcissus
    Forest of Arden
    Orchard in Veronica
    Prig
    Puritan
    Medieval Era

    Chapter 7
    Miranda
    Caliban
    Romeo and Juliet
    Rosalind and Orlando
    Portia
    Beatrice
    Cordelia
    Comprehension:
    How Does Dorian describes Sibyl's acting?
    "Horribly! It was dreadful. Are you ill? You have no idea what it was. You have no idea what I suffered." So now it is all about Dorian; he was embarrassed because he made Sibyl seem so perfect, and now she acted terrible in front of his company (Basil and Lord Henry). “You [Sibyl] have killed my love.”
    Connect:
    How is Aestheticism and Decadence evident in Chapter six?
    Aestheticism is present all over Chapter six. The whole concept of chapter six is to provide more information about this Sibyl Vane person who both Basil and Lord Henry have never seen or heard of before. Because Dorian fell in love with Sibyl for her acting and her good looks, throughout chapter six, Dorian is complementing her aesthetics.
    As far as decadence, both Lord Henry and Basil are nervous that Sibyl might not be what Dorian believes her to be. They are afraid that she will bring down his quality of life (Lord Henry’s fear) and that she will deteriorate his good personality (Basil’s fear). Decadence is even more evident in chapter seven as we start to see Dorian’s love for Sibyl break down.
    Critical Thinking:
    How is Sibyl's acting like bad art?
    Acting is still an art form, regardless whether it is good or bad. Although Sibyl was indeed acting, true to the lines and everything, because she wasn’t putting any effort into it, it was a bad show of art. Because it was so bad, much like a bad painting in a museum, people started to ignore her to the point where no one in the audience cared.
    Is Dorian truly in love with Sibyl or is he simply infatuated with her and WHY?
    Dorian is infatuated with Sibyl. Like I stated before, Dorian only loves Sibyl’s talent for acting and those characters whom she acts out. “I have had the arms of Rosalind around me, and kissed Juliet on the mouth.” Dorian does not love Sibyl for her personality or anything of the sort, so when she gave a bad performance, Dorian decided to end their relationship that lasted about three weeks. If Dorian were truly in love with Sibyl, he would have ignored her bad acting and supported her to do better the next time.
    Cooperative Learning:
    How is Homosexuality, Aestheticism, and Decadence evident in chapters six and seven? Cite sources. Use a four column chart to illustrate your findings.
    Key Term Meaning Support Works Cited
    Aestheticism Devotion to and pursuit of the beautiful; sensitivity to artistic beauty and refined taste. Throughout the entire Chapter 6, all that Dorian talks about is Sibyl’s beauty. Not only is she physically beautiful, but her acting is absolutely wonderful as well. “Oh, she is better than good--she is beautiful,” –Lord Henry
    “As for her acting--well, you shall see her to-night. She is simply a born artist.” -Dorian
    Decadence Moral or cultural decline, especially after a peak of achievement. It can also mean free from all negative or positive influences. Decadence is evident in Chapter 7. Dorian had made Sibyl appear as though she was a goddess, perfect in both beauty and everything that she did. However, when it was her night to prove Dorian right, Sibyl upset Dorian by acting terribly. So instead of excelling, Sibyl took a sharp turn for the worse after Dorian had portrayed her so highly. Instead of following the norm and listening to any influence, Sibyl decided on her own what was best for her form of art. Unfortunately, it was for the worse. “Her body swayed, while she danced, as a plant sways in the water. The curves of her throat were the curves of a white lily. Her hands seemed to be made of cool ivory. Yet she was curiously listless. She showed no sign of joy when her eyes rested on Romeo.”
    Homosexuality (Of a person) sexually attracted to people of one's own sex. The only form of homosexuality I could find in chapter 6 would be when the gentlemen are leaving the restaurant. Basil becomes quite upset as he sees that Dorian is no longer what he knew him as. Dorian has changed, and according to Basil, changed for the worse. In a sense, he feels as though he has lost Dorian. “He felt that Dorian Gray would never again be to him all that he had been in the past.” Because Basil might have homosexual tendencies, this might explain why he is so emotional over news of Dorian’s marriage.

    In Chapter 7, homosexual tendencies can be seen when Sibyl was playing as Rosalind. As we know, Dorian falls in love with the character that Sibyl acts, and not herself. When Sibyl came out in boy’s clothing, Dorian had felt as though she could never be anymore beautiful. Therefore Dorian fell in love the most with a male character.     		“The painter was silent and preoccupied. There was a gloom over him. He could not bear this marriage, and yet it seemed to him to be better than many other things that might have happened. After a few minutes, they all passed downstairs. He drove off by himself, as had been arranged, and watched the flashing lights of the little brougham in front of him. A strange sense of loss came over him. He felt that Dorian Gray would never again be to him all that he had been in the past. Life had come between them.”

    "Sibyl was playing Rosalind. Of course, the scenery was dreadful and the Orlando absurd. But Sibyl! You should have seen her! When she came on in her boy's clothes, she was perfectly wonderful. She wore a moss-coloured velvet jerkin with cinnamon sleeves, slim, brown, cross-gartered hose, a dainty little green cap with a hawk's feather caught in a jewel, and a hooded cloak lined with dull red. She had never seemed to me more exquisite."
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