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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    11/25/08 - Homework

    By Stanley Switalski
    Identify at least 4 similes in chapter 5
    "He was like a common gardener walking with a rose."

    "The tulip-beds across the road flamed like throbbing rings of fire."

    "The brightly coloured parasols danced and dipped like monstrous butterflies."

    "They cut the air like a dagger."

    "...I will find out who he is, track him down, and kill him like a dog."

    Vocabulary words you may need to know for Chapter 6
  • Infatuation - (V) To be inspired with an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for.
  • Virtues - (N) Behavior showing high moral standards.
  • Incorrigible - (Adj) (of a person or their tendencies) Not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed.
  • Pompous - (Adj) Affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important.
  • Spiritualize - (T.V.) Elevate to a spiritual level.
  • Interminable - (Adj) Endless (often used hyperbolically).
  • Fiasco - (N) A thing that is a complete failure, esp. in a ludicrous or humiliating way.
  • Profanation - (T.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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    11/25/08 - Chapter 5 of The Picture of Dorian Gray

    By Stanley Switalski
    Aim: Which one of the seven deadly sins is most evident so far in Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray?

    DN: Have you ever had a friend whose girlfriend/boyfriend/significant other who you did not like? Were you envious of their relationship?
    None of my friends have bad enough judgment that their girlfriend/boyfriend/significant other would annoy me. If anything, I was happy for my friend as she and her boyfriend are both extremely happy and seemed perfect for one another.

    Did you experience any of the seven deadly sins?
    Not really. I was happy to see that my friend had found someone she really liked, and I knew the guy was a true gentleman. That is about as much thought as I put into it.

    Discussion questions

    Identify members of Sibyl Vane’s family and analyze their interrelationships.
    Within the Vane family there is Sibyl, James and Mrs. Vane.
    James seems to be very controlling of his sister and a very overprotective person. This might be because there is no father in the household and he felt it was necessary that he took that position.
    Mrs. Vane seems very relaxed towards Sibyl’s judgments and decisions. So long as the gentleman is of a good family and is wealthy, she could care less who Sibyl marries.
    Sibyl, herself, is completely loving to both Mrs. Vane and James. In actuality, she is a very loving person. She seems to have a unique "There can be no evil" aurora that floats around her.

    Examine the various reactions of Sibyl, Mrs. Vane, and Jim toward Dorian.
    Sibyl calls Dorian "Prince charming," as she does not even know his real name. Mrs. Vane feels as though Dorian is a good man as he is rich and of “good stock." James does not like Dorian; “There is something that rubs him the wrong way.”

    Critical Response
    Examine the universality of the statement, “Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them.”
    At first, children are born with complete innocence. Therefore they base right and wrong on their parent’s. However as the children grow older, they start to decide right and wrong by themselves. This is when they start to judge their parents, become angered and might forgive them later on.
    In The Picture of Dorian Gray, James is a perfect example of this. When James was younger, he knew that he should have had a father, but did not know why. As he grew older, he started to wrap his mind around how his father might have been a “dirty scoundrel.” Just before James departed, he was still angry with his father for being such. However, once he talked to his mother and saw her view, he had forgiven his father for his act.

    Individual Learning
    We identified the seven deadly sins of Pride, Avarice (greed), Envy, Wrath (anger), Lust, Gluttony, Sloth. Please use the internet to find images that you think represents each sin.
    The 7 Deadly Sins Definition Image Why is the image a good rep. Identify the sin in Dorian Gray
    Pride (Noun) A feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
    Source: New Oxford American Dictionary

