New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

'Jekyll and Hyde': examining the novella's structure

I can explain how Stevenson uses narrative structure to present his ideas on duality in society.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

'Jekyll and Hyde': examining the novella's structure

I can explain how Stevenson uses narrative structure to present his ideas on duality in society.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Stevenson uses conventions of epistolary fiction to foreground the importance of letters and documents.
  2. Letters provide clues as part of the detective plot, but also link to the theme of concealment.
  3. The secrecy created by the epistolary form could represent the upper classes attempts to conceal unsavoury behaviour.
  4. The majority of the novella is told in the third person limited, focalised through Utterson.
  5. A sense of mistrust is created through unreliable narrators and a non-linear narrative.

Keywords

  • Epistolary - a story told through letters or written communication between characters

  • Critique - a detailed evaluation, expressing opinions on merits and faults

  • Duality - the quality of having two sides or aspects - a dual nature

  • Concealment - the act of hiding or keeping something secret or out of sight

Common misconception

Just mentioning Stevenson's choices surrounding form and structure is valuable analysis.

All comments regarding Stevenson's use of form and structure should be tied back to Stevenson's purpose.

Prepare some examples of texts pupils have read which have first person and third person limited narrative perspectives. Ask pupils to consider which narrators they trusted more and why.
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 serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', whose perspective do we hear from in the final chapter of the novella?
Correct Answer: Dr. Jekyll, Jekyll, Henry Jekyll
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', whose narrative do we hear in Chapter 9 of the novella?
Mr. Utterson
Mr. Hyde
Correct answer: Dr. Lanyon
Mr. Enfield
Q3.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what document does Hyde retrieve from behind the 'blistered and distained' door in Chapter 1?
Correct answer: a cheque
a letter
a will
Q4.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what clue helps Utterson discover Jekyll and Hyde have the same handwriting?
a letter from Jekyll to Hyde
Correct answer: a letter from Hyde to Jekyll
a letter from Hyde to Utterson
Q5.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', sealed letters are a symbol of...
Correct Answer: concealment
Q6.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', why does Utterson not open the letter from Lanyon straight away?
Correct answer: professional honour
fear of finding out the truth about Jekyll
Correct answer: loyalty to Dr. Lanyon's request
he thought curiosity was dangerous

6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the following characters is not one of the narrative voices of the novella?
Dr. Jekyll
Correct answer: Mr. Hyde
Dr. Lanyon
Mr. Utterson
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the following is a 'red herring' in the case?
the letter to Jekyll from Hyde
the cheque
Jekyll's will
Correct answer: Carew's letter
Q3.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Stevenson uses conventions of fiction to create a sense of mystery in his novella.
Correct Answer: epistolary
Q4.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what perspective are chapters 1-8 written from?
first person
second person
Correct answer: third person limited
Q5.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which is the most interesting interpretation as to why Stevenson makes the structural choices he does in the novella?
Correct answer: Mystery and mistrust created is used to critique the hypocritical upper classes.
It makes the novella more confusing to read.
It creates a sense of mystery.
Q6.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the following could it be argued does not help create mistrust in the novella?
non-linear narrative
Correct answer: first person perspective
unreliable narrative voices