'Jekyll and Hyde': technology and dehumanisation
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore how Stevenson's depictions of Mr. Hyde draw on Victorian fears of dehumanisation caused by the Industrial Revolution.
Key learning points
- The Industrial Revolution led to advantages and disadvantages for society such as economic growth and urban poverty.
- Major concerns during the Industrial Revolution included fears of dehumanisation and loss of autonomy.
- In 'Jekyll and Hyde', scientific progress is linked to dehumanisation, moral degradation and loss of control.
- Hyde represents the primal, base desires of Jekyll, which come to the surface when moral control is lost.
- The novella warns readers about the ethical risks of technological advancements and loss of traditional values.
Keywords
Primal/primitive - early or undeveloped; relating to the first stages of human or societal development
Basic desires - fundamental human urges, such as hunger, survival, or reproduction
Dehumanising - to strip someone of human qualities, treating them as less than human
Cautionary tale - a story that warns of potential dangers or consequences of certain actions or behaviours
Ominous - suggesting that something bad or threatening is about to happen
Common misconception
The Industrial Revolution was a wholly positive change for society because machines created jobs and allowed for foriegn travel.
While there were many advantages to the Industrial Revolution, there were also many disadvantages such as pollution, worsening of working conditions and a widening of the class divide.
Teacher tip
There are numerous opportunities for debate in the lesson - these can be indentified as the slides which use responses from our Oak pupils. You may wish to consider using these opportunities to hold a class debate, using our Oak pupils' responses as a springboard.
Equipment
You will need access to specific extracts from 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' by Robert Louis Stevenson. You can find the extracts in the additional materials.
Content guidance
Language may offend
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is meant by the term 'poverty'?
Q2.The Victorian era took place between which years?
Q3.What is a novella?
Q4.What is a revolution?
Q5.In the opening chapter of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield ...
Q6.Which of these are key themes of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What was one key advantage of the Industrial Revolution for cities like London?
Q2.What was a major concern people had during the Industrial Revolution?
Q3.In Chapter 1 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what makes Enfield’s inability to describe Hyde significant?
Q4.In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what could Jekyll’s transformation into Hyde reflect about Victorian concerns?
Q5.Which of these statements best describes of the key messages of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Q6.Which of the following phrases suggests Hyde’s inhuman nature in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'Jekyll and Hyde': technology and dehumanisation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'Jekyll and Hyde': technology and dehumanisation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the 'Jekyll & Hyde': the dark side of the Industrial Revolution unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.