    		This is a perfect example of pride as Napoleon was a very successful man in his conquests. In this portrait, Napoleon is so proud of himself that he chooses to pose in excellent clothes while on his noble steed pointing up to the gods. I don't know if anyone else could capture so much pride in a painting in such a unique way. A gentleman who is full of pride in this novel is the gentleman who owns the theater in which Sibyl plays in. He is extremely proud of, not only her, but his theater as well. Even Dorian recognized his pride. "He [the gentleman] told me once, with an air of pride, that his five bankruptcies were entirely due to 'The Bard,' as he insisted on calling him. He seemed to think it a distinction."
    Avarice (Noun) Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
    Source: New Oxford American Dictionary
    Source: http://tr.im/greed     		This image represents greed in a unique way. Not only does greed and extreme wealth have to measured in money. In a sense, an avarice person would love to control the world and have it all to itself. If this person had to share some of the world, they would unwillingly give minuscule shares. Avarice is prevalent in Lord Henry. For example, Lord Henry wants to spend as much time as possible with Dorian. He even went so far as corrupting Dorian's friendship with Basil. Now that Lord Henry has Dorian, he never wants to let him go. This comes into play when Sibyl comes into Dorian's life. As soon as she does, you can really see Lord Henry's avarice personality come into play.
    Envy (Noun) A feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck.
    Source: New Oxford American Dictionary
    Source: http://tr.im/dogenvy     		This image is a good photo of envy as it shows that envy does not need to be tied to love, money or humans at all; it is on a very simple level. In this one image, the bigger dog has the bone while the smaller dog is just left to look at the bone. Of course the smaller dog is going to be envious of the bigger one for it is the bigger dog who posses something he wishes he could to. A unique way that Oscar Wilde includes envy in his novel is through the actual painting of Dorian Gray. Dorian is definitely envious of the photo that Basil painted of him; the painting will forever contain its beauty while Dorian is left to wither away.
    Wrath (Noun) Extreme anger (chiefly used for humorous or rhetorical effect).
    Source: New Oxford American Dictionary
    Source: http://tr.im/wrath     		This is a humorous example of what Wrath is. To be wrathful means that you are unbelievably angry. Typically wrath is synonymous with the phrase, "Feel the wrath of (Name goes here)." This photo shows this quite well as the brown character is ready to expose its wrath (anger) on the kitten. A good example of wrath in this novel is when James takes a walk with Sibyl. As he becomes more and more immersed in the conversation, he becomes more passionate about his statement to the point where he comes out and reveals his wrath. "I wish I had, for as sure as there is a God in heaven, if he ever does you any wrong, I shall kill him."
    Lust (Noun) Very strong sexual desire.
    Source: New Oxford American Dictionary
    Source: http://tr.im/lust     		This is a subtle example of lust. Because lust is the desire for sex, most of the time two people will be close to one another appearing very affectionate towards one another. This is exactly what my photo depicts. The character with most lust in this novel would have to be Lord Henry. This is because he feels as though his wife, and all women for that matter, is nothing better than a beautiful item. With his unique personality, he is the only one, so far, who I can see as having lust.
    Gluttony (Noun) Habitual greed or excess in eating.
    Source: New Oxford American Dictionary
    Source: http://tr.im/gluttony     		This is one of the better examples of gluttony because it goes to show that not everyone who is guilty of gluttony is fat. By definition, gluttony is excessive eating. While the person may not be fat, they might be so greedy that they take a huge stack of pancakes all for themselves. However, one who is accused of gluttony is synonymous with being called a moocher. So far in the story, the only person who I can think of committing an act of gluttony is Lord Henry. In the second chapter, he is already taking advantage of Basil's resources. "Basil, let us have something iced to drink, something with strawberries in it." If he isn't a glutton, I don't know who else in The Picture of Dorian Gray could be.
    Sloth (Noun) Reluctance to work or make an effort; laziness
    Source: New Oxford American Dictionary
    Source: http://tr.im/sloth     		This is a perfect description of sloth. As the definition states, a sloth is one who is lazy to the core. The man in the picture must obviously be lazy. He can't even bear to clean up his living quarter, let alone dress and bathe properly. This is an example of a sloth to the extreme. Dorian was very slothful after Basil had took the time out to send him his portrait in a exquisite frame. He hadn't talked to Basil in a long time, nor had he seen him in just as long. There was no reason for this other than laziness. Although he said he didn't want to see Basil alone as Basil said things that aggravated him, this is just an excuse for being slothful.

    Connect to self: Which of the seven are you guilty of TODAY?
    I would be guilty of being a sloth. This is due to the fact that I had little sleep the night before and cannot function as such. Instead of straining myself, why not be a sloth and relax?
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    11/24/08 - Homework Assignment

    By Stanley Switalski
    Research and Correlate the Allusions with Dorian Gray:
    Philistine (In respect to Basil) By definition of webster, a philistine can be a person who is un-informed in a special area of knowledge. This definitely applies to Basil as he is only intelligent, and only cares, about his art. He could care less about anything else, say for instance where he is going to be getting his next paycheck.
    Philistine (In respect to Dorian) Dorian might be a philistine when it comes to love and relationships. He “fell in love” with a woman who is an actor and, after three weeks, is already engaged. This, to me, is a perfect example of a philistine.
    Giordano Bruno Giordano Bruno, according to wikipedia, “was an Italian philosopher best-known as an early proponent of heliocentrism, the theory that the sun is the center of the universe, and the infinity of the universe.” Giordano Bruno was brought up in the narrator’s comparison of soul and body. “Was the soul a shadow seated in the house of sin? Or was the body really in the soul, as Giordano Bruno thought?” This statement is a parallel statement to the argument back in the day that Earth was the center of the universe. Bruno was thought of as crazy for believing that the Sun was the center of the universe. This relation is made because Lord Henry is starting to question why Dorian would have made such a rash decision to fall in love. Although completely normal, Lord Henry sees Sibyl as someone invading his “property.”

    Literary Elements: Metaphor-people like Dorian: willful sunbeams of life.
    “The lad was premature.”
    “He was gathering his harvest while it was yet spring.”
    “He was like one of those gracious figures in a pageant or a play, whose joys seem to be remote from one, but whose sorrows stir one’s sense of beauty, and whose wounds are like red roses.”

    Personification: Soul, Desire
    “Out of its secret hiding-place had crept his soul, and desire had come to meet it on the way.”

    Vocabulary for chapter 4:

    Aphorisms – (Noun) A pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

    Munificent – (Adj) (of a gift or sum of money) larger or more generous than is usual or necessary.

    Consummate – (Verb) Make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse.

    Crucible – (Noun) A ceramic or metal container in which metals or other substances may be melted or subjected to very high temperatures.

    Turbid – (Adj) (of a liquid) cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter.

