The gothic in "Jekyll and Hyde." Hello, and welcome to another lesson on 'Jekyll and Hyde.

' My name is Mr. Young and it's great to be teaching you today.

And in this lesson, we are going to be exploring one of my favourite things about the novella, which is the gothic elements within it.

So without further ado, let's get started.

So today's lesson, we'll have a very clear learning outcome, which is as follows, so I can analyse the significance of the 'gothic' in 'Jekyll and Hyde.

' And just like in any lesson, we have some very important words here, which are our keywords.

So as always, do feel free to pause the video if you'd just like to spend a little bit more time exploring any of these words and their definitions.

But for today, our keywords are, verisimilitude, liminality, illicit, trope, and transgressive.

So our lesson today will have two very clear parts.

So in our first learning cycle, we are going to be looking at all those fantastic gothic elements that are in the novella.

So there's lots and lots there and I'm really looking forward to unpicking them with you today.

And again, we're gonna move on to Learning Cycle Two, which is going to be all about putting that into action.

So we're gonna be writing about the gothic elements of the novella.

So let's get started with Learning Cycle One.

So the following things are common gothic conventions that we find regularly in gothic stories.

And some of those things are multiple narrators, duality, a dark and mysterious remote setting, isolated protagonists, a battle between good and evil, and lots and lots of others.

So my first task for you is as follows.

So a student said the following things, they said, "I think it is possible to see examples of all of these conventions in Jekyll and Hyde." So my task for you then is as follows.

Can you think of any examples from the text that would support Aisha's argument above? Pause the video, have a quick discussion, and then push play when you'd like to continue.

Some great conversations taking place there, and you know what? You've absolutely hit the nail on the head, which is that you could arguably include all of these gothic conventions somewhere in 'Jekyll and Hyde.

' So I heard some really good examples there of potentially Jekyll himself being an isolated protagonist.

We've, of course, got the duality between the Jekyll and Hyde alter ego, and we've also got this idea of multiple narrators running through the text, we hear from different characters at different times.

So well done if you picked up on any of those things, that's a really fantastic observation, but we could absolutely say at certain points, all of these conventions are shown somewhere in the novella, and that's because the novella fits really nicely into the gothic genre.

Okay, then, let's start looking in detail at how some of these conventions are shown throughout the novella.

So the first one that really jumps out to me is this idea of Jekyll being a typical gothic protagonist that is someone who is isolated and egotistical.

So I'm just gonna throw it over to you straight away then with a discussion question.

So tell me how is Jekyll isolated and egotistical? Pause the video, have a quick discussion, and then push play when you'd like to continue.

Okay, some great work taking place there and yeah, I absolutely agree, there are lots and lots of ways that Jekyll is presented as isolated and egotistical, and it is really nice to hear you kind of engaging your knowledge of the plot in that question.

Some of the things that really leaped out to me are as follows.

So firstly, I'll be talking about the nature of Jekyll's work in terms of him being isolated.

So he conducts his experiments in secrecy and he tells no one of his work, not even other scientists like Lanyon.

So this kind of alludes to a degree of isolation in the work that he carries out.

Again, there's also this element of physical isolation for Jekyll.

He isolates himself physically in a laboratory, which none are allowed to enter.

So Poole, his butler at one point says, "You know the doctor's ways.

how he shuts himself up." So we've got this idea of physical isolation.

Again, he is aware of the controversy of his experiments and he goes to great lengths to keep them hidden.

At one point in the novella, he declares, "I hid them with an almost morbid sense of shame." So we get this idea that Jekyll is isolating himself because he's well aware of the kind of transgressive nature of what he's doing.

Again, he seeks to push the boundaries of normal science and even humanity.

He says, "I laboured, in the eye of day, at the furtherance of knowledge." So again, I would argue that this is potentially quite egotistical here.

He is not trying to just be happy just as a doctor, kind of healing people or generating knowledge for the public good.

There seems to be this kind of egotistical desire here with Jekyll to push things as far as they can possibly go.

And again, that's linked to our final point here.

His pursuit of the experiments is an egotistical and enjoyable desire to explore the dual sides of his human nature.

"It delighted me like wine," he says at one point.

So I would say these are some really good examples of how the character of Dr.

Jekyll is both isolated and egotistical, and really well done to all of you who are able to pick up anything similar in your own conversations.

So a quick check for understanding for me then please, so gothic protagonists are usually what? Pause the video, have a quick discussion, and then push play when you would like to continue.

Yep, it is, of course, A, isolated and egotistical, and we saw some really nice examples of this with the character of Dr.

