Listen to the texts, and mark the intonation. Read the texts aloud trying to imitate pronunciation of sounds, rhythm and intonation. Answer the questions after the texts.

Episode 1. A light summer wind moved gently through the trees outside, and the room was filled with the rich smell of roses. Lord Henry Wotton lay back in the long chair and enjoyed a cigarette. Through the window he could see the yellow flowers in the garden, and at times the shadows of birds passed across the curtains. He could just hear the sounds of London beyond the garden and the trees. In the centre of the room stood the full-size picture of a young man of great beauty. In front of it sat the artist himself, Basil Hallward. As he looked at the picture, a smile passed across his face. ‘It is your best work, Basil,’ said Lord Henry, ‘the best you've ever done. You must certainly let other people enjoy it.’ ‘No,’ Basil answered. ‘I don’t think I’ll show it to anyone.’ Lord Henry looked at him carefully. ‘Not show it? My dear fellow, why not?’ ‘I know you’ll laugh at me, Harry, but I really can’t show it. I’ve put too much of myself into it.’

Questions: 1) What was depicted in the picture? 2) Why didn’t the artist want to show his picture to anyone?

Episode 2. The two young men went out into the garden together, and sat on a long wooden seat in the shade. Lord Henry took out his watch and said, ‘I really must be going, Basil. But first you must tell me the true answer to my question. Why won’t you show Dorian Gray’s picture?’ ‘I told you. That picture shows the secret of myself. The very first time I met Dorian was at a party of Lady Brandon’s. When our eyes met, I felt the blood leave my face. A feeling of fear came over me. I felt that our lives were joined in some strange way.’ ‘How often do you see him?’ ‘Every day. I couldn’t be happy if I didn’t see him every day.’ ‘I thought you only cared for your art.’ ‘He is all my art to me now,’ Basil said.

Questions:1) How did Basil say he felt when he first saw Dorian? 2) What did Dorian mean to him at the moment?

Episode 3. While Hallward painted, Lord Henry talked to Dorian Gray. ‘You are so young, Mr Gray. So wonderfully young. Your whole life lies before you. You must live that life to the full. You have had thoughts that fill you with fear. Day-dreams and sleeping dreams that trouble you. But you must be a real man – let them become real. You are at the most valuable stage of your life, Mr Gray.’ ‘I don’t feel that, Lord Henry.’ ‘No, you don’t feel it now. But some day you will feel it, you will feel it badly – when you are old. Now you please the world. But will it always be like this? The gods have been very good to you, Mr Gray. They have given you beauty. But they can take it away again. When old age comes, your beauty will go. So live! Live the wonderful life that is in you. Be afraid of nothing ...’

Questions:1) What did Lord Henry inspire Dorian to? 2) How did he justify it?

Episode 4. ‘Oh?’ said Lord Henry after a moment’s silence. ‘Who are you in love with?’ Dorian’s face coloured, and he answered, ‘An actress.’ ‘Who is she?’ ‘Her name is Sybil Vane.’ ‘I’ve never heard of her.’ ‘No one has. But people will, some day.’ ‘How long have you known her?’ ‘About three weeks.’ ‘And where did you meet her?’ ‘You are the cause of it all, Harry. You filled me with a desire to know everything about life - remember? Well, one evening I went out in search of some adventure. I went to see a play – Romeo and Juliet.’ Romeo was a fat old man. But Juliet! Think of a girl not yet seventeen years of age, with a little flower-like face. She was the loveliest thing I have ever seen in my life'.

Questions:1) Where did Dorian meet Sybil Vane? 2) Why did he fall in love with her?

Episode 5. When it was over, Dorian Gray hurried behind the stage to Sybil’s room. ‘I acted so badly tonight,’ she cried. ‘Are you ill?’ ‘Don't you understand? I shall never act well again’. She seemed full of happiness. ‘Before today, acting was the only real thing in my life. I only became alive on the stage. I knew nothing but shadows, and I thought they were real. Then you came, and for the first time I really understood love. My Prince Wonderful! I am tired of shadows now. I hate the stage.’ He turned his face away. ‘You have killed my love,’ he said softly. ‘You have thrown it all away. You are nothing to me now. 1 will never see you again. I will never think of you. I will never mention your name. Without your art, you are nothing.’

Questions:1) Why did Sybil Vane play badly that evening? 2) What made Dorian turn his face away? What had killed his love?

