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Year 10
AQA

'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 9: Dr Lanyon's Narrative

I can explain the role curiosity plays in Chapter 9.

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Year 10
AQA

'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 9: Dr Lanyon's Narrative

I can explain the role curiosity plays in Chapter 9.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. This chapter marks a shift in narrative perspective to first person.
  2. This chapter is written in epistolary form.
  3. Lanyon reveals that he succumbed to his curiosity, tempted by the promise of knowledge.
  4. At the end of the chapter, the reader learns that Lanyon’s visitor is Hyde, who transforms into Jekyll.

Keywords

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

  • Epistolary - An epistolary novella is a piece of literary work which takes the form of letters.

  • To succumb - The verb to succumb means to give into pressure.

  • Transgressive - If something is transgressive it violates moral or social boundaries.

  • Prodigy - An amazing, unusual or outstanding thing.

Common misconception

Chapter 9 takes place after the events in Chapter 8.

Ask pupils if they were going to put the chapters in chronological order, how would this chapter be numbered? (Answer: Chapter 6)


To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: 'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 9: Dr Lanyon's Narrative, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Try incorporating role play in learning cycle 2 by asking a pupil to play Dr. Lanyon, whilst the rest of the class are divided between his conscience and his curiosity. Get each side of the class to try to persuade Lanyon to "do the right thing."
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Teacher tip
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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

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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', who does Utterson believe is blackmailing Dr. Jekyll?
Correct Answer: Mr. Hyde, Mr Hyde, Hyde
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which character dies from shock?
Correct Answer: Dr. Lanyon, Dr Lanyon, Lanyon
Q3.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what significant event occurs in Chapter 4 that intensifies Mr. Utterson's concern for Dr. Jekyll?
Dr. Jekyll's sudden disappearance
Correct answer: Mr. Hyde's murder of Sir Danvers Carew
the revelation of Dr. Jekyll's deteriorating health
Q4.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what is Dr. Jekyll's reason for locking himself in his laboratory and refuse to see anyone?
He is conducting secret experiments.
He is ashamed of Mr. Hyde's actions.
Correct answer: He is suffering from a severe illness.
Q5.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', complete this quotation said by Dr. Jekyll: "If I am the chief of sinners, I am the chief of also."
Correct Answer: sufferers, Sufferers, sufferers., Sufferers.
Q6.
In Chapter 8 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what does Stevenson use to symoblise Jekyll's concealing the truth from Utterson and society?
Correct answer: the locked cabinet
the broken key
the half-open window
the fog of London

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In Chapter 9 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what word, meaning desire to know the truth, is the reason Lanyon decides to stay and watch the transformation?
Correct Answer: curiosity, Curiosity, curiosity., Curiosity.
Q2.
In Chapter 9 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', why does Jekyll write to Lanyon?
Jekyll asks Lanyon to help him get rid of Hyde.
Correct answer: Jekyll asks Lanyon to retrieve some chemicals from his laboratory.
Jekyll asks Lanyon to destroy some evidence in his laboratory.
Q3.
In Chapter 9 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the following statements about Lanyon's visitor are true?
Correct answer: His visitor was small, wearing clothes which were too big for him.
His visitor was incredibly confident.
His visitor was threatening to Lanyon.
Correct answer: His visitor was unnerved and anxious.
Q4.
In Chapter 9 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', the narrative perspective changes. We read a letter from the perspective of Dr. Lanyon. What adjective can we use to describe the form?
Correct Answer: epistolary, epistolary., Epistolary, Epistolary.
Q5.
In Chapter 9 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the following best describes the two scientists, Jekyll and Lanyon?
Correct answer: Jekyll is more trangressive than Lanyon.
Lanyon is more trangressive than Jekyll.
Both Jekyll and Lanyon are transgressive scientists.
Neither Jekyll nor Lanyon are transgressive scientists.
Q6.
In Chapter 9 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the following quotations demonstrates that the desire for knowledge is incredibly powerful?
"Will you be guided?"
"Will you be wise?"
Correct answer: "Has the greed of curiosity too much command of you?"
"Your sight shall be blasted by a prodigy to stagger the unbelief of Satan."