12/5/08 - A Eulogy for Sibyl Vane
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...
Persons age/date of birth
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
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.
Family and other close relationships
“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.”
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.”
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.
Education/work/career
“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.”
“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.”
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.
Places the person lived
“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.”
We can assume that Sibyl has lived in London all her life. She had lived in a “shabby house in the Euston Road.”
How did she die?
It was stated that the Setting of this novel was in London.
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.
Time of death?
"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."
It was around 12:30 at night.
Special accomplishments
“about half-past twelve or so.”
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."