Excerpt: The Picture of Dorian Gray (adapted)
The room was filled with a strange silence, as though the air itself was waiting. Dorian stood before the portrait, unable to look away. The face in the painting had changed again — the expression was more cruel, more knowing, as if it had learned secrets no human should understand.
He felt a cold shiver pass through him, though the fire behind him burned brightly. How could something so still feel so alive? The eyes of the portrait seemed to follow him, accusing him without words.
Dorian stepped back, his hand trembling. “It is not I,” he whispered, though the room offered no answer. Only the painted face remained, silent and unchanging in its terrible truth.
1. Vocabulary & Meaning (Matching)
Match the words with their meanings:
silence
shiver
accused
portrait
A. To be blamed or judged
B. A painted image of a person
C. Lack of sound
D. A sudden feeling of cold or fear
2. Literary Devices
Identify the literary device in each phrase:
“The room was filled with a strange silence.”
“The eyes of the portrait seemed to follow him.”
Answer: ______________________
3. Tone (IMPORTANT TASK)
What is the tone of the passage?
Choose one and explain:
a) joyful and romantic
b) dark and mysterious
c) humorous and light
Explanation (2–3 sentences):
4. Short Response
What effect does the portrait have on Dorian? (3–4 sentences)
5. Imagery Analysis
Find one example of imagery in the text and explain it.
Example: ______________________
Explanation: ______________________
6. Interpretation
What do you think the portrait symbolizes in this passage? (5–6 sentences)
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