Jekyll on the last slide, so well done if you're able to identify that.

Okay, now we are moving on to a really interesting part of the gothic, which is liminality.

So liminality refers to something on the boundary between two things.

So Lucas said the following thing about liminality in the Gothic.

Lucas said, "I think that liminality refers to any two things that are in opposition.

For example, man/beast, civilized/wild, public,/private." So a lovely comment there from Lucas about the gothic in 'Jekyll and Hyde.

' So my question is as follows.

So how could this quote relate to the plot of 'Jekyll and Hyde?' So pause the video, have a quick discussion, and then do press play when you'd like to continue.

Okay, some lovely discussions taking place there.

And I absolutely agree, you can really link Lucas's comment really nicely to the gothic in 'Jekyll and Hyde.

' And I think you can do so for the following reasons, because ultimately, 'Jekyll and Hyde' represent the duality inherent in human nature, blurring the lines between good and evil.

The transformation between Jekyll and Hyde reflects the confusion and conflict arising from the coexistence of two opposing identities within one individual, confounding the conventional understanding of a singular, unified self.

We even see this point from Jekyll himself when he declares, "I have been doomed to such a dreadful shipwreck: that man is not truly one, but truly two." Fantastic work, if you identified anything similar in your own discussions.

Okay, my next check for understanding then is a missing word.

So liminality refers to the blank between two things.

What word could fit in there to make that make sense? Pause the video, complete the task, and then push play when you would like to continue.

Okay, excellent work if you identified it as boundary, it is the boundary between two things.

In the case of 'Jekyll and Hyde,' it is the boundary between the human nature of Hyde and the human nature of Jekyll, and well done if you are able to identify that.

Okay, so the next gothic convention that we are going to look at is that of multiple narrators, and this is a common gothic trope.

This means it's something you will find regularly in stories of this kind.

So my question for you is this.

So when does the novella use multiple narrators? Pause the video, have a quick discussion, and then push play when you would like to continue.

Okay, some really nice conversations taking place there, and well done to everyone who identified all of those different narrators.

We, of course, have Mr. Utterson who narrates the first eight chapters, but then the narrative changes somewhat.

We hear of Lanyon's account and then we hear from Jekyll himself later on.

So we have three different kind of narrators at different points of the novella.

So well done if you were able to identify that.

So what we have here then is a comment from Lucas.

So Lucas said the following things, Lucas said, "I think that the use of multiple narrators adds to the mystery of the novella." So a really nice comment there from Lucas.

So my question for you then is what could support this statement? What pieces of evidence could support Lucas's comments that the multiple narrators add to the mystery of the novella? So pause the video, have a quick discussion, and then do push play when you'd like to continue.

Okay, some lovely conversations taking place there, and I agree with most of you that yeah, absolutely, I think the multiple narrators do definitely lend this air of mystery to the novella, and things I would say that kind of back up Lucas's point are as follows.

So firstly, you know, the novella is about something fantastic and absurd.

We're talking about a person who is able to transform himself here.

However, the use of multiple narratives from reputable characters, so lawyers and doctors, gives a very similar to, that clashes with the supernatural elements of the story.

And I think this absolutely creates some mystery for the reader.

And again, the novella is also about human duality.

So the multiple perspectives give us different perspectives of the transformation, reflecting wider conflicts on the duality within us all.

So really well done if you're able to identify similar comments in your own discussion there of Lucas's statement.

So crucially, Stevenson wasn't the only writer writing gothic novels at this time.

So when Stevenson was writing 'Jekyll and Hyde,' the gothic genre was very popular.

So other gothic novels like 'Dracula,' and 'The picture of Dorian Grey' were published around the same time.

So ultimately, Stevenson is using gothic conventions as a way to greater explore transgressive behaviour and elicit desires in society.

Well, how does he do this? Well, the story dramatises Jekyll's inner struggles between good and evil, as well as the same duality within society.

The gothic genre with its focus on good versus evil, the dual nature of mankind, the conflict between the conscious and unconscious minds, and themes of secrecy and mystery represent a great vehicle to develop his message even further.

So my practise task for you is as follows then.

So you have a table on the screen in front of you.

I would like you please to complete this table.

So I would like you to outline where these common conventions are shown within the text.

And those gothic conventions are as follows, multiple narrators, transgression, liminal or altered states, duality, and good versus evil.

So really looking forward to how you get on with this.

Pause the video, complete the task, and then do push play when you would like to see some feedback.

Okay, great work there on what is a really challenging task.

So some of the ideas I have with this are as follows.

