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Year 11
Edexcel

Understanding Utterson and social class in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’

I can explore how Stevenson presents attitudes to social class through Utterson in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’

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New
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Year 11
Edexcel

Understanding Utterson and social class in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’

I can explore how Stevenson presents attitudes to social class through Utterson in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Social divide is a key idea here, highlighted because the reader sees Soho through the middle class eyes of Utterson.
  2. Utterson is portrayed as judgemental towards the poor, mirroring commonplace Victorian beliefs.
  3. Stevenson criticises the idea that only the poor are prone to sin and vice: the middle class characters harbour secrets.
  4. The description of Soho links to the theme of duality, showing that the city is as divided as Jekyll is.
  5. Concealment is an important theme here as Utterson confronts a side of London that middle class men don't usually see.

Common misconception

Mr. Utterson is judgemental of all immoral behaviour.

Mr. Utterson seems incredibly judgemental of the Victorian poor and their behaviour but he is willing to turn a 'blind eye' to his friends.

Keywords

  • Concealment - The action of hiding something or preventing it being known is known as concealment.

  • Duality - Duality refers to the contrast between two opposite or opposing things.

  • Morality - Morality concerns the distinction between what is right and what is wrong.

  • Critique - If you criticise something in a thoughtful and detailed way this is known as a critique.

  • Social divide - The differences between classes is known as the social divide. In 'Jekyll and Hyde' Utterson is a member of the midde class.

This lesson could form part of a wider discussion about the significance of "fog" in the novella and its links to concealment. The descriptions of Soho are particularly rich for this task.
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 discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of mental health issues

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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is Utterson's profession in the novella 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Correct Answer: Lawyer, lawyer, a lawyer, solicitor, legal profession
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Utterson arguably has a repressive nature. What two things does he deny himself, despite enjoying them?
Correct answer: Trips to the theatre.
Regular walks with Enfield.
Correct answer: Drinking red wine.
Drinking gin.
Dinner with Dr. Lanyon.
Q3.
The first 8 chapters of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' are narrated through the perspective of Utterson alone? As such, this is an example of...
Correct answer: third person limited.
third person omniscient.
first person.
second person.
Q4.
In our opening description of Utterson in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', we learn that he subscribes to 'Cain's...'?
Correct Answer: heresy, Heresy, heresy., Heresy.
Q5.
What is the definition of the word 'critique'? Here it is used in a sentence: 'The piece of art received its critique from the gallery owner'.
Correct answer: To criticise something in a thoughtful and detailed way.
To criticise something in an insulting and off-hand way.
To criticise something repetitively.
To criticise something rarely and only when necessary.
Q6.
What is the definition of the word 'morality'? Here it is used in a sentence : "The preacher spoke about the importance of morality."
Correct answer: The distinction between what is right and what is wrong.
The distinction between what is hard and what is easy.
The distinction between what is fair and what is unfair.
The distinction between what is realistic and what is foolish.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
To what part of London does Utterson travel to in chapter 4 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Correct Answer: Soho, soho, Soho., soho.
Q2.
What technique has been used here in the description of the weather: "the wind was continually charging and routing these embattled vapours"?
Correct answer: Extended metaphor.
Simile.
Anaphora.
Juxtaposition.
Q3.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Jekyll describes Soho as 'the home of Jekyll's favourite'. What is he suggesting with this phrase?
That it is strange someone like Hyde should live here.
That Jekyll must visit this place often if Hyde lives here.
Correct answer: That Hyde must be a very disreputable character to live in a place like this.
That Jekyll enjoys visiting the area very much.
Q4.
Consider 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', in what ways would Utterson's views towards the poor be shared by the Victorian middle classes of the day?
Correct answer: They would have had a similarly negative and unsympathetic view.
They would have had a much more positive view, unlike Utterson's.
They wouldn't have cared either way.
They would have found his view repulsive, believing charity to be important.
Q5.
Consider 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', how does Stevenson view people like Utterson and their views of the poor?
He's supportive - he thinks the poor should be judged in this way.
He's indifferent - as a writer of novellas he takes little interest in society.
Correct answer: He's critical - he thinks such views are hypocritical and misguided.
He's encouraging - he believes its the role of the middle classes to criticise.
Q6.
"Stevenson is implicitly critical of Utterson’s attitude towards the poor people of Soho in this extract." What is this an example of?
Correct answer: Topic sentence.
Concluding sentence.
Embedded quotation.
Supporting detail.
Contextual reference.