New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Considering Stevenson's subversion of Gothic setting in 'Jekyll and Hyde'

I can trace Stevenson’s use of setting across the the novel, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’.

New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Considering Stevenson's subversion of Gothic setting in 'Jekyll and Hyde'

I can trace Stevenson’s use of setting across the the novel, ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Stevenson takes the conventions of the Gothic genre and subverts them to make his fictional world seem even stranger
  2. The key settings are Jekyll’s home, his laboratory and Hyde’s house.
  3. The key settings contrast with each other which relates to the theme of duality.
  4. The city of London is as divided as Jekyll himself.

Common misconception

Students may think that the novel is Gothic in the typical sense.

Be clear about subversion and how it works in the novella. Although Stevenson uses some Gothic elements they are not always used in the typical way for the genre.

Keywords

  • Setting - Setting in literature refers to the time and place of the text.

  • Juxtaposition - The placing of contrasting ideas or images close together is known as juxtaposition.

  • Duality - The word duality describes the combination of two opposite things in one.

  • Pious - If you are pious, you live in a way that shows your religious beliefs.

  • Blasphemy - Blasphemy is saying or doing something that shows you do not respect God or a religion.

Develop vocabulary by using alternative synonyms for duality eg: dual nature, opposing selves.
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

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what profession is Dr. Jekyll?
Correct answer: Scientist
Lawyer
Teacher
Priest
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Mr. Utterson belongs to which profession?
He is a teacher.
He is an MP.
Correct answer: He is a lawyer.
He is a policeman.
Q3.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', who is Poole?
Jekyll's friend
Correct answer: Jekyll's manservant
Jekyll's distant relative
Q4.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', when Hyde crushes a small child, what is he compared to?
Monster
Tyrant
Correct answer: Juggernaut
Bulldozer
Q5.
How does Hyde avoid being punished for mowing down the small child in Chapter 1 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Correct answer: He buys his way out.
There are no witnesses.
Dr. Jekyll rescues him.
Mr. Utterson defends him in court.
Q6.
Why do Utterson and Enfield become worried about Jekyll in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Because he keeps turning into Hyde
Correct answer: Because he won't go out into society any more.
Because he is experimenting with potions

6 Questions

Q1.
When a writer juxtaposes ideas, what do they do?
Track ideas across a text, looking for similarities and differences.
Consider why a writer chose a particular method and explain our reasoning.
Correct answer: Place opposing ideas close together to draw attention to the contrast.
Q2.
What does duality refer to?
Correct answer: Two often contrasting ideas or moods contained in one.
Conversations between two very different people.
A fight - like a duel - between two opposing sides.
Q3.
What word is missing from the following quotation from Chapter 4 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' " ways?"
dirty
squalid
Correct answer: muddy
Q4.
In the quotation "bright open fire" from Chapter 2 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what might the fire symbolise?
Correct answer: Passion and danger
Desire and anger
Correct answer: Warmth and welcome
Q5.
Why might Stevenson choose to make the police unable to solve the crimes of Edward Hyde in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Stevenson distrusted the Metropolitan police and thought they were incompetent.
He wanted to show a lawless London and how nothing could be done about crime.
Correct answer: Stevenson's purpose was to show that Hyde is outside the normal rules.
Q6.
Why might Victorian London be called a two sided city?
It was growing so quickly that the population struggled to find housing.
Correct answer: It was a mix of contradictions.
Correct answer: Poverty and wealth lived side by side.
There were severe problems with alcohol drinking.
The police force was inadequate.