"Forgiveness"

Passage from "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

It was a lovely night, so warm that he threw his coat over his arm and did not even put his silk scarf round his throat. As he strolled home, smoking his cigarette, two young men in evening dress passed him. He heard one of them whisper to the other, "That is Dorian Gray."

He remembered how pleased he used to be when he was pointed out, or stared at, or talked about. He was tired of hearing his own name now. Half the charm of the little village where he had been so often lately was that no one knew who he was.

When he reached home, he found his servant waiting up for him. He sent him to bed, and threw himself down on the sofa in the library, and began to think over some of the things that Lord Henry had said to him.

Was it really true that one could never change? He felt a wild longing for the unstained purity of his boyhood—his rose-white boyhood, as Lord Henry had once called it. He knew that he had tarnished himself, filled his mind with corruption and given horror to his fancy; that he had been an evil influence to others, and had experienced a terrible joy in being so; and that of the lives that had crossed his own, it had been the fairest and the most full of promise that he had brought to shame. But was it all irretrievable? Was there no hope for him?

...Better for him that each sin of his life had brought its sure swift penalty along with it. There was purification in punishment. Not "Forgive us our sins" but "Smite us for our iniquities" should be the prayer of man to a most just God.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1) Which of the following best describes the mood of the above passage?

a. remorseful

b. optimistic

c. enthusiastic

d. alarmed

2) The above passage suggests that Dorian Gray was which of the following earlier in his life?

a. hungry and poor

b. quiet and cautious

c. kind and generous

d. rich and famous

3) The above passage says that Dorian Gray "felt a wild longing for the unstained purity of his boyhood." This line suggests that he regrets which of the following?

a. his youthful recklessness

b. his loss of innocence

c. his elderly wisdom

d. his lack of patience

4) In the above passage, it is clear that Dorian Gray thinks which of the following as he looks back over his life?

a. he always tried his best

b. he did some terrible things

c. he held onto his childhood dreams

d. he protected those he loved

1) In the second paragraph of the above passage, "half of the charm of the little village" is which of the following?

a. he is treated like a king

b. he feels much younger

c. he can go unnoticed

d. he has plenty of friends

2) Based on the final sentence of the above passage, it is clear that Dorian Gray believes that which of the following is true?

a. it is easy to forgive and forget

b. the most precious gift is forgiveness

c. justice is more important than forgiveness

d. some sins cannot be forgiven

Answer Key

1) Which of the following best describes the mood of the above passage?

a. remorseful

b. optimistic

c. enthusiastic

d. alarmed

2) The above passage suggests that Dorian Gray was which of the following earlier in his life?

a. hungry and poor

b. quiet and cautious

c. kind and generous

d. rich and famous

3) The above passage says that Dorian Gray "felt a wild longing for the unstained purity of his boyhood." This line suggests that he regrets which of the following?

a. his youthful recklessness

b. his loss of innocence

c. his elderly wisdom

d. his lack of patience

4) In the above passage, it is clear that Dorian Gray thinks which of the following as he looks back over his life?

a. he always tried his best

b. he did some terrible things

c. he held onto his childhood dreams

d. he protected those he loved

5) In the second paragraph of the above passage, "half of the charm of the little village" is which of the following?

a. he is treated like a king

b. he feels much younger

c. he can go unnoticed

d. he has plenty of friends

6) Based on the final sentence of the above passage, it is clear that Dorian Gray believes that which of the following is true?

a. it is easy to forgive and forget

b. the most precious gift is forgiveness

c. justice is more important than forgiveness

d. some sins cannot be forgiven