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The Picture of Dorian Gray
This page is designed for learners of English who want to understand the structure and plot of The Picture of Dorian Gray and improve their English at the same time. Watch the videos, study the mind maps, practise your vocabulary and review grammar — all in one place.
Watch the video first, then use the corresponding mind map to study or review the analysis. Use the blank template for active recall practice before your exam.
The full overview — symmetrical structure, key narrative milestones and plot landmarks, from the portrait's creation in Basil's studio to Dorian's death in the locked room. Best used for final exam revision.
For B1–B2 learners. Focuses on the core "Symmetry vs. Plot" relationship with fewer branches and clearer labels — ideal for first-time readers building their analytical framework.
Traces the technical evolution of the text — the 1890 magazine version, the 1891 expanded novel, and the addition of the Preface. Shows how censorship shaped the final published form.
Tracks specific plot milestones: from Basil's studio to the locked room. Perfect for identifying the chain of cause and effect and understanding each turning point in Dorian's moral descent.
Screenshot or print this blank template and fill it in from memory — the most effective form of exam preparation. Can you connect all the plot points and structural features without looking at the other maps?
| Word / Expression | Meaning | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Expansion | The action of becoming larger or more extensive | |
| Censorship | The suppression of speech or public communication | |
| Tone down | To make something less intense or extreme | |
| Temporal shift | A change or jump in the passage of narrative time | |
| Faustian bargain | A deal that trades morals or soul for success or power | |
| Hedonistic | Engaged in the pursuit of pleasure above all else | |
| Conceal | To keep from sight; to hide deliberately | |
| Restoration | The action of returning something to its former condition |
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Divided into
The novel is divided into two symmetrical sections; the book is divided into three main parts.
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Represents the idea of
The locked room represents the idea of a hidden guilty conscience; a white flag represents the idea of surrender.
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A chain of cause and effect
You have to see the plot as a chain of cause and effect; climate change is a chain of cause and effect.
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Descends into
Over 18 years, Dorian descends into moral corruption; the conversation quickly descended into an argument.
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Unable to bear
Unable to bear the portrait's hideous reality, Dorian stabs the canvas; she was unable to bear the heat so she went inside.
The passive voice is especially useful when presenting a literary work because it shifts the focus onto the text itself rather than the author's personal actions.
- The novel is divided into two symmetrical sections. (structural focus)
- The subtext was toned down due to censorship. (historical focus)
- The portrait is concealed behind a locked door. (narrative focus)
- Six new chapters were added in the 1891 edition. (textual focus)
Tap each card to reveal its definition and an example sentence in context. Tap again to flip it back.
Click each event to expand the analysis. Watch Dorian's corruption level rise as the story progresses.