    Animalism – (Noun) Behavior that is characteristic of or appropriate to animals, particularly in being physical and instinctive.
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    11/24/08 - Chapter 4 of The Picture of Dorian Gray

    By Stanley Switalski
    Do Now: Free write the Prediction: How will Dorian’s engagement to Sibyl change his relationship with Lord Henry?
    Lord Henry is quite interested in Dorian; he would like to spend as much time with Dorian in order to study his complex personality. However, now that Dorian is engaged with Sibyl, he will be spending a lot more timer with her instead of Lord Henry. Now Lord Henry will not only be unable to spend more time to study Dorian, but Lord Henry will no longer be able to inject his views and ideas into Dorian. This might possibly change Dorian for the better, as Lord Henry can be an extremely negative influence.

    Who is Victoria?
    Victoria is Lord Henry’s wife. Lord Henry states: "Women are just a decorative sex that you wear on your arm."

    How would you characterize Sibyl Vane?
    Sibyl Vane is extremely naive and pure, with no concept as to what an evil could be.

    How/Where did she meet Dorian
    Sibyl was an actress at a small theater. Dorian had stumbled upon the theater and decided to enter. It was here that Dorian first saw her. At first the gentleman who owned the theater offered Dorian a way backstage to meet her, but he denied. He decided to go every night after the first night as he could not go without seeing Sibyl. It was after the third or fourth visit that he decided to accept the gentleman’s offer to meet Sibyl.

    What does she call Dorian?
    He is “Prince Charming” to her. Sadly enough, Sibyl does not know Dorian's real name.

    How long do they know each other in the story so far?
    They only know one another for three weeks.


    Critical Thinking
    Examine the relationship between Lord Henry and his wife Victoria and compare the relationship between Lord Henry and Dorian. How does Lord Henry feel about the relationship between Dorian and Sibyl? Analyze Lord Henry’s view of women, men and fidelity. Analyze the change in the relationship between Dorian and Basil.
    The relationship between Lord Henry and his wife is terrible. They basically lead separate, independent lives. Although we do not know Victoria's view at this point, Lord Henry sees woman as a "decorative sex." "My dear boy [Dorian], no woman is a genius. Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly. Women represent the triumph of matter over mind, just as men represent the triumph of mind over morals."
    So although he does not care much for his wife, Lord Henry is quite intrigued by Dorian. There is just something about him that Lord Henry wishes to study, and therefore wishes to spend as much time with him as humanly possible.
    When Dorian starts to speak of his new found love, Lord Henry starts to become worried. Although he is worried because Dorian will no longer be spending as much time with him, he tells Dorian " the people who love only once in their lives are really the shallow people. What they call their loyalty, and their fidelity, I call either the lethargy of custom or their lack of imagination. Faithfulness is to the emotional life what consistency is to the life of the intellect--simply a confession of failure."
    From all of these statements, we can tell that Lord Henry has set views about women, men and fidelity. As for women, their main responsibility is to look pretty. When you marry a woman, their responsibility is to be a trophy wife that you can be proud of. It doesn't matter whether you love them or spend time with them. So long as their beautiful. A man is supposed to be the intelligent one. He is the one who challenges all morals. As for fidelity, Lord Henry thinks of it as a complete joke. He feels as though there is no possible way that you can keep loving one person. As the popular internet meme goes, Lord Henry sees fidelity as an epic fail.

    After Dorian started to hang around Lord Henry, he hardly talked to Basil at all. It is as though Dorian completely forgot about the gentleman who painstakingly painted a photo of him. It is because of his change in personality that Dorian no longer wishes to see Basil alone. "He says things that annoy me. He gives me good advice." It now appears as though the relationship between Basil and Dorian has deteriorated for the worse.


    Cooperative Learning
    You need the digital image of yourself for this mini class project today! Using our laptops-Create a Powerpoint on Self Love

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    11/21/08 - Chapter 3 of The Picture of Dorian Gray

    By Stanley Switalski
    Task: How does Lord Henry discover more about Dorian Gray?
    DN: Respond to the following in two or three sentences: “Youth is the one thing worth having.”
    I do not believe that this is true. There are many more things, such as intelligence and health, that are more valuable than youth.
    Discuss what is revealed about Dorian’s parentage and the effect it has had on him.
    His mother was really beautiful and there was this guy after her and everyone in the area wanted the gentleman. But his mother denied the gentleman and married a normal, run-of-the-mill gentleman. Afterwards, Kelso had hired someone to insult Dorian's father and ended up dying in a duel. Dorian's mother soon died afterwards as well.

