Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Higher English Revision Booklet

Name_______________________
 Introduction to Jekyll and Hyde and Stevenson

Jekyll and Hyde is about a man’s dual nature

 The novel is about a respectable doctor, called Henry Jekyll, who

transforms into the evil Edward Hyde.
 Although it is fictional, the novel reflects the strict values of Victorian
society, in which people were expected to be restrained and appear
respectable at all times.

The story has a strong message

1. Jekyll and Hyde is about human nature – everyone has a good and evil
side inside them
2. If people explore their dark side, it can lead to problems – but hiding
or denying it can lead to problems too.

Robert Louis Stevenson was interested in the duplicitous nature of man.

 As a child, Stevenson was influenced by the strict Christian beliefs of his

nanny, Alison Cunningham.
 As an adult, he was interested in the behaviour of the Victorian
gentleman – the way they maintained an outwardly respectable
appearance but secretly indulged in immoral behaviour.
 He was particularly fascinated by the life of Deacon Brodie, a respectable
cabinet maker who led a secret life as a robber.
 Setting in the story

The story is set in __________ with many key or important locations. These
are: U

J
L
M

Location Bank: Lanyon’s House, Jekyll’s House, River Thames, Maid’s House,
Utterson’s House, Hyde’s Soho House

Make some notes or a mind-map about the various settings on the next page.
Setting
 Society

Victorian Gentlemen tried to hide their darker side

 In Victorian middle and upper-class society, it was important to look

respectable. As a result, people hid their true feelings, especially if these
were immoral or improper.
 Reputation was very important to Victorian gentlemen. If they weren’t
seen doing anything which wasn’t respectable, their good name would
be ruined.
 To protect their reputation, people often kept their sinful behaviour and
less desires a secret.
 They didn’t like to talk about anything that might damage their
reputation or upset their apparently civilised society.

Makes some notes or a mind-map about the dual nature of society: (think
about Victorian Gentlemen, Reputation, Poverty, Class structure)
Society
 Victorian Religion and Science

Victorian society was very religious

 Christianity had a strong influence on many areas of everyday life in

Victorian England. One particularly influential branch of Christianity was
called Evangelicalism.
 The Evangelicals taught that all people are naturally sinful, and that it’s
up to the individual to seek forgiveness from God. They should do this by
living accordingly to a strict moral and religious code – with an emphasis
on total morality and avoiding sin. Jekyll is particularly critical of his own
sinfulness and creates Hyde as a way of exorcising evil from him.

Darwin’s theory of evolution was controversial.

 Christianity taught that God created everything to be perfectly adapted

to its environment. The book of Genesis taught that humans were made
in God’s image, different from all the other animals and ruling over
them.
 In contrast, some scientists argued that species evolved gradually over
time. There were many different theories of how this process occurred.
 Darwin put forward his theory in “The Origin of Species” published in
1859. His book claimed that all species evolved through “natural
selection.” He believed that humans shared a common ancestor with
apes.
 Darwin’s writings went against the Christian idea that man’s nature was
different from other animals. It’s an unsettling idea that there may be an
animalistic side to everyone, capable of uncivilised acts and violent
crimes.
 Stevenson uses this idea in the novel. Hyde is described as the “animal
within” Henry Jekyll. He “seems hardly human” and lets out a scream of
“animal terror.” Poole says he is “like a monkey.” Hyde is also shorter
than Jekyll, which could suggest that he is a less evolved version of the
doctor.
Create a mind-map on how Science and Religion compete against each
other in society at the time and in the novella.

Science vs.
Religion
 Characters in the novel

Remember Jekyll and Hyde are the same person.

Dr Henry Jekyll is a well-respected doctor and scientist.

He starts to act strangely and stops seeing his friends
when he secretly experiments with his alter ego.

Mr Edward Hyde is the evil side of Jekyll. He’s a violent

and merciless character who makes people feel uneasy
and disgusted.

Mr Gabriel Utterson is a lawyer and Jekyll’s friend. He is

very rational and sets out to solve the mystery of
Jekyll’s behaviour.

Dr Hastie Lanyon is also a doctor. He used to be close

friends with Jekyll, but they fell out over Jekyll’s
controversial scientific ideas.

Mr Richard Enfield is Utterson’s relative and friend.

They enjoy spending time together, even though they
don’t have much in common.

Poole is Jekyll’s butler. He has worked for him for 20

years and knows him well. He’s concerned by Jekyll’s
strange behaviour.

Sir Danvers Carew is an elderly gentleman and member

of Parliament.
 Mr Guest is Utterson’s clerk. He notices that Hyde’s
handwriting is almost identical to Jekyll’s.

Create a mind-map on the characteristics of Jekyll/Hyde, Utterson, Lanyon

Key Characters
 Below is the extract that will be on the exam.
Read through the extract carefully and highlight all the important quotes that
relate to the various themes, setting, and characters. Use a different colour for
each.

