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Year 10 - English

'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 5: Incident of the Letter

Jekyll & Hyde: duality and evil

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils complete their first reading and exploration of 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'. They read the novella in full, before thinking about the importance of the Gothic, science and religion. They then explore key characters and essay writing before writing about duality in the novella.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explore the themes of duality and concealment in Chapter 5.

Key Notes

  • Utterson visits Jekyll in his laboratory, which is full of symbols relating to concealment
  • Utterson assumes that Jekyll is a victim of blackmail and must be concealing a secret to protect his reputation
  • The setting of London and the motif of fog in particular further link to concealment
  • The forged letter provides another key clue to Jekyll and Hyde's linked identity and therefore duality
  • The letter is another key clue which forms part of the detective plot

Vocabulary To Learn

  • dissecting-rooms: Dissecting-rooms are places where anatomical dissections are carried out, typically for scientific or medical purposes.
  • cupola: A cupola is a small dome, especially one adorning the top of a building or structure.
  • baize: Baize is a soft, usually green, felt-like material used to cover billiard tables, among other things.
  • cheval-glass: A cheval-glass is a full-length mirror mounted on swivelling frames, allowing one to see oneself from head to toe.
  • carbuncle: A carbuncle is a bright red gem, often used to describe something glowing or shining.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Character is more important than setting when trying to solve mystery.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Utterson visits Jekyll in his laboratory, which is full of symbols relating to concealment. Utterson assumes that Jekyll is a victim of blackmail and must be concealing a secret to protect his reputation.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'dissecting-rooms'

Dissecting-rooms are places where anatomical dissections are carried out, typically for scientific or medical purposes.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Character is more important than setting when trying to solve mystery. Correction: Jekyll tells Utterson there is nothing he should worry about - this is not true. Ask pupils how the setting indicates that Jekyll is lying.

More Lessons In This Unit

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