    As for the effect, as Lord Henry states, "It posed the lad, made him more perfect, as it were."
    Find the similie where Lord Henry compares talking to Dorian like playing an exquisite violin.
    Talking to him was like playing upon an exquisite violin. He answered to every touch and thrill of the bow.
    What are Dorian’s feeling towards Lord Henry?
    It is sort of how Basil felt towards Dorian. Dorian looks up to Lord Henry as extremely wise and the answer to all the questions he had about life. “I feel I must come with you. Do let me. And you will promise to talk to me all the time? No one talks so wonderfully as you do.”
    Individual Online research: Correlate the following Allusions with Dorian: Titan and Dryad
    Titan: “He could be made a Titan or a toy.” What Oscar Wilde is alluding to here is that Dorian did not have a set future. Because he had no parents growing up, he could, and still can, be shaped into anything. He could be a great, powerful god (Titan) or a simple beautiful toy that served no other purpose than to be played with. Dryad: “the silent spirit that dwelt in dim woodland, and walked unseen in open field, suddenly showing herself, Dryadlike and not afraid.” What Oscar Wilde is alluding to here is that Dorian is like a Dryad. He too is shy and secluded and will only show his personality to certain people, like a Dryad was only friendly with Artemis.
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    11/20/08 - Homework Assignment

    By Stanley Switalski
    Vocabulary

    Petulant – (Of a person or their manner) childishly sulky or bad-tempered.
    Philanthropy - the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes.
    Paradox - A statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory.
    Caprice – A sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.
    Panegyric – A public speech or published text in praise of someone or something.
    Candour – The quality of being open and honest in expression; frankless.
    Fidelity – Faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support.
    Physiology – The branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living organisms and their parts.

    Chapter 1 Literary Elements

    Setting: London, England
    There is a unique characterization of Lord Henry on the first page.
    There is definitely a unique diction that “paints us a better picture” of the setting.
    “The dim roar of London was like the bourdon note of a distant organ.”
    “Your cynicism is simply a pose.”
    “The blue cloud- shadows chased themselves across the grass like swallows.”
    “It is like a bric-à-brac shop, all monsters and dust, and everything priced above its proper value.”
    “How horribly unjust of you!’ cried Lord Henry, tilting his hat back, and looking up at the little clouds that were drifting across the hollowed turquoise of the summer sky, like ravelled skeins of glossy white silk.”
    “The wind shook some blossoms from the trees, and the heavy lilac blooms, with their clustering stars, moved to and fro in the languid air.”

    Analysis
    When we first hear of Dorian Gray, it is threw Basil’s “beautiful” painting. According to Lord Henry, this is Basil’s best work yet. He “must certainly send it next year to the Grosvenor.” Lord Henry describes Dorian Gray as a young Adonis, who looks as if he was made of ivory and rose-leaves.
    In Chapter 2, as Lord Henry sees Dorian in person, he starts to see how “handsome” Dorian is. He has “Finely-curved scarlet lips, frank blue eyes and crisp gold hair. There was also something in his face that made one trust him at once.” When Basil starts to talk about his first encounter with Dorian Gray, we see as that they appear to be “soul mates.” Basil states he “became conscious that someone was looking at [him]. He turned half-way round and saw Dorian Gray for the first time.” After running into an acquaintance, Basil got a chance to be introduced to Dorian Gray. Whether they met because of Basil’s acquaintance or not, Dorian had felt that they were destined to know each other.

    References to Music
    “The dim roar of London was like the bourdon note of a distant organ.” “Sir Humpty Dumpty”
    While Lord Henry was babbling on to Dorian, the author compared his voice to a low, musical voice.
    When Dorian had asked Lord Henry to stop, after thinking, the author states Dorian had “touched some secret chord, that had never been touched before, but that he felt was now vibrating and throbbing to curious pulses.”

    Examine the Interaction
    Lord Henry is extremely intrigued and curious about Dorian Gray. He keeps insisting that the world should see the painting of Dorian Gray and he keeps insisting that Basil should tell him everything and more about Dorian. In fact, when Dorian arrives, Lord Henry, although Basil wishes him not to, insists that Basil introduces Dorian to him.
    When Lord Henry finally gets the chance to meet Dorian, he uses hit wit and manipulating attitude to change Dorian’s attitude about life. Because of Lord Henry, Dorian takes time to reflect on his life and his “beauty” and comes to believe that Lord Henry is correct. Now Dorian would rather listen to Lord Henry than spend time with Basil as he finds Lord Henry as a more valuable and insightful person.

    Cause and Effect
    At first Dorian is ready to breakout in tears. After the talk Dorian had with Lord Henry, he now believes that all he has that is important in this world is beauty. Now when he looks at the painting, Dorian finally comes to realize how beautiful he really is and all that beauty to be lost. Although he adores the painting as it captures himself better than anything else, Dorian hates the painting as it will forever seal its beauty while Dorian is left to lose it.

    Compare and Contrast
    Basil is completely different from Lord Henry. Basil likes to lead a life of secrecy where what he does is his own business. He does not care whether he is popular, nor does he care what other people think about him. He just wants to enjoy his passion for art and his passion for secrecy. Lord Henry on the other hand admires a rich lifestyle filled with grace and beauty. As he stated in chapter 1, he chooses his friends for their good looks, his acquaintances for their characters and his enemies for his brains. This is because no one could possibly be any better than him. They can only be equal, and that is if they share his same “olive-green” beauty and rich life style.
    The conflict between the two arises from this. While Lord Henry finds life to be all about beauty and living in a beautiful manner, Basil feels as though there is more to life than just beauty.

    Research and Correlate
    Dorian Gray has the appearance of Hermes because of his golden hair (and overall appearance) and very light personality. However, at this stage in Dorian’s life, I can never picture him looking like a faun. A faun is extremely ugly, being half beast half human. A faun is unkempt and has all the features that an old man would. Although Dorian may look like a faun in his older age, he certainly does not resemble one in his current age.