So if we were looking at multiple narrators, I would say this is shown several times in the novella, through Utterson's narrative, Lanyon's letter, and Jekyll's full statement.

Again, transgression, I would say Jekyll's experiments themselves are quite transgressive.

You know, his experiments seem to violate moral and scientific ethics, which I would argue makes them quite transgressive.

Again, in terms of liminal or altered states Jekyll's transformation, and the two sides of mankind shown in the Hyde/Jekyll transformation really appeal to that idea of liminality.

This idea of a character at the boundary between two things, this boundary between civility and monstrosity.

Again, in terms of duality, Jekyll and Hyde's transformation is also a really good example of duality, but also the hypocritical private versus public selves shown by some of the other characters, in particular, Enfield, Utterson, and Lanyon.

I would say there's a certain amount of duality here in terms of how hypocritical these characters could arguably be.

And finally, in terms of good versus evil, well, Jekyll's experiments expose the good and evil side of human nature.

Jekyll's quote, "Man is not truly one, but two," I think goes a long way in kind of explaining this idea.

So great work if you're able to identify anything similar in your own pieces of writing.

Okay, so we have reached Learning Cycle Two.

So in our previous learning cycle, we looked quite broadly at the Gothic across the novella.

And now what we're gonna do in Learning Cycle Two is be a bit more precise and a bit more specific, looking at a very specific extract, and how we can apply our knowledge of the gothic to it.

So let's get started.

So what we are going to do is to look at an extract question and how we can apply our knowledge of the gothic in a written response.

So the extract in particular that we are gonna use is one of my favourites and it's where Jekyll is recounting his transformation back into Hyde in Regent's Park.

So this comes right at the kind of culmination of the story towards the end.

So let's take a look at that extract.

So Jekyll says, "There comes an end to all things; the most capacious measure is filled at last; and this brief condescension to my evil finally destroyed the balance of my soul.

And yet I was not alarmed; the fall seemed natural, like a return to the old days before I had made my discovery.

It was a fine, clear, January day, wet under foot where the frost had melted, but cloudless overhead; and the Regent's Park was full of winter chirrupings, and sweet with spring odours." So let's take a look at this question then.

So what gothic conventions are present in this part of the extract? Well, two things are really kind of jumping out to me here.

And the first thing is this idea of good versus evil.

So Jekyll was discussing his earlier transformations here, and even makes reference to his "evil" side, directly referencing the gothic trope of good versus evil.

So I would say this is a really clear link to some of the gothic conventions that we spoke about earlier.

And again, we've also got this idea of subverting gothic conventions here, I'd arguably say.

So Stevenson is setting this scene in Regent's Park.

He sets the transformation in Regent's Park, arguably making Jekyll's transgression more shocking as it is in a setting his audience are likely to be quite familiar with.

So that is another way I would say Stevenson kind of makes use of these gothic conventions or subverts them.

The extract continues.

"I sat in the sun on a bench; the animal within me licking the chops of memory; the spiritual side a little drowsed, promising subsequent penitence, but not yet moved to begin.

After all, I reflected, I was like my neighbours; and then I smiled, comparing myself with other men, comparing my active good-will with the lazy cruelty of their neglect.

And at that very moment of that vainglorious thought, a qualm came over me, a horrible nausea and the most deadly shuddering.

So again, some really nice writing here by Stevenson, but let's unpick that question again.

So what gothic conventions are present in this part of the extract? Once again, a few things are jumping out to me and I would say it's this idea of penitence.

So if you ask for penitence, it means you are asking for forgiveness for something.

So Jekyll makes reference to penitence, and it's almost as if he's aware of his transgressions and has no control over it, choosing not to stop it, but just to seek forgiveness after the event.

So I'd say this kind of really clearly links to those ideas of good and evil once again, which is a clear gothic convention.

And again, Jekyll reflects on his vain glorious nature.

So a clear link to the gothic convention of isolated and egotistical protagonists.

So Jekyll seems kind of excessively proud of what he's able to do, which again I think really links the idea of an egotistical protagonist.

The final bit of the extract is as follows.

"I began to be aware of a change in the temper of my thoughts, a greater boldness, a contempt of danger, a solution of the bonds of obligation.

I looked down; my clothes hung formlessly on my shrunken limbs; the hand that lay on my knee was corded and hairy.

I was once more Edward Hyde.

A moment before I had been safe of all men's respect, wealthy, beloved, the cloth laying for me in the dining room at home, and now I was the common quarry of mankind, hunted, houseless, a known murderer, thrall to the gallows." So again, let's look at that question just one more time.

So what graphic conventions are present in this part of the extract? Well, a few things, again, jump out to me.

