The Oval Portrait | Exercise With Summary | Grade 11 | English
0Summary:
In "The Oval Portrait," the narrator and his servant forcibly enter a deserted chateau, seeking shelter from a storm. In a room, the narrator finds a portrait of a stunningly beautiful woman with vibrant eyes, so lifelike that it seems to breathe. The portrait seems to dominate the room, and the narrator is captivated by its beauty.
Questions and Answers:
a. Where did the narrator and his servant forcibly make an entrance?
The narrator and his servant forcibly entered a deserted chateau.
b. Which special picture did the narrator notice in the room?
The narrator noticed a special picture of a stunningly beautiful woman with vibrant eyes.
c. Describe the portrait that the narrator saw in the room.
The portrait was of a beautiful woman with vibrant eyes that seemed to breathe, giving the impression that it was more alive than a painting.
d. What is the relationship between the portrait painter and its subject?
The relationship between the portrait painter and its subject is not explicitly mentioned in the story.
Reference to the Context:
a. What is the central theme of the story? Who is the woman depicted in the oval portrait?
The central theme of the story is the dangerous obsession with beauty and art, which can lead to destruction. The woman depicted in the oval portrait is not explicitly named but is suggested to be the wife of the painter.
b. "The Oval Portrait" is a short horror story by Edgar Allan Poe involving the disturbing circumstances surrounding a portrait in a chateau. Elaborate.
"The Oval Portrait" is a horror story that creates a sense of unease through its eerie setting and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the portrait. The narrator's fascination with the portrait and the gradual revelation of its tragic history add to the story's unsettling atmosphere.
c. "The Oval Portrait" suggests that the woman's beauty condemns her to death. Discuss.
The story implies that the woman's extraordinary beauty becomes a curse, leading to her demise. The painter's obsession with capturing her beauty on canvas and his relentless pursuit of perfection ultimately result in her death and transformation into a lifeless portrait.
d. Discuss the story as a frame narrative (a story within a story).
The story is presented as a frame narrative, where the narrator recounts the events he experienced during his stay at the chateau. This structure adds depth and complexity to the story by introducing multiple layers of storytelling and creating a sense of mystery and suspense.
e. The story is told in a descriptive style, with plenty of imagery and symbolism. Which images and symbols do you find in the story?
The story is rich in vivid imagery and symbolism. The portrait itself is a powerful symbol of obsession and the destructive power of beauty. The eyes of the woman in the portrait are described as "so brilliant that they seemed to glow with a supernatural light," suggesting a sense of otherworldly beauty.
f. What does the expression "She was dead!" mean?
The expression "She was dead!" refers to the woman depicted in the portrait. It signifies not only her physical death but also the death of her spirit and vitality, as she has been transformed into a lifeless work of art.
Reference Beyond the Text:
a. Do you think there is life in art?
The story raises the question of whether art can possess a semblance of life. The portrait in the story appears so lifelike that it seems to breathe, suggesting that art can indeed have a life-like quality, capturing the essence of its subject.
b. As a thing of art nothing could be more admirable than the painting itself. Explain.
The story suggests that the portrait itself is a masterpiece, a work of art that is both beautiful and technically impressive. It is so well-executed that it transcends its status as a mere representation and becomes a thing of beauty in its own right.
c. A more intense look at the painting reveals the illusion. Have you noticed any such painting?
The story hints that a closer examination of the portrait reveals its true nature as an illusion, a painted representation of a once-living person. There are many paintings that create realistic illusions, such as trompe l'oeil paintings, which use perspective and shading to create the impression of three-dimensional objects.