The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

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    GCSE

    Gabriel Utterson, a lawyer of rugged countenance, investigates the disturbing connection between his respectable friend Dr Henry Jekyll and the troglodytic criminal Edward Hyde. As Hyde's acts of violence escalate to the murder of Sir Danvers Carew, Jekyll becomes increasingly erratic and reclusive, leading Utterson to suspect blackmail or insanity. The narrative structure shifts from a detective mystery to a psychological horror, culminating in the discovery of Hyde's suicide and the retrieval of two confession letters. These documents reveal that Jekyll synthesized a chemical solution to separate his dual nature, eventually losing control to the parasitic and pure evil of Hyde. The text serves as a profound allegory for the consequences of Victorian repression and the duality of human consciousness.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
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    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
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    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Part (a): Award marks for precise analysis of Stevenson's lexis, imagery, and sentence structure (AO2), specifically how these create tension or characterisation within the extract boundaries.
    • Part (b): Credit sustained, critical arguments (AO1) that trace the trajectory of the specified theme or character across the wider novel.
    • Part (b): Candidates must integrate context (AO3) — such as Victorian duality, physiognomy, or degeneration — as a lens for interpretation, not a history lesson.
    • Responses must demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the Gothic genre and the allegorical nature of the novella.

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have identified the metaphor, but you must explain how it specifically contributes to the atmosphere of urban terror."
    • "In Part (b), ensure your contextual points regarding Darwinism are used to explain Hyde's animalistic behaviour, not just stated as fact."
    • "Your analysis of the extract is strong; ensure you explicitly link these findings to the wider character arc in Part (b)."
    • "Avoid asserting that 'the reader feels scared'; instead, analyse how the sentence structure creates a breathless or claustrophobic pace."

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Part (a): Award marks for precise analysis of Stevenson's lexis, imagery, and sentence structure (AO2), specifically how these create tension or characterisation within the extract boundaries.
    • Part (b): Credit sustained, critical arguments (AO1) that trace the trajectory of the specified theme or character across the wider novel.
    • Part (b): Candidates must integrate context (AO3) — such as Victorian duality, physiognomy, or degeneration — as a lens for interpretation, not a history lesson.
    • Responses must demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the Gothic genre and the allegorical nature of the novella.

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Strictly adhere to the 50-minute timing: 25 minutes for the extract (Part a) and 25 minutes for the whole text (Part b).
    • 💡For Part (a), annotate the extract for 5 minutes focusing on verb choices, sensory imagery, and sentence length before writing.
    • 💡For Part (b), memorize 3-4 'pivot quotes' that trace the degradation of Jekyll or the increasing dominance of Hyde.
    • 💡Ensure the contextual points in Part (b) directly answer 'Why did Stevenson write this in this way?' rather than 'What was happening in 1886?'.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Neglecting the specific demands of Part (a) by discussing the whole text instead of the extract.
    • Treating Part (b) as a disconnected essay; failing to maintain the thematic thread established in Part (a).
    • Context dumping: providing biographical details of Stevenson or generic facts about Victorian London without linking to specific textual evidence.
    • Conflating the perspectives of Utterson and the reader; failing to recognise the limited third-person narrative structure.

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    Key Terminology

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