    Free Write on Prediction
    I believe that, by Dorian becoming friends with Lord Henry, the friendship between Dorian and Basil will completely break. This is because Basil is pretty much the complete opposite of Lord Henry. While Lord Henry is beautiful and believes in a beautiful, outlandish lifestyle, Basil would like to keep to himself and keep a low profile. The unfortunate part is that Lord Henry is both persuasive and manipulative. Because of this, he is able to say little remarks that change Dorian’s entire attitude. This change is deviating from the attitude that Basil used to know, and therefore their friendship will deviate as well.

    Chapter 2 Literary Elements

    ‘Just turn your head a little more to the right, Dorian, like a good boy,’
    “It is one of the great facts of the world, like sunlight, or spring-time, or the reflection in dark waters of that silver shell we call the moon.”
    “The sense of his own beauty came on him like a revelation.”
    “As he thought of it, a sharp pang of pain struck like a knife across him, and made each delicate fibre of his nature quiver.”
    “Lord Henry went out to the garden, and found Dorian Gray burying his face in the great cool lilac-blossoms, feverishly drinking in their perfume as if it had been wine.”
    “He felt as if a hand of ice had been laid upon his heart.”
    The Setting is still in Basil’s studio.
    The flower seemed to quiver.
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    11/20/08 - Chapters 1 and 2 of A.P.O.D.G.

    By Stanley Switalski
    Task: Answer the following questions and complete the internet research.

    Lord Henry Wotton: How is he a manipulator and an initiator?
    He manipulates via smooth talking and persuasive points. I guess you can say he is a mind ninja. He sits around a person’s thoughts and then strikes out of nowhere when the time is right. He is an initiator because he tries to change a person’s view on a personal and touchy topic.

    What kind of cigarettes does he smoke? Is this a hint of a decadent lifestyle?
    He smokes cigarettes laced with opium. Smoking cigarettes that make him reach a higher high then he already is at obviously supports the fact that he likes the more beautiful side of life.

    How is he cynical?
    He is cynical because he feels as though beauty is the only valuable desirable virtue you may posses. Once you lose your beauty, then you lose yourself and your importance.

    Basil Hallward: Cite his reaction to his painting of Dorian Gray?
    He didn’t want anyone to know about it as he put to much of himself into it. He does not want people to study it for he is afraid his painting would reveal a secret of himself.
    I have put into it all the extraordinary romance of which, of course, I have never dared to speak to him. He knows nothing about it. He will never know anything about it. But the world might guess it; and I will not bare my soul to their shallow, prying eyes. My heart shall never be put under their microscope. There is too much of myself in the thing, Harry,—too much of myself!

    How has he violated the code of an artist according to Wilde’s preface?
    Art is supposed to conceal the artist, but Basil’s painting put all of himself into the painting.

    He obviously sees in Dorian absolute beauty and harmony. Identify where in the passages.
    It is later in the first chapter. The first time that Basil had saw Dorian was at a party. At first glance, Basil grew “interested in his personality.” Afterwards, when Lord Henry started to ask Basil questions about Dorian, we start to really see the qualities of Dorian threw Basil.

    What is the main conflict in this paragraph?
    While they both agree that this is Basil’s best work yet, Basil does not want to publish his work while Lord Henry deems it necessary for him to do so.

    Research and Correlate the allusions with traits and circumstances surrounding Dorian Gray: get an image of each and write your own synopsis.

    Term An Image Representing the term A description of the term Traits and circumstances surrounding Dorian Gray
    Allusion An allusion is where something indirectly references something else in relation to the first item. For my photo, I chose a gas mask. For those who know about the new technology implemented in World War I, poison gas was a deadly way of killing a troop. To prevent this, soldiers were required to keep their gas masks handy. So by showing a photo of the gas mask, I created an allusion to World War I. Dorian Gray is constantly being alluded to Greek gods. For example, he has been compared to Adonis in sense of beauty. I mean, he was even directly linked with a Greek's grace in Chapter 2.
    Adonis He is a central cult figure in various mystery religions, who enters Greek mythology in Hellenistic times. Dorian Gray is compaired to Adonis' beauty
    Aphrodite Aphrodite is the classical Greek goddess of love, beauty. Aphrodite is also known as Kypris and Cytherea, after the two places, Cyprus and Cythera, which claimed her birth. Dorian Gray is constantly being alluded to Greek gods. For example, he has been compared to Adonis in sense of beauty. Maybe he is being compared to her beauty as well?
    Narcissus In Greek mythology, Narcissus, The Self-Admirer, was a hero of the territory of Thespiae in Boeotia who was renowned for his beauty. The story goes that he rejected the nymph Echo and fell in love with his own reflection in a pool. He pined away and was changed into the flower that bears his name. By this time in the book, we comprehend that Dorian is beautiful, just like the greek gods. However, because of Lord Henry in Chapter 2, Dorian starts to admire and recognize his beauty much more than he used to before.
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    11/18/08 - Homework Assignment

    By Stanley Switalski
    What will I look like in 50 Years:
    • Grandfather looking face
    o Pale Skin
    o Wrinkles Everywhere
    o A blank stare into space
    • Bald
    o Same hair color
    • Bigger Nose
    o “The Switalski Nose”

    What are the Seven Deadly Sins?
    • Lust
    • Gluttony
    • Greed
    • Sloth
    o Sin of Sadness or Dispair
    • Wrath
    • Envy
    • Pride
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    Intro to The Picture of Dorian Gray

    By Stanley Switalski
    Task: Research key facts on Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray

    Date of first publication: April, 1891

    Genre: Gothic, philosophical and/or comedy of manners

    Point of View: The Point of view is third person omniscient. This is because at times the narrator sees the external world as well as what the characters are thinking.