Episode 6. After a bath, he went into the library, and suddenly his eyes fell on the picture with its cloth cover. He turned a key in the door. Then he stared at the picture for a long time before he took off the purple cloth, and saw himself face to face. Yes, it was true. The change was real. He thought for a long time about his unkindness to Sybil. But she could still be his wife. It was not too late for that. He went across to the table and began to write her a long letter. He covered page after page with wild words. Suddenly he heard Lord Henry’s voice outside. ‘My dear boy, I must see you. Let me in. You can’t shut yourself up like this.’ He quickly threw the cloth over the picture, and opened the door. ‘I’m so sorry about it all, Dorian,’ said Lord Henry as he entered. ‘Do you mean Sybil Vane?’ ‘Yes, of course. You mustn’t be badly hurt. Tell me, did you go backstage and see her after the play was over?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘And did you have a fight?’ ‘I don’t want to talk about it, Henry. But it’s all right now. I’m not sorry about anything. It has taught me to know myself better.’ ‘Ah, Dorian, I am glad you feel like that about it.’ ‘I am completely happy now. I have decided to marry Sybil Vane.’ ‘Marry her!’ cried Lord Henry. ‘But my dear Dorian – didn’t you get my letter? I wrote you a note this morning, and sent my servant with it.’ ‘Your letter? Oh yes. I haven’t read it yet.’ ‘You know nothing, then?’ ‘What do you mean?’ Lord Henry took Dorian’s hand in his own and said, ‘Dorian – Sybil Vane is dead.’

Questions:1) Why did Dorian Gray change his mind and decided to marry Sybil? 2) Why did the girl commit suicide?

Episode 7. Dorian Gray’s wonderful beauty never seemed to leave him. Many people heard things against him. But they could not believe them when they saw him. After he passed his twenty-fifth year, strange stories began to be told about him. People said he was seen fighting with sailors in bars, in the worst parts of London’s East End. They said he was friendly with criminals. Dorian Gray took no notice of these stories. But some of his closest friends turned against him. Women who once wildly loved him turned away if he entered the room. The key to the room at the top of the house never left him. Often he went quietly upstairs to the little room, opened the door, and stood in front of the picture. He looked first at the unlovely and ageing face in the picture, with its dark secrets burning behind those heartless eyes. Then he looked at the fair young face in the mirror in his hand. He fell more and more in love with his own beauty. He had unnatural and hungry desires that grew worse as he fed them. But he was careful.

Questions:1) What kind of stories began to be told about Dorian Gray? 2) Why did he take no notice of them?

Episode 8. I can’t believe it is my picture. There was nothing bad in it. Nothing like this.’ ‘You are looking into my heart.’ ‘What have you done with your life, Dorian? You must be worse than all those stories about you.’ There was no answer, but he heard the young man crying at the window. ‘Ask God for his help,’ said the painter. ‘It is too late, Basil.’ ‘It is never too late. Look at the face staring at us. Look!’ Dorian Gray looked at the picture, and suddenly a feeling of hate for Basil Hallward came over him. He looked round. On the table was a knife. He took it into his hand and turned round. Hallward started to get out of his chair. Dorian Gray ran at him and dug the knife into his neck. He pulled the knife out, and it went in again and again.

Question:Why did Dorian Gray kill Basil Hallward?

Episode 9. As he walked with Lord Henry that night, Dorian said, ‘For the first time in my life, I’m really happy, Harry. I’ve done too many bad things in my life. I’m not going to do any more.’ ‘Please don’t tell me you’re going to be good,’ said Lord Henry. ‘I began my new life yesterday. I was in the country with a girl. She was quite beautiful, and very like Sybil Vane. You remember Sybil, Harry? Well, Hetty was just a girl in the village. But I really loved her. She was ready to run away with me this morning at daybreak. But I decided to leave her as flower-like as I found her.’ ‘So you changed your mind and broke her heart.’

Question:How did Dorian try to begin a new life?

Episode 10. He went upstairs with a smile on his face. He went quietly into the room, and pulled the purple curtain off the picture. A cry broke from him. He could see no change. The red drops on the hands seemed brighter, and more like fresh blood. Was this murder to follow him all his life? Only the picture stopped him forgetting. He would destroy it. He picked up the bright knife that killed the painter. Now it would kill the painter’s work. It would kill the past. Then he would be free and at peace. He lifted the knife and ran at the picture. There was a cry, and a great crash. The cry was so fearful that the servants woke. Two gentlemen in the street outside stopped and looked up at the great house. They walked on till they met a policeman and brought him back.

Question:Why did Dorian Gray decide to destroy the picture?

Episode 11. ‘Whose house is that?’ asked one of the two gentlemen. ‘Mr Dorian Gray’s, sir.’ Minutes of silence passed, then the three men looked at each other and walked away. Inside, in the servants’ part of the house, the servants were talking in low voices to each other. One was crying, and Francis was as white as death. After about a quarter of an hour, Francis and two other servants went upstairs. They banged on the door of the top room, but there was no answer. They called out. Nothing. When they failed to break down the door, they climbed onto the roof. From there they entered the room by the window. Against the wall was a picture of Dorian Gray, in the full wonder of his young beauty. Lying on the floor was a dead man in evening dress, with a knife in his heart. His face was hateful and diseased and yellowed with age. It was only when they looked at his rings that they recognised him.

Questions:1) Why couldn’t Dorian Gray destroy the picture? 2) Why was he killed instead? 3) When did it happen?