The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde — OCR GCSE English Literature Revision
This subtopic explores Robert Louis Stevenson's novella, focusing on its dual-narrative structure, Gothic conventions, and the moral and psychological impl
Topic Synopsis
This subtopic explores Robert Louis Stevenson's novella, focusing on its dual-narrative structure, Gothic conventions, and the moral and psychological implications of Jekyll's experiment. Students analyse how Stevenson critiques Victorian society's repression of desires and the duality of human nature, while building skills in close reading, contextual understanding, and evaluative essay writing.
Exam Tips & Revision Strategies
- Always anchor your analysis in precise quotations, and embed these within your sentences to maintain fluency.
- Use topic sentences that directly address the question's focus on writer's methods or thematic concerns.
- Demonstrate awareness of the novella as a constructed text by referring to Stevenson's intentions and reader responses.
- In comparative essays, avoid simply describing characters or events; instead, evaluate how language, form, and structure shape meaning.
Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid
- Treating Jekyll and Hyde as two completely separate characters, rather than psychologically connected aspects of the same individual.
- Neglecting the significance of the novella's structure (e.g., the delayed revelation until Chapter 10) when analysing suspense and theme.
- Overlooking contextual influences, such as the rise of psychoanalysis and contemporary fears about drug use and addiction.
- Confusing the moral message by simplifying it to 'good versus evil' without considering the complexities of Jekyll's motivations.
Examiner Marking Points
- Award credit for identifying and explaining the significance of the epistolary structure and multiple narrators.
- Reward analysis of specific language choices (e.g., 'ape-like fury', 'troglodytic') that link Hyde to atavism and primitivism.
- Credit should be given for linking the theme of duality to contextual factors, such as Darwinian theory or the Victorian emphasis on respectability.
- Acknowledge sophisticated evaluation of Stevenson's use of pathetic fallacy and the London setting to reflect internal conflict.