New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Introducing the Gothic in 'Jekyll and Hyde'

I can understand how Stevenson conforms to, and subverts, Gothic conventions in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

Introducing the Gothic in 'Jekyll and Hyde'

I can understand how Stevenson conforms to, and subverts, Gothic conventions in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Gothic fiction is fascinated by strange places, yet Stevenson sets his story in London.
  2. The figure of Hyde allows Stevenson to explore violent differences in power.
  3. Gothic writing often focuses on irrational or illicit desires; Stevenson conforms to this.
  4. The uncanny is a key idea within the Gothic and links to duality, but also the human/ inhuman appearance of Hyde.
  5. Hyde seems to have supernatural powers and strength, conforming to the conventions of the gothic villain.

Common misconception

'Jekyll and Hyde' is a stereotypically 'Gothic' novella.

Whilst certain elements of 'Jekyll and Hyde' do follow the conventions of the Gothic, others subvert it.

Keywords

  • Conform - To comply with certain rules, standards or laws.

  • Subvert - To corrupt or undermine something. In literature, if you subvert something you undermine what is expected.

  • Convention - The defining characteristics of a particular genre.

  • Genre - A particular style or category of literature.

  • Gothic - A genre of writing that is characterised by the inclusion of dark and supernatural elements.

Consider using extracts from other well-known Gothic stories (Frankenstein, Dracula) to highlight the Gothic conventions in context in learning cycle one.
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 what year was 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' first published?
Correct answer: 1886
1986
1786
1686
Q2.
In Chapter 10 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', as Hyde grows stronger, Jekyll grows .
Correct Answer: weaker, Weaker, weaker., Weaker., 'weaker'
Q3.
Which of the below would be examples of genres in literature?
love
Correct answer: comedy
Correct answer: tragedy
Correct answer: science fiction
space
Q4.
What is the missing word from this definition of 'conventions'? 'The defining __________ of a particular genre.'
Correct answer: characteristics
language devices
examples
characters
settings
Q5.
Which of the below is the correct description of the word 'conform'?
Correct answer: To comply with certain rules, standards or laws.
To challenge certain rules, standards or laws.
To ignore certain rules, standards or laws.
To disagree with certain rules, standards or laws.
Q6.
What is being described here: 'To corrupt or undermine something.'
Correct answer: To subvert
To spoil
To challenge
To meddle

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word is missing from this definition of the Gothic: 'writing that is characterised by the inclusion of dark and elements.'
Correct Answer: Supernatural, supernatural, supernatural., Supernatural.
Q2.
'The Gothic can be considered a of literature.' Which word below best fits here?
Correct answer: Genre
Subversion
Convention
Theme
Q3.
In what century did Gothic literature first appear?
Correct answer: 18th
19th
17th
16th
Q4.
Gothic literature was influenced by which earlier literary movement?
Correct answer: Romanticism
Realism
Science fiction
Elizabethan tragedy
Q5.
Which of these Gothic conventions does the novella subvert?
Illicit desires
A villain
Correct answer: Isolated and remote settings
Correct answer: A clear hero and villain
Q6.
With reference to 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the below best outlines the novella's approach to Gothic conventions?
Correct answer: The novella conforms to Gothic conventions but subverts them too.
The novella has no Gothic conventions.
Although it is a Gothic novella, it doesn't really follow Gothic conventions.
It is a textbook example of a Gothic novella, following all Gothic conventions.