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Year 10
AQA

'Jekyll and Hyde': duality as a theme in the novella

I can explain how Stevenson uses language and structure to explore the dual nature of man.

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Year 10
AQA

'Jekyll and Hyde': duality as a theme in the novella

I can explain how Stevenson uses language and structure to explore the dual nature of man.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The duality of human nature - that all humans are capable of good and evil - is a central idea in the novella.
  2. Arguably, Stevenson embraces his own duality but is critical of those whose dual nature leads to hypocritical decisions.
  3. Arguably, Stevenson's choice of narrative structure is representative of duality.
  4. The multiple narrators could reflect the fact there are always multiple ways of looking at situations.

Keywords

  • To harbour - to shelter or protect someone or something

  • To embrace - to accept or welcome something eagerly and openly

  • To relish - to enjoy greatly, savouring every moment

  • Gatekeeper - one who controls access or entry to something

  • To flout - to openly disregard or disobey a rule or law

Common misconception

Stevenson encourages the reader to be critical of Jekyll due to the dual nature inherent inside of him.

Stevenson appears to embrace duality, through his rejection of Calvinism and alleged behaviour at university. He is critical of the hypocrisy that arose from those who harboured secrets as a result of duality.


To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: 'Jekyll and Hyde': duality as a theme in the novella, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

To differentiate Task B, you may wish to remove the supporting details from the planning grid. This will make the task more challenging for pupils.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

You will need access to a copy of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson for this lesson.

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Stevenson uses the character of Jekyll to explore the nature of man.
Correct Answer: dual
Q2.
Which of the following is an example of duality?
All humans like different things.
Correct answer: All humans are capable of good and evil.
All humans are "two-faced".
Q3.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', how many different narrative perspectives does Stevenson employ?
one
two
Correct answer: three
four
Q4.
Complete this quotation from 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' : 'My had been long caged.'
Correct Answer: devil
Q5.
What was Robert L. Stevenson's faith as a child?
Correct Answer: Calvinism, Calvinist
Q6.
In 'The Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what could the quotation "disconsolate prisoner" tell us about Jekyll?
Correct answer: He felt trapped by his creation Hyde.
Correct answer: He tried to lock himself away to protect the world from Hyde.
Correct answer: He tried to lock himself away due to his remorse.
Hyde made him feel powerful.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', it can be argued that most of the upper class gentlemen in the novella secrets.
Correct Answer: harbour
Q2.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', arguably Jekyll his dual identity, Mr. Hyde.
Correct Answer: embraces
Q3.
Which of the following could be a logical argument as to why Stevenson rejected his Calvinist faith?
He did not believe in God.
Correct answer: Calvinsim rejected duality, seeing people as either good or bad.
Calvinsim embraced duality, seeing all people as a mixture of good and evil.
Q4.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', why do you think Stevenson uses multiple narrators?
It makes the story more interesting.
Correct answer: It makes the reader question who they can trust.
It makes the case more confusing to follow and harder to solve.
Correct answer: It reminds the reader that every story can be viewed in multiple ways.
Q5.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', if Stevenson arguably embraces duality, what or who can it be argued he is being critical of?
People who refuse to embrace their duality.
The working classes who behaved badly.
Correct answer: People who judged others harshly whilst behaving hypocritically.
Q6.
In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Stevenson is critical of those in society who acted as to the moral code, whilst secretly flouting it themselves.
Correct Answer: gatekeepers, gate keepers, gate-keepers