Professor Otto Liedenbrock finds a message in a foreign language that he decodes. With the help of his nephew Axel he decodes the message. It translates to “Descend, bold traveler, into the crater of the jokul of Sneffels, which the shadow of Scartaris touches before the kalends of July, and you will attain the center of the earth; which I have done, Arne Saknussemm.”

Dorian Gray is a young man, and has his portrait painted by a great painter. He realizes his beauty in the portrait and wishes that he would always look the same, and that the portrait would age instead. After dumping his girlfriend, he notices that the painting looks more harsh. He hides the painting as it grows hideous with his age.