    Setting: London, England

    Themes: The purpose of art, the supremacy of youth and beauty, the surface nature of society and the negative consequences of influence.

    Tone: Gothic, sardonic and comedic

    Oscar Wilde born and died: Born: October 16th, 1854 to Jane Francesca Elgee and William Wilde. Died: November 30th, 1900

    Married: Married on May 29th, 1884 to Constance Lloyd

    Children: They had two children, Cyril in 1885 and Vyvyan in 1886.
    Education: He first attended the Portora Royal School at Enniskillen. He excelled here at "studying the classics, taking top prize his last two years, and also earning a second prize in drawing." He later received a scholarship from the Portora Royal School to attend Trinity College in Dublin. Again, he did a great job in studing the classics. "In 1874, Oscar crowned his successes at Trinity with two final achievements. He won the college's Berkeley Gold Medal for Greek and was awarded a Demyship scholarship to Magdalen College in Oxford." He took the scholarship and excelled at Oxford as well.
    Writing Career: Wilde's most creative period of his life came after his marriage. He had published two collections of children's stories, his first and only novel and numerous plays. Because of the quality of his plays, Oscar Wilde easily established himself as a playwright.
    Crimes and arrests:In April of 1895, he was "arrested and convicted of gross indecency and sentenced to two years hard labor. Constance took the children to Switzerland and reverted to an old family name, “Holland.”

    Literary works:
    Poetry
    • Ravenna (1878)
    • Poems (1881)
    • The Sphinx (1894)
    • The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898)
    Plays
    • Vera; or, The Nihilists (1880)
    • The Duchess of Padua (1883)
    • Salomé (French version) (1893, first performed in Paris 1896)
    • Lady Windermere's Fan (1892)
    • A Woman of No Importance (1893)
    • Salomé: A Tragedy in One Act (1894)
    • An Ideal Husband (1895)
    • The Importance of Being Earnest (1895)
    • La Sainte Courtisane and A Florentine Tragedy Fragmentary (1908)
    Prose
    • The Canterville Ghost (1887)
    • The Happy Prince and Other Stories (1888, fairy tales)
    • The Decay Of Lying (First published in 1889, republished in Intentions 1891)
    • Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories (1891)
    • Intentions (1891, critical dialogues and essays, comprising The Critic as Artist, The Decay of Lying, Pen, Pencil and Poison and The Truth of Masks)
    • The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891, Wilde's only novel)
    • A House of Pomegranates (1891, fairy tales)
    • The Soul of Man under Socialism (First published in the Pall Mall Gazette, 1891, first book publication 1904)
    • Phrases and Philosophies for the Use of the Young (First published in the Oxford student magazine The Chameleon, December, 1894)
    • De Profundis (1905)
    • The Rise of Historical Criticism (published in incomplete form 1905 and completed form in 1908)
    • The Letters of Oscar Wilde (1960 Re-released in 2000, with letters uncovered since 1960, and new, detailed, footnotes by Merlin Holland)
    • Teleny or The Reverse of the Medal (Paris, 1893. It has been attributed to Wilde, but was more likely a combined effort by a several of Wilde's friends, which he may have edited.)
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    11/18/08 - Key Facts about Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray

    By Stanley Switalski
    Task: Students will research the key facts about Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. Students will understand (Aestheticism, Hedonism, Decadents, Dandyism, Homosexuality, and Victorianism)

    DN: What do think is the meaning of self-love? Use the following table to brain storm list 3 synonyms, 3 antonyms, and 3 examples.

    Self-Love Synonyms Antonyms Examples
    Self love is to treasure certain values of yourself. Selfish
    Self-Centered
    Conceited     		Generous
    Giving
    "Puts others first"     		Paris Hilton
    Kanye West
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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    Othello - Act I

    By Stanley Switalski
    Our rendition of Shakespeare's Othello, Act I

    It is in an interactive Adobe PDF Format. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, Click Here
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    First Draft of Othello - Casting and Act I Scene I

    By Stanley Switalski


    Act I, Scene I

    [Scene: A warm Venitian night. The act fades into view. Iago and Roderigo enter from opposite sides of the set; Iago from the left, Roderigo from the right. Iago has just been informed that Michael Cassio, a fellow soldier, has been promoted to Lieutenant]

