Year 11 - English
Comparing atmospheric settings in Stevenson's 'Jekyll and Hyde'
Jekyll & Hyde: the divided city
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils explore the importance of settings in 'Jekyll and Hyde'. They first look at how Stevenson subverts our expectations of gothic settings, before looking at different settings and motifs in the novella. They finally do a detailed analysis of the 'Incident at the window' extract.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to analyse how setting is used to create atmosphere in Chapter 5 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'.
Key Notes
- Dr. Jekyll is hiding away in his laboratory when Utterson goes to visit him.
- The long route through Jekyll's house mirrors the tortuous journey of Utterson and the reader to reach the truth.
- The dingy confining setting of Jekyll's laboratory hints at the way Jekyll is becoming a prisoner of his own actions.
- Utterson's home by comparison is warm and welcoming, highlighting the contrast with his friend.
Vocabulary To Learn
- prepositions: Prepositions are words used to describe where nouns are placed.
- tortuous: If a journey is tortuous, it is full of twists and turns.
- alienated: To be alienated from society means you feel like a stranger.
- criminality: Illegal activities or behaviour can be described as criminality.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students sometimes think that setting is used solely to create atmosphere.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Dr. Jekyll is hiding away in his laboratory when Utterson goes to visit him. The long route through Jekyll's house mirrors the tortuous journey of Utterson and the reader to reach the truth.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'prepositions'
Prepositions are words used to describe where nouns are placed.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students sometimes think that setting is used solely to create atmosphere. Correction: Encourage students to see Stevenson's use of setting as figurative as well as literal.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Considering doors and windows as key motifs in Stevenson's 'Jekyll and Hyde' Study Guide
- Considering Stevenson's subversion of Gothic setting in 'Jekyll and Hyde' Study Guide
- Considering Stevenson's use of fog as a motif in 'Jekyll and Hyde' Study Guide
- Considering Stevenson's use of time and weather in 'Jekyll and Hyde' Study Guide
- Detailed analysis of an extract in 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' Study Guide
- Exploring Mr Utterson's dream in Stevenson's 'Jekyll and Hyde' Study Guide
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