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Year 10
AQA

'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 6: Remarkable Incident of Dr. Lanyon

I can explore the theme of curiosity in Chapter 6.

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Year 10
AQA

'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 6: Remarkable Incident of Dr. Lanyon

I can explore the theme of curiosity in Chapter 6.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Lanyon's narrative is concealed within a sealed envelope inside his will.
  2. The sealed envelope in the safe is another clue within the detective plot, yet the reader is denied access to it.
  3. Utterson is able to repress his natural curiosity, locking and concealing the envelope in the safe.
  4. The safely secured letter symbolises the link between concealment and the protection of reputation.

Keywords

  • Recluse - a person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid other people can be described as a recluse.

  • Reputation - the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something

  • Curiosity - a strong desire to know or learn something.

  • Concealment - the action of hiding something or preventing it from being known.

Common misconception

Utterson, as a lawyer, is a man of great curiosity and honour.

Utterson is both curious for the truth, but cautious about ruining the reputation of his peers. This leads to important clues being missed.

Set the discussion in the second learning cycle up like a debate. Divide the class in half with one half defending Utterson as a man of great curiosity and the other half critiquing his decision to leave the letter unopened.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which character is it believed murdered Sir Danvers Carew in Chapter 4?
Correct Answer: Mr. Hyde, Hyde., Mr Hyde, Hyde
Q2.
Which social classes would you associate with a 'Victorian gentleman'? Select all that apply.
the working class
Correct answer: the ruling class
Correct answer: the upper-middle class
the lower classes
the criminal classes
Q3.
Which word, meaning the action of hiding something, is one of the main themes in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Correct Answer: concealment, concealment., Concealment, Concealment.
Q4.
In Chapter 5 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', how does Jekyll assure Utterson?
Correct answer: Jekyll shows Utterson a note from Hyde explaining he has a means of escape.
Jekyll tells Utterson he has not heard from Hyde.
Jekyll tells Utterson he has reported Hyde to the police.
Jekyll has a letter which explains that Hyde has been arrested.
Q5.
What does Utterson's head clerk notice about the letter Jekyll gives Mr. Utterson in Chapter 5 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
There was no stamp on the letter so must have been hand delivered.
Correct answer: He believes the letter was actually written by Dr. Jekyll, not Mr. Hyde.
There were none of Mr. Hyde's fingerprints on the letter.
Q6.
Which of the following is not a symbol of concealment in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
the door in Chapter 1
the fog which descends on London
Dr. Jekyll's laboratory
Correct answer: the letter Jekyll shows Utterson, supposedly from Hyde

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which character dies in Chapter 6 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde'?
Correct Answer: Dr. Lanyon, Dr Lanyon, Lanyon, Lanyon., Dr Lanyon.
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' is can be argued Mr. Utterson is a man of great curiosity. What does curiosity mean?
Correct answer: having a strong desire to know or learn something
having a strong desire for fairness and justice
having a strong desire to protect the reputation of peers
Q3.
Starting with the first, put the following events from 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' into chronological order.
1 - Sir Danvers Carew is murdered by Mr. Hyde.
2 - Jekyll shows Utterson a letter from Hyde, explaining that he has escaped.
3 - No-one can find Mr. Hyde, Jekyll starts spending more time with friends.
4 - Suddenly, Jekyll starts become a recluse again, refusing to see Utterson.
5 - Utterson visits his friend Lanyon.
6 - Lanyon explains he is dying due to a terrible shock.
7 - Lanyon's narrative is written in a sealed envelope which Utterson does not read.
Q4.
Which quotation from Chapter 6 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' most obviously points to Jekyll's guilt?
Lanyon: “I wish to see or hear no more of Dr. Jekyll.”
Jekyll: "I have brought on myself a punishment."
Correct answer: Jekyll: "I am the chief of sinners."
Q5.
Which word means, 'a person who lives a solitary life and tends to avoid other people'?
Correct Answer: recluse, Recluse, recluse., A recluse.
Q6.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the following suggest Utterson values protecting the reputation of his peers over his natural curiosity?
Mr. Utterson searches for Mr. Hyde in Ch2.
Correct answer: Mr. Utterson asks Mr. Enfield to speak "no more" about the incident in Ch1.
Correct answer: Mr. Utterson does not question Dr. Jekyll on the handwriting in the letter.
Mr. Utterson writes to Jekyll asking about his fall out with Lanyon.
Correct answer: Mr. Utterson locks Lanyon's unopened letter away, storing it in his safe.