    Roderigo: Hey Iago! What’s up man, how have you been?
    Iago: Terrible, just terrible. You know that Michael Cassio guy? You know the one who is buddies with Othello?
    Roderigo: Oh I think I know who your talking about. He was Othello’s sidekick right, like his right-hand man?
    Iago: Yea that's him, and guess what happened?
    Roderigo: Cassio approached you and let you know that Desdemona eloped with Othello? Iago: Wait, what happened?
    Roderigo: Yea man, I don’t know what your problem is but the love of my life just ran off with that moor bastard.
    Iago: You don’t say? Well my problem is that Othello just promoted Cassio as Lieutenant. Man I should have received that promotion. There is just no way that Cassio is as qualified as me. How can that stupid moor promote him over me? I’ll tell you one thing. The only reason I am going to remain in this infantry is so that I can execute some sort of revenge on Othello. “I follow him to serve my turn upon him.” (I.i.42)
    Roderigo: How do you expect to do that. After all, he is the “great moor Othello.” It isn’t as though you could just walk in one day and kill him or something. Iago: Take it easy Roderigo. Take it step by step. First lets go tell Brabantio about his daughter’s marrage to that damn moor.
    Roderigo: Oh you’re slick Iago. Brabantio is so racist, he will go straight to the Duke if he has to in order to make sure that Othello is punished.

    [Scene changes to Brabantio’s window ledge where Bradantio is awakened by Roderigo and Iago]

    Roderigo: Brabantio!
    Iago: Awake! What ho, Brabantio! Thieves! thieves! thieves! Look to your home, your daughter, and your bags! Thieves! thieves! (I.i.79-81)
    Brabantio: What the hell do you infidels need now?
    Iago: Brabantio, you must dress and come downstairs at once for “an old black ram/Is tupping your white ewe.” (I.i.88)
    Brabantio: What the hell are you saying? Look I have a busy day tomorrow and I don’t need any crap from you guys right now.
    Roderigo: Your daughter is in the “clasps of a lascivious Moor.” If you don’t believe us, check her chamber.
    Brabantio: Excuse me for a second gentlemen.
    [A Few Seconds Later]
    Brabantio: Theif! That lascivious thief! I will skin him alive if need be!
    [Running down the stairs]
    Brabantio: You two, tell me where my daughter is or you too shall be sorry.
    Roderigo: Sir, we do not know honest! We just know that the moor took your daughter.
    Brabantio: Did they marry? Please, you do know this much correct?
    Iago: I apologize sir, but yes they did marry.
    Brabantio: “Treason!” [Running down the street still in his night clothing] “Treason!”
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    Beginning of Writing our Othello

    By Stanley Switalski
    Aim: Now that you seemingly know the characters and settings: What dialogue, monologues, narration, stage directions, in other words drama terms can we appropriately apply to our acts?
    Improv: Let's pick a scene and do an improv, but using today's language.
    DN: Recall the mini play that you wrote and what drama terms did we use.
    Our main drama term is dialogue as our act was mainly improv. We did use unique diction to depict that our characters were either drunk/high.
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    Final Character List for our Othello

    By Stanley Switalski
    The Duke: James May
    Brabantion: Sean Connery
    Roderigo: Orlando Bloom
    Iago : Al Pacino
    Desdemona: Keri Russell
    Othello: Terrance Howard
    Michael Cassio: Robert DeNiro
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    Applying Theme and Setting to Shakespeare's Othello

    By Stanley Switalski
    Aim: What are the various themes that we can apply to Shakespeare's Othello and what settings do you think are appropriate to represent the settings in your act?

    Do Now: Write a paragraph on what you think is an appropriate theme for Shakespeare's Othello.
    It should be a sophisticated love story that involves betrayal and revenge. This is mainly due to the fact that Iago is an evil mastermind who is going behind many character’s backs, and as he is doing this, he is disturbing and corrupting relationships. As for a one-word theme, I would find revenge the best word. After all, Iago’s revenge is what powers the entire plot of the play.

    Select one of the following themes and in another paragraph or two state why your selection best fits this play:
    The major themes of Othello are:
    1. appearance and reality,
    2. society's treatment of the outsider; and
    3. jealousy
    I feel as though jealousy is the best theme for Othello. The main driving force of the plot is Iago’s quest for revenge. Mostly everything throughout Othello is based of Iago’s need to carry out his revenge. However, this revenge is all based on Iago’s jealously of Michael Cassio being promoted to Lieutenant over him. If Iago was not jealous of Michael Cassio, then he probably would not feel a need to carry out any revenge.
    Carrying the jealously theme even further, Iago utilizes Rodrigo’s jealously of Othello for eloping with Desdemona in his revenge. If Rodrigo was not jealous, he may not have listened to Iago’s plans and therefore the plot of Othello would not have been the same.
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    Characters I would like to feature in my Othello - From Act I

    By Stanley Switalski

    Al Pacino as Iago

    Rainn Wilson as Roderigo

    Jack Nicholson as Brabantio

    Denzel Washington as Othello

    Jeremy Clarkson as Michael Cassio

    James May as The Duke

    Kari Byron as Desdemona
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    Othello - Plot Synopsis

    By Stanley Switalski
    Task - Please read Carefully and do the following:
    Sort by Acts and Scenes: Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Denouement, Resolution, Settings, Characters (You have already picked out Othello, now select Desdemona and Iago), Conflicts, Possible Drama Terms mentioned or you predict is in these acts.

