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Year 10
Edexcel

'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 2: Search for Mr Hyde

I can explore the characterisation of Mr. Hyde.

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New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 2: Search for Mr Hyde

I can explore the characterisation of Mr. Hyde.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Hyde first appears to Utterson in a dream, linking to the supernatural
  2. Hyde is consistently dehumanised in the description
  3. When he imagines Hyde, London itself becomes unfamiliar and disorientating to Utterson
  4. Utterson is disgusted by Hyde, but also deeply curious about him
  5. The oxymoron 'human juggernaut' suggests that Hyde is human, yet also has supernatural powers

Common misconception

Students might think Stevenson's ambiguity about Hyde's appearance is due to insufficient detail.

Stevenson keeps Hyde's description vague to engage readers' imaginations, amplifying the character's eeriness.

Keywords

  • Supernatural - Events or phenomena beyond scientific explanation are considered supernatural.

  • Dehumanisation - Dehumanisation is the process of stripping individuals of their human qualities, reducing them to a subhuman state.

  • Oxymoron - When two seemingly contradictory terms appear together for effect, this literary device is an oxymoron.

  • Juggernaut - A huge, powerful, and overwhelming force or institution is often referred to as a juggernaut.

  • Revulsion - A strong feeling of disgust can be described as revulsion.

Pre-read the chapter, noting key descriptions of Hyde. Gather diverse illustrations of Hyde from adaptations to showcase how ambiguity sparks varied interpretations. Encourage students to visualise their own Hyde before revealing these depictions.
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 violence or suffering

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).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde', how is Mr. Hyde's physical appearance described in Chapter 1?
handsome and charming
short and stout
ordinary and unremarkable
Correct answer: hideous and deformed
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde', what does Mr Hyde collect from inside the door?
Correct Answer: a cheque, cheque, a cheque., cheque., A cheque
Q3.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde', how does Mr. Hyde behave towards Mr. Enfield and the young girl in Chapter 1?
indifferent and apathetic
shy and introverted
Correct answer: violent and aggressive
Q4.
What does the word 'supernatural' mean?
when something is very natural
confusing
Correct answer: events or phenomena beyond natural explanation
Q5.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde', how does Mr. Hyde's behaviour contrast with the society's norms in Victorian London?
He is a philanthropist.
Correct answer: He is a criminal and a social outcast.
He is a dedicated family man.
Q6.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde', what are the primary feelings Mr. Hyde's presence evokes in those who encounter him in Chapter 1?
Correct answer: disgust
confusion
curiosity
Correct answer: fear

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde', what does Utterson do at the start of chapter 2, which is not in his usual evening routine?
go to bed early
sit by the fire and read book
Correct answer: looks at Jekyll's will in detail
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde', Hyde first appears to Utterson in a .
Correct Answer: dream, Dream, dream., Dream.
Q3.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde', which of the following words could describe Utterson's reaction to Hyde?
Correct answer: revulsion
Correct answer: curiosity
anger
frustration
Q4.
is the process of stripping individuals of their human qualities, reducing them to a subhuman state.
Correct Answer: dehumanisation, dehumanisation., Dehumanisation, Dehumanisation.
Q5.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde', which of the following does not imply Hyde is connected to the supernatural?
Hyde appears to Utterson in a dream.
Correct answer: Hyde repulses Utterson and other characters.
London becomes unfamiliar to Utterson in his dream.
Q6.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde', what does the following quotation suggest about Hyde: "he gave an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation"?
He is malevolent and evil.
Correct answer: His unsettling nature is beyond ordinary human description.
He is terrifying to look at.