Comparing atmospheric settings in Stevenson's 'Jekyll and Hyde'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can analyse how setting is used to create atmosphere in Chapter 5 of ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’.
Key learning points
- Dr. Jekyll is hiding away in his laboratory when Utterson goes to visit him.
- The long route through Jekyll’s house mirrors the tortuous journey of Utterson and the reader to reach the truth.
- The dingy confining setting of Jekyll’s laboratory hints at the way Jekyll is becoming a prisoner of his own actions.
- Utterson’s home by comparison is warm and welcoming, highlighting the contrast with his friend.
Keywords
Prepositions - Prepositions are words used to describe where nouns are placed.
Tortuous - If a journey is tortuous, it is full of twists and turns.
Alienated - To be alienated from society means you feel like a stranger.
Criminality - Illegal activities or behaviour can be described as criminality.
Common misconception
Students sometimes think that setting is used solely to create atmosphere.
Encourage students to see Stevenson's use of setting as figurative as well as literal.
Teacher tip
Focus on short quotations and draw out the contrasts.
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
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the title of chapter 5 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Q2.What is the noun beginning with 'L' where scientific experiments take place?
Q3.In Chapter 5 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Mr Utterson says to Dr. Jekyll, "you have heard the news." What news is he referring to?
Q4.What relationship is Sir Danvers Carew to Mr. Utterson in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Q5.In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Sir Danvers Carew and Dr. Jekyll are both clients of Mr. Utterson. What is the best description of Utterson's dilemma?
Q6.In Chapter 5 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', why does the letter from Dr. Jekyll raise Mr. Utterson's suspicions again?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is the best synonym for tortuous?
Q2.In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what type of scientist is Dr. Jekyll?
Q3.Which words are prepositions in the following sentence: Dr. Jekyll is in an upstairs room in a building at the end of the garden behind his house?
Q4.What word is missing from the following quotation? "Three windows barred with iron."
Q5.By chapter 5 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Dr. Jekyll has removed himself from respectable society. Which of the following quotations best supports this point?
Q6.In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', Mr. Utterson's home is contrasted with Dr. Jekyll's laboratory. Which two quotations would be best for supporting an exploration of the contrast?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Comparing atmospheric settings in Stevenson's 'Jekyll and Hyde', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: Comparing atmospheric settings in Stevenson's 'Jekyll and Hyde', 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 divided city unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.