The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Duality and Victorian Society

• English
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)
• GCSE

Introductie

A lesson on duality and Victorian society in Stevenson's strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This lesson is designed to work at any point in the course. It will work well as an introduction, when you have started the text or even as revision. It's intended to be easily modified after the first animated slide.

Welcome to this lesson on Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!

Hope you find it useful!

Feel free to modify this lesson!

Lesson Objective

To understand the theme of duality and how it reflects Victorian anxieties.

A simple lesson objective here - feel free to customise.

What does 'duality' mean to you?

A mind map starter.

What does 'duality' mean to you?

Where do we see duality in life today?

A low stakes 'connect' activity drawing on learner experience and knowledge.

Victorian Society and the Divided Self

This era was full of rules about how to dress, speak, and act. But underneath that surface, many people had secret desires or behaviours they kept hidden.

At the same time, science was making big steps forward. People were fascinated—and sometimes frightened—by new discoveries, especially ones that seemed to challenge traditional beliefs about religion, identity, and the soul.

Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, was fascinated by the idea that everyone has two sides: one good, and one darker and more dangerous. His story explores what might happen if a person could split those sides apart. It’s a tale of science, secrets, and the struggle between respectability and temptation.

The hotspots feature extra information and have images attached to them. The images could be used to promote further discussion.

What Victorian contrasts and contradictions can you think of?

If you wish this could be set in groups first and the feedback received on the mind map afterwards.

“The most racking pangs succeeded: a grinding in the bones, deadly nausea, and a horror of the spirit that cannot be exceeded at the hour of birth or death. Then these agonies began swiftly to subside, and I came to myself as if out of a great sickness. There was something strange in my sensations, something indescribably new and, from its very novelty, incredibly sweet. I felt younger, lighter, happier in body…”

HORROR

HORROR

HORROR

HORROR

LIBERATION

LIBERATION

LIBERATION

LIBERATION

A simple drag and drop activity on an extract from chapter 10.

“The most racking pangs succeeded: a grinding in the bones, deadly nausea, and a horror of the spirit that cannot be exceeded at the hour of birth or death. Then these agonies began swiftly to subside, and I came to myself as if out of a great sickness. There was something strange in my sensations, something indescribably new and, from its very novelty, incredibly sweet. I felt younger, lighter, happier in body…”

 What kind of transformation does this language suggest—natural or unnatural? Why?

The spinner is here if you want to randomise cold calling!

“The most racking pangs succeeded: a grinding in the bones, deadly nausea, and a horror of the spirit that cannot be exceeded at the hour of birth or death. Then these agonies began swiftly to subside, and I came to myself as if out of a great sickness. There was something strange in my sensations, something indescribably new and, from its very novelty, incredibly sweet. I felt younger, lighter, happier in body…”

How does Stevenson contrast pain with pleasure here? What might this tell us about Hyde’s appeal?

“The most racking pangs succeeded: a grinding in the bones, deadly nausea, and a horror of the spirit that cannot be exceeded at the hour of birth or death. Then these agonies began swiftly to subside, and I came to myself as if out of a great sickness. There was something strange in my sensations, something indescribably new and, from its very novelty, incredibly sweet. I felt younger, lighter, happier in body…”

What does this suggest about what Hyde represents to Jekyll? How does this relate to Victorian ideas of repression?

Part three of the analysis! These have been broken up for ease of discussion.

What does 'duality' mean to you?

What does this suggest about what Hyde represents to Jekyll? How does this relate to Victorian ideas of repression?

Imagine you are Dr. Jekyll in this moment......

Write 3–4 sentences in first person describing how it feels to become Hyde for the first time. Try to blend horror and excitement in your description.

Some students really apreciate this kind of written roleplay!

What theme is most strongly revealed in this passage?

1. Urbanisation
2. Duality
3. Education and opportunity
4. Family and tradition

A series of quiz questions - you could replace these with simpler or tougher questions depending on your group.

Why might the transformation be described as 'incredibly sweet'?

1. Jekyll enjoys freedom from moral restraint
2. He forgets who he is
3. Hyde is more attractive
4. Jekyll craves sweets

Which word best describes the physical change Jekyll undergoes?

1. Subtle
2. Instantaneous
3. Comfortable
4. Painful

What is the main emotion Jekyll describes upon first becoming Hyde?

1. Sadness
2. Fear
3. Anger
4. Excitement

Lacks empathy

Scientific curiosity

Seeks approval

Repressed self unleashed

Respected doctor

Socially admired

Repressed desires

Moral and rational

Conforms to Victorian respectability

Struggles with temptation

Philanthropic reputation

Primitive and brutal

Physically deformed and small

Driven by impulse

Secretive and shadowy

Freedom without conscience

Agent of chaos

Morally corrupt

Secretive and shadowy

Indulges in violence

A fun drag and drop sorting the qualities of Jekyll and Hyde.

What does 'duality' mean to you?

What does this suggest about what Hyde represents to Jekyll? How does this relate to Victorian ideas of repression?

Why might Jekyll have felt compelled to create Hyde?

An open question - there is a prompt available here if needed!

Which of the following best explains Jekyll’s duality?

Scientific curiosity

Societal pressure

.Repressed desires

All of the above

Polls are a great way of focusing discussion and ideas.....it's easy to select students to explain their answers.

What does 'duality' mean to you?

What does this suggest about what Hyde represents to Jekyll? How does this relate to Victorian ideas of repression?

In one sentence, explain how the theme of duality is reflected in Jekyll’s character.

This is designed as an exit ticket, but could easily be modified to be more substantial - a full discursive paragraph or mini-essay. 

What does 'duality' mean to you?

What does this suggest about what Hyde represents to Jekyll? How does this relate to Victorian ideas of repression?

Use this slide to ask about something you are unsure about....

Exit ticket that could be answered in class or the beginning of next lesson.

Thank you for using this lesson!