Jekyll and Hyde Exam Extract

It was by this time about nine in the morning, and the first fog of the season.
A great chocolate-coloured pall lowered over heaven, but the wind was
continually charging and routing these embattled vapours; so that as the cab
crawled from street to street, Mr. Utterson beheld a marvelous number of
degrees and hues of twilight; for here it would be dark like the back-end of
evening; and there would be a glow of a rich, lurid brown, like the light of some
strange conflagration; and here, for a moment, the fog would be quite broken
up, and a haggard shaft of daylight would glance in between the swirling
wreaths. The dismal quarter of Soho seen under these changing glimpses, with
its muddy ways, and slatternly passengers, and its lamps, which had never been
extinguished or had been kindled afresh to combat this mournful reinvasion of
darkness, seemed, in the lawyer’s eyes, like a district of some city in a
nightmare. The thoughts of his mind, besides, were of the gloomiest dye; and
when he glanced at the companion of his drive, he was conscious of some touch
of that terror of the law and the law’s officers, which may at times assail the
most honest.
As the cab drew up before the address indicated, the fog lifted a little and
showed him a dingy street, a gin palace, a low French eating house, a shop for
the retail of penny numbers and twopenny salads, many ragged children
huddled in the doorways, and many women of many different nationalities
passing out, key in hand, to have a morning glass; and the next moment the fog
settled down again upon that part, as brown as umber, and cut him off from his
blackguardly surroundings. This was the home of Henry Jekyll’s favourite; of a
man who was heir to a quarter of a million sterling.
An ivory-faced and silvery-haired old woman opened the door. She had an
evil face, smoothed by hypocrisy: but her manners were excellent. Yes, she
said, this was Mr. Hyde’s, but he was not at home; he had been in that night
very late, but he had gone away again in less than an hour; there was nothing
strange in that; his habits were very irregular, and he was often absent; for
instance, it was nearly two months since she had seen him till yesterday.
“Very well, then, we wish to see his rooms,” said the lawyer; and when the
woman began to declare it was impossible, “I had better tell you who this
person is,” he added. “This is Inspector Newcomen of Scotland Yard.”
A flash of odious joy appeared upon the woman’s face. “Ah!” said she, “he is
in trouble! What has he done?”
Mr. Utterson and the inspector exchanged glances. “He don’t seem a very
popular character,” observed the latter. “And now, my good woman, just let me
and this gentleman have a look about us.”
In the whole extent of the house, which but for the old woman remained
otherwise empty, Mr. Hyde had only used a couple of rooms; but these were
furnished with luxury and good taste. A closet was filled with wine; the plate
was of silver, the napery elegant; a good picture hung upon the walls, a gift (as
Utterson supposed) from Henry Jekyll, who was much of a connoisseur; and the
carpets were of many plies and agreeable in colour. At this moment, however,
the rooms bore every mark of having been recently and hurriedly ransacked;
clothes lay about the floor, with their pockets inside out; lock-fast drawers stood
open; and on the hearth there lay a pile of grey ashes, as though many papers
had been burned. From these embers the inspector disinterred the butt end of a
green cheque book, which had resisted the action of the fire; the other half of
the stick was found behind the door; and as this clinched his suspicions, the
officer declared himself delighted. A visit to the bank, where several thousand
pounds were found to be lying to the murderer’s credit, completed his
gratification.

Write a summary to show your understanding of the extract:

 Key Quotes Analysis
Complete the table using quotes from the extract.

Quote Setting/Theme/Character Analysis Link to Elsewhere

 Symbolism:
Thinking about the extract, brainstorm symbolism it contains. You could look
at the weather, doors, locks, windows, streets, setting, and how it links to
Hyde/Jekyll/society etc.
 Symbolism 2:
Thinking about the symbolism in the extract, write down how it links to
elsewhere in the novella. Use quotes.
 Themes:
How does the extract relate to each of the themes? Think about: duality of
human nature, good and evil, repression and respectability, science and
discovery etc.
 Themes 2:
How do the themes of the extract relate to other parts of the novella? Use
quotes from elsewhere.
 Characters:
What do we learn about each of the characters in this extract? Think about
Utterson, Jekyll/Hyde, Lanyon etc.
 Characters 2:
How does what we learn about the characters in this extract link to elsewhere
in the novella?
 Key Quotes Analysis
Complete the table using quotes from elsewhere in the novella.

Quote Setting/Theme/Character Analysis Link to Extract

 Practice 10 Mark Questions

1. By referring to this extract and to elsewhere in the novel, discuss how

Stevenson uses symbolism to develop the central concerns of the text.
2. By referring to this extract and to elsewhere in the novel, discuss how
Stevenson explores the theme of good versus evil.
3. By referring to this extract and elsewhere in the novel, discuss how
Stevenson conveys Jekyll’s conflicting emotions towards Hyde.
4. By referring to this extract and elsewhere in the novel, discuss how
Stevenson uses setting to develop the central concerns of the text.
5. By referring to this extract and to elsewhere in the novel, discuss how
Stevenson explores Victorian society.
6. By referring to this extract and to elsewhere in the novel, discuss how
Stevenson explores the theme of duality.
7. By referring to this extract and elsewhere in the novel, discuss how
Stevenson develops the character of Utterson.
8. By referring to this extract and elsewhere in the novel, discuss how
Stevenson develops the character of Hyde.
9. By referring to this extract and elsewhere in the novel, discuss how
Stevenson uses pathetic fallacy to develop the central concerns of the
text.
10.By referring to this extract and elsewhere in the novel, discuss how
Stevenson uses class divides to develop the central concerns of the text.

Additional Notes