So I would say this paragraph really describes the transformation in graphic detail.

So we literally see Jekyll transforming into Hyde in this moment.

And I would say, this kind of clearly highlights the nature of this liminal state, which is a really, really important gothic convention.

And again, we get the full extent of Jekyll's twin nature here.

So he goes from someone valued, he talks about, "Being safe of all man's respect," basically saying, "He's respected by all." However, in an instant, he has gone to somebody evil and dangerous, "a known murderer," a hunted known murderer, no less.

So I would say this is a really nice example here from Stevenson of duality, which is a clear gothic convention.

And what done if you are able to pick up on that yourself as we read through it.

Okay, so my check for understanding then, let's have a look, it is this.

"In the extract, Stevenson arguably subverts gothic conventions, true or false? Pause the video, have a quick go at the task, and then do push play when you'd like to continue.

Great job, if you identified it as true, I would say it is absolutely true.

There is an element of subversion here of gothic conventions.

But tell me why, how is that statement true? Is it A, he sets it in Regent's Park, not a typical gothic setting, but one which emphasises the horror of Jekyll's transgressions.

Or is it B? He challenges the idea that gothic protagonists are isolated, by bringing Jekyll to Regent's Park, a crowded place.

Pause the video, have a go at the task, and then do press play when you'd like to see the correct answer.

Well done if you identified it as A, it is A, he sets this scene in Regent's Park.

So this is not a typical gothic setting, but which emphasises the horror of Jekyll's transgression.

So it is a sunny day, it is a location people are likely to be familiar with, potentially even kind of emphasising the true horror of what Jekyll is doing to his Victorian audience.

Well done if you picked up on that.

Okay, so we have reached our final practise task then of today's lesson.

So really excited to see how you get on with this.

So your task is as follows.

So using the sentence starters below, write an answer to the following question, that includes each of the words in the vocabulary bank.

So starting with this extract, how does Stevenson include elements of the gothic in his presentation of Jekyll? So your sentence starter are as follows, Stevenson uses.

In this extract, the reader observes.

Stevenson situates the transformation.

And his intention might be to.

And your keywords are as follows.

So I would like you to try and use protagonist, isolated, and egotistical, liminality, trope, transgressive, gothic conventions, illicit, and duality.

So, I'm really looking forward to how you got on with this.

So pause the video, complete the task, and then do push play when you would like to see some feedback.

Okay, great job on that task.

That is a really challenging task, trying to incorporate some really high-level ideas and some really high-level vocabulary into a piece of writing.

So I'm super impressed to see so many of you doing that task so well.

So here is an example of how you could have approached this task.

So don't worry if yours isn't identical to this, this is just one way you could have approached it.

"So Stevenson uses gothic conventions to present Jekyll as the typical gothic protagonist, both isolated and egotistical, who struggles to reconcile the good and evil aspects of his character and lives in conflict with society.

In this extract, the reader observes the transformation of Jekyll as he unwillingly enters a state of liminality and emerges as the "hunted, houseless, known murderer, Hyde." By juxtaposing the animalistic Hyde, recognised by his "corded and hairy" hand with the "wealthy, beloved, and respectable Jekyll, the writer is emphasising the duality within us all.

Stevenson situates the transformation in broad daylight, on a sunny day in the middle of busy Regent's Park.

His intention might be to heighten the terror of the contemporary reader by placing his tale of transgression and illicit behaviour in a recognisable urban setting, perhaps as a way of commenting on the hypocrisy of a repressive Victorian society with its emphasis on social conformity and strict control of emotions.

The fact that Jekyll describes his "fall" as "natural," that his transformation occurs as he sits relaxed on the park bench and contemplating "subsequent penitence," is even more shocking.

This is a direct link to the gothic trope of good versus evil and suggests evil has taken over his better side and he is no longer in control of 'the animal within.

' Great job, if you identified anything similar in your own work.

Okay, we have made it to the end of the lesson.

We've learned an awful lot today.

So let's recap what exactly we have focused on.

So firstly, Jekyll is a typical gothic protagonist, egotistical and isolated.

The story dramatises Jekyll's inner struggle between good and evil and the same duality within society.

Liminal and altered states are a gothic convention that is central to this story.

Drawing on gothic conventions allow Stevenson to explore transgressive behaviour and elicit desires, and using multiple narrators is a gothic trope that plays with ideas of verisimilitude, linking to science versus supernatural.

Once again, while done for all of your hard work on this lesson, and I really look forward to teaching you on other lessons in this sequence.

So thank you very much, and goodbye.