'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 1: The Story of The Door
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore the importance of setting in the opening chapter of ‘The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’.
Key learning points
- Both the door and the lack of window links to concealment and mystery
- The door is a threshold, linking to the gothic trope of liminality
- The appearance of the door suggests disregard for the facade of respectability expected in gentile Victorian society
- The door is an important threshold to starting the mystery that novella looks to solve
Keywords
Symbol - A symbol is when a material object represents something more abstract.
Concealment - Concealment is the act of hiding the truth about something.
Façade - A façade can mean the outside of a building or a deceptive appearance.
Threshold - A threshold can mean a point of entry, but can also mean the point of beginning.
Common misconception
The story takes place in a dark, gloomy and traditionally Gothic setting.
Stevenson deliberately juxtaposes the building Hyde enters with the pleasant and well-to-do neighbourhood.
Teacher tip
In the first learning cycle, you may wish to use 'control the game' reading strategies (Teach Like a Champion), to read the chapter with pupils.
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 violence or suffering
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 name of the first character the reader is introduced to in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Q2.In which city is 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' set?
Q3.In what era is 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' set?
Q4.If someone is concealing something, what are they doing?
Q5.In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what was Mr. Utterson's profession?
Q6.In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what did Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield like to do on a Sunday?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which character tramples over a young girl in chapter 1?
Q2.In chapter 1 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what does Hyde collect from behind the "blistered and disdained" door?
Q3.Which word can mean both 'the outside of a building' or 'a deceptive appearance'?
Q4.Which word can mean 'point of entry' but also 'point of beginning'?
Q5.At the end of chpater 1 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what is suspicious about Utterson's behaviour? Select all which apply.
Q6.In chapter 1 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the following is not a logical inference about what the "blistered and disdained" door could symbolise?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: 'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 1: The Story of The Door, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: 'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 1: The Story of The Door, 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: duality and evil unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.