    Characters of Othello
    Click on their name to see a photo of who I would like to play their part in my rendition.
    Roderigo A Gentleman who adored Desdemona. Unfortunately for him, Desdemona eloped with Othello.
    Iago A soldier under Othello’s Command. He is the mastermind of a scheme to get revenge on Othello for promoting Cassio to lieutenant.
    Othello A great Moorish warrior who is now a General in the service of the ruler of Venice.
    Desdemona A lady, the daughter of Brabantio. Roderigo has been courting her, but elopes with Othello. She loves Othello "for the visage in his mind" and will always love him under any conditions.
    Michael Cassio Another soldier that was promoted to lieutenant instead of Iago. He is an old and beloved friend of Othello's. His wife is Bianca.
    The Duke The Duke of Venice; he admires Othello’s unique ability to control and fight in a war.
    Emilia Iago’s wife. She accompanies Desdemona to Cyprus to look after her.
    Bianca Michael Cassio’s Wife. She feels that Cassio is not giving her enough attention and believes that he is seeing someone else.
    Montano The Venetian Governor.
    Lodovico Desdemona’s kinsmen.
    Clown A servant to Othello.


    Conflicts Identified
    Iago has a man vs. man conflict with Cassio and a man vs. man conflict with Othello because of this.

    Brabantio has a man vs. man conflict with Othello for loping with his daughter Desdemona.

    Although not clear, Roderigo might also have a man vs. man conflict with Othello for he stole the lady he loves.


    Individual Acts
    It is in this act that the exposition takes place. We start to see the conflicts in the plot and what Iago, the mastermind behind a plot to get revenge on Othello, plans to do. Act I, Scene I

    Setting: “The play opens on a warm Venetian night, where a conversation is underway between Roderigo, a gentleman, and Iago, a soldier under Othello's command.” It then moves onto Brabantio’s property, specifically underneath his window.
    These acts are all part of the Rising Action. We slowly see how Iago executes his plan and how well his plan is actually going. Essentially, you can view each scene as one step further that Iago progresses in his plan leading up to the climax. Act I, Scene II

    Setting: “On a Venetian street where Iago has joined Othello and his attendants.” The setting then moves into a meeting with Brabantio.
    Act I, Scene III

    Setting: The council chamber.
    Act II, Scene I

    Setting: “In Cyprus at a seaport where Montano, the Venetian governor and his friends discuss a tempest that might have destroyed the Turkish fleet.”

    In this scene Iago “soliloquizes that he intends to “make the Moor thank and love” him, while at the same time planting thoughts of jealousy in Othello's mind -- thoughts so strong “That judgement cannot cure.”
    Act II, Scene II

    Setting: “On a street in Cyprus a herald announces the great victory feast and party that Othello has planned.”
    Act II, Scene III

    Setting: Setting: “In the great hall of the castle Othello, Desdemona, and Cassio speak briefly about Iago.”
    Act III, Scene I

    Setting: Setting: “Outside the castle, Cassio has gathered some musicians in the hopes of putting Othello in a good mood.” He also tries to see Desdemona.
    Act III, Scene II

    Setting: Setting: This is a short scene where Othello makes plans to inspect some parts of the fortifications built by his troops.
    This scene is the climax. It is the point where the whole play turns around and Iago’s plan finally comes all-together. With the combination of Desdemona bidding for Cassio after Othello sees Cassio leaving her quarters, Iago is finally able to enter Othello’s mind and execute his revenge. It is also the part of the play where we see Othello's tragic flaw. Act III, Scene III

    Setting: “The scene shifts to the garden of the castle.”

    In this scene we see Othello’s tragic flaw and become a dynamic character. He transforms from the hero to a villan. Before Iago was able to manipulate Othello, we see Othello as a huge hero who defened Venice numerous times. But as soon as Iago is able to carry out his plot, Othello turns into this murderous character.
      Act III, Scene IV

    Setting: “In front of the castle Desdemona and Emilia meet the Clown, a servant to Othello.”
    Act IV, Scene I

    Setting: “On the grounds of the castle, Iago and Othello have found a secluded place in which to continue their discussion of Desdemona's adultery. Although to the audience it appears that they have resumed where they left off at the end of Act III, Shakespeare hints that much time has elapsed and that Iago used those missing hours and days to pollute further Othello's mind.”
    Act IV, Scene II

    Setting: In a room of the castle. Othello has finds Emilia to question her about her knowledge of Desdemona's affair.
    Act V, Scene I

    Setting: “Out on the streets Iago positions Roderigo to ambush Cassio.”
    This is a big scene for many reasons. First off, it is the ending scene. Secondly, it contains the falling action, denouement and the resolution. Essentially, this entire act is the resolution to the plot of the play. We finally see what becomes of Iago's plan and whether or not Othello remains the hero or remains the villain. Turns out that Othello recognizes the betrayal and his mistake. Because of this, and the fact that he killed his wife, he believes killing himself is the only way he can correct the wrong he has done.

    The Falling Action is where Othello finally realizes that Iago has been manipulating him all along to, in the end, kill his wife.

    The denouement is where Emilia proves to Othello that Desdemona was not cheating, but it was Iago who told her to steal the handkerchief and that it was Iago who must have planned this all out.     		Act V, Scene II

    Setting: “The scene shifts to Desdemona's bedchamber in the castle.”

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