'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 5: Incident of the Letter
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore the themes of duality and concealment in Chapter 5.
Key learning points
- Utterson visits Jekyll in his laboratory, which is full of symbols relating to concealment
- Utterson assumes that Jekyll is a victim of blackmail and must be concealing a secret to protect his reputation
- The setting of London and the motif of fog in particular further link to concealment
- The forged letter provides another key clue to Jekyll and Hyde's linked identity and therefore duality
- The letter is another key clue which forms part of the detective plot
Keywords
Dissecting-rooms - Dissecting-rooms are places where anatomical dissections are carried out, typically for scientific or medical purposes.
Cupola - A cupola is a small dome, especially one adorning the top of a building or structure.
Baize - Baize is a soft, usually green, felt-like material used to cover billiard tables, among other things.
Cheval-glass - A cheval-glass is a full-length mirror mounted on swivelling frames, allowing one to see oneself from head to toe.
Carbuncle - A carbuncle is a bright red gem, often used to describe something glowing or shining.
Common misconception
Character is more important than setting when trying to solve mystery.
Jekyll tells Utterson there is nothing he should worry about - this is not true. Ask pupils how the setting indicates that Jekyll is lying.
Teacher tip
Encourage critical thinking by discussing how duality and concealment extend beyond the text into our own lives. Explore modern examples to connect the themes to students' experiences and foster deeper understanding.
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
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Sort the characters below into the order the reader is introduced to them in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.'
Q2.In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what is the significance of the street where Mr. Hyde's residence is located in the story?
Q3.In Chapter 4 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what shocking event occurs in London that adds to the story's sense of foreboding?
Q4.What role do fog and darkness play in the atmosphere of Victorian London in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Q5.How is the contrast between the wealthy and impoverished parts of London depicted in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Q6.In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what role does the city of London itself play as a backdrop to the events?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In Chapter 5 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', who does Dr. Jekyll say the letter is from?
Q2.In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', why does Utterson believe Hyde has such a strong hold of Jekyll?
Q3.What word, meaning small dome, is missing from this quotation from 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde': "light falling dimly through the foggy "
Q4.Which of the following is not a symbol of concealment that appears in Chapter 5 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'?
Q5.Starting with the first, put these clues into the order they appear in 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'.
Q6.In 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', what is the significance of learning that Jekyll's laboratory used to be used for education but is now used for private experimentation?
To help you plan your 10 English lesson on: 'Jekyll and Hyde' Chapter 5: Incident of the Letter, 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 5: Incident of the Letter, 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.