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Year 10
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'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 7: Incident at the Window

I can explain how Stevenson uses liminality in Chapter 7.

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New
New
Year 10
Eduqas

'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 7: Incident at the Window

I can explain how Stevenson uses liminality in Chapter 7.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Link copied to clipboard

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Twilight marks the transition between day and night; it is a liminal time.
  2. Windows are often important symbols or liminal spaces in gothic fiction.
  3. Jekyll is in the middle window, which is half way up, suggesting a state of transition.
  4. This court is located by the "blistered and disdained" door of Chapter 1.
  5. Utterson and Enfield choose to protect Jekyll's reputation over his wellbeing and walk away with a vow of silence.

Keywords

  • Liminality - Liminality is the physical process of transitioning across boundaries and borders.

  • Pivotal - If something is described as being pivotal, it is of crucial importance.

  • Motif - A motif is a recurring idea in a text.

  • Twilight - The time between sunset and darkness is called twilight.

Common misconception

Liminal spaces are things that are unnerving in a mysterious way.

Liminal spaces often do create a unnerving tone, but this is due to them being the boundary to two opposing states.


To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: 'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 7: Incident at the Window, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

This is a moment where pupils might start to discover the truth behind the relationship between Jekyll and Hyde. If you want to avoid revealing the ending, discuss slamming of window as a liminal space between good and evil. Here Jekyll chooses evil.
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
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which character does Mr. Utterson go on his customary walks with?
Dr. Lanyon
Correct answer: Mr. Enfield
Dr. Jekyll
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', why do Utterson and Enfield believe Dr. Jekyll writes Hyde into his will?
Utterson believes the men are related.
Correct answer: Utterson believes Hyde is blackmailing Jekyll.
Utterson believes Hyde is threatening to physically harm Jekyll.
Q3.
The word 'twilight' is used to describe what time of day?
early morning - the first light of the day
midday - when the sun is at its highest
Correct answer: after sunset, whilst light remains before darkness
Q4.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', why might a reader describe Dr. Jekyll as a recluse in the latter half of the novella?
Correct answer: Dr. Jekyll locks himself away, refusing to see his friends.
Dr. Jekyll is hiding secrets from his friends.
Dr. Jekyll refuses to tell Utterson the truth about Hyde.
Q5.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', doors could be described as of concealment.
Correct Answer: symbols, Symbols
Q6.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', the door in Chapter 1 is described as being "blistered and ."
Correct answer: distained
disfigured
disgusting
distinguished

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In Chapter 7 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', where is Dr. Jekyll sitting?
by the door to his laboratory
Correct answer: at a half open window
by the hearth of his fire
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the following best summarises the events following Jekyll slamming the window shut in Chapter 7?
Correct answer: Utterson and Enfieled leave the court in silence. Utterson says "God forgive us"
Utterson and Enfield vow never to speak of the event again
Utterson suggests they try to get in to the building and check on Jekyll.
Q3.
What word means 'the physical process of transitioning across boundaries and borders'?
Correct Answer: liminality, Liminality, liminality., liminal, Liminal
Q4.
In Chapter 7 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', why might a reader infer Utterson prefers to preserve Jekyll's reputation rather than discover the truth?
Correct answer: Utterson leaves the court immediately.
Utterson asks Enfield to never discuss the incident.
Utterson tries to enter Jekyll's property.
Q5.
In Chapter 7 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the below is most useful in highlighting how Jekyll prefers to preserve his reputation rather than reveal the truth?
Jekyll does not invite Utterson and Enfield inside.
Jekyll refuses to come on the walk.
Correct answer: Jekyll slams the window shut, keeping Utterson out.
Q6.
In Chapter 7 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which two examples of liminality does Stevenson use to suggest Jekyll's position between truth and secrecy?
windows and doors
twilight and the "blistered and distained" door
Correct answer: twilight and the "half-way open" window