The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
AQA
GCSE
This GCSE Literature unit explores Robert Louis Stevenson's novella, 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde', focusing on its portrayal of the duality of human nature, the tension between Victorian propriety and repressed desires, and the consequences of unchecked scientific ambition. Students will analyse narrative techniques, characterisation, and thematic concerns to critically engage with the text and develop skills for examination and assessed essays.
6
Objectives
5
Exam Tips
5
Pitfalls
6
Key Terms
5
Mark Points
Learning Objectives
What you need to know and understand
- Analyse Stevenson's presentation of Jekyll's transformation and its symbolic meaning.
- Evaluate how the novella's structure and use of multiple narrators build mystery and suspense.
- Explore the significance of the contrasting settings of London in reflecting themes of duality.
- Interpret Hyde's actions and appearance as a reflection of repressed Victorian desires.
- Examine the role of minor characters, such as Utterson and Lanyon, in advancing the plot and themes.
- Assess the ways in which Stevenson uses language to create an atmosphere of horror and unease.
Marking Points
Key points examiners look for in your answers
- Award credit for sustained critical engagement with the text, moving beyond description to analysis.
- Reward use of well-chosen quotations that are integrated and fully analysed for language, structure, and effect.
- Credit responses that make relevant connections to Victorian social, scientific, and religious contexts.
- Acknowledge appreciation of Stevenson's narrative methods, such as the use of letters, third-person limited perspective, and symbolic characters.
- Give weight to coherent arguments that explore the complexity of themes, avoiding reductive statements.
Examiner Tips
Expert advice for maximising your marks
- 💡Always plan your essay around a clear line of argument that addresses the question directly.
- 💡Use the PEE (Point-Evidence-Explanation) or PETAL (Point-Evidence-Technique-Analysis-Link) structure to organise paragraphs.
- 💡Integrate relevant contextual information naturally, linking it to the author's purpose and reader response.
- 💡Explore alternative interpretations to show a sophisticated understanding of the text's ambiguity.
- 💡Manage your time to include a brief introduction and a conclusion that summarises your insights.
Common Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers
- Retelling the story or describing events instead of analysing them.
- Treating Hyde as a completely separate character rather than as an aspect of Jekyll's psyche.
- Using quotations without explanation or embedding them awkwardly.
- Making generic statements about context without linking them to specific details from the text.
- Ignoring the novella's structure and the effect of the revelation sequence.
Study Guide Available
Comprehensive revision notes & examples
Key Terminology
Essential terms to know
- Duality of human nature
- Science versus religion
- Reputation and respectability
- Violence and evil
- Secrecy and deception
- Friendship and loyalty
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