In this course we will go deep into Wilde’s classic novel. The Picture of Dorian Gray is a fairly easy read, yet is beautifully written, subtle, and rich in meaning.
How to Get the Most out of this Course:
1. Students will get the most from this class if they complete the reading assignment for each class and highlight the passages that Professor Pearce discusses in class.
2. Following due diligence in reading, highlighting and note taking will ensure good results on the weekly quizzes.
Total classes: 6
Duration per class: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: The ability to read and enjoy The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th grade
Suggested credit: 1/2 semester Literature or English. Add another literature or a writing course for full credit.
Instructor: Joseph Pearce
Instructor email: joseph@jpearce.co@outlook.com
Course Description: A detailed study of Oscar Wilde's classic novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, focusing on its interaction with the popular ideas of the day, such as Romanticism, scientism, aestheticism, relativism, and hedonism, and how they clash with traditional Christian values.
Course Outline:
Week One: Truth, Lies, and Masks: Understanding Oscar Wilde's Closet Catholicism
Week Two: Preface and Chapters 1 to 3
Week Three: Chapters 4 to 7
Week Four: Chapters 8 to 11
Week Five: Chapters 12 to 15
Week Six: Chapters 16 to 20
Course Materials: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: Ignatius Critical Edition
Homework: The reading assignment for each class is detailed in the Course Outline above. Students should complete the assigned reading before each class. Students should highlight the passages discussed in class and review this for the quiz assigned for each class. The estimated time for homework for each class, i.e., for the assigned reading and reviewing for each quiz, should be about 90 minutes.
- Teacher: Joseph Pearce