Good and evil, right and wrong — both are seen through the eyes of Gabriel John Utterson, a lawyer and friend of the scientist, Dr. Jekyll. Ask the Author. Lead students in a discussion of these focus story elements. What are some real-life examples of human evil, either in history or current times? Robert Louis Stevenson created a classic metaphor for the dual natures of human beings when he wrote Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Encourage students to share their responses with a partner or small group. However, Robert Louis Stevenson wrote it with a serious theme in mind — the comingling of good and evil in every human being. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, More questions about The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde…. Ask students to decide what the theme of the book is by thinking about the characters, as well as, the author’s purpose. are comingled out of good and evil.” Ask them to predict what this quote means. Robert Louis Stevenson,

Here are four frightening and suspenseful tales of human greed, evil tendencies, and sorrow, including Stevenson's classic chiller about the darker side of the human personality: Dr. Comprehension Focus: Analyze Themes Pass out the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Big Activity printable and ask students to draw their “two faces” and write the traits they associate with each. Anticipating modern psychology, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a brilliantly original study of man’s dual nature, as well as, an immortal tale of suspense and terror. Do you think it is effective? 9–12. However, Stevenson never became an engineer or a lawyer, his next course of study. Theme Focus: Classic Stories Ask what they think the picture represents. Garth Nix Ask them to list the traits and actions of both â€œcharacters” as they read. Ask students to read another story or legend about the theme: be careful what you wish for. Check out my full review of this book and its content here: I will also say it is for more than 12 years old. They may also enjoy casting a contemporary film version of the book. Remind students that a synonym is a word that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another. Jekyll notes that, in any case, the end of his letter marks the end of the life of Dr. Jekyll. or ask your favorite author a question with Instead, he followed his dream of becoming a writer. Do you think the story would be more effective if written in a more modern style? Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a gothic novella by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1886. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which is really a short story, was considered Stevenson’s breakthrough book. Stevenson has a seemingly endless vocabulary to describe the depravity of Mr. Hyde. By Robert Louis Stevenson. Tell them there is more than one right answer. Guide a discussion, encouraging students to share their answers and evidence. This disturbing study of one man’s struggle with good and evil is also a compelling story of terror and suspense that will fascinate students with its strange twists. Read the first chapter or the first few pages of the book with students, using enlarged text projected on a whiteboard or a screen. Ask students to think about this question as they read. Download the PDF from here, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Other Stories of the Supernatural. Remind students that many classic books, stories, and movies are based on a battle between good and evil. Have students study the cover of the book. Ask students to refer to the definitions they wrote on their vocabulary cards to answer each question below. I would recommend 12+, the book is rather intense at points. Encourage students to work with a partner to share questions, discuss responses, and support each other’s comprehension. Language Focus: Sinister Synonyms. Answer students’ questions and clarify comprehension issues, as necessary. The book gives students the opportunity to explore the theme of good and evil and the author’s use of synonymous words. He died in 1894 in Samoa, where friends and neighbors fondly called him Tusitalia — “a teller of tales.” Stevenson will always be remembered for his stories that capture the excitement, adventure, and mystery of faraway places — as well as the strange nature of the human heart and mind. Encourage students to support their answers with details and evidence from the text. Challenge students to create their own story of transformation in which a character turns from a normal adolescent into something strange and unnatural. His friends were those of his own blood or Robert Louis Stevenson was born in 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Then have them turn a page to read the quote: â€œAll human beings . Do you think it still speaks to young people of your generation? Use the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Vocabulary Cards printable and distribute copies to students. . Also point out the complex language and sentence structure of the time period. ), How would you describe thetheme or message of the short story, “The Bottle Imp?” (Sample answer: It is wrong to wish for something that you get through magic or unnatural means. What event causes the transformation in him or her? Provide students with prompts to get them started. Do you think that the use of illegal drugs today can have an effect that is similar to that of Dr. Jekyll’s potion? , Then ask students to think about their own positive and negative traits and record them in their notebook. At the age of 17, he enrolled at Edinburgh University to pursue engineering, following in his father’s footsteps. (Sample answers: amiable, intelligent, sociable, benign, cordial, genial.). What do you think of the writing style that Stevenson uses in the stories? Reader Q&A, Assign students to read the book independently. The work is also known as The Strange Case of Jekyll Hyde, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, or simply Jekyll & Hyde. How does the character change as a result? Use the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Analyzing Theme printable to support students in examining the themes in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. (Answers will vary. Ask students to use evidence from the text to support their interpretation of the theme. Read a Plot Overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis. Are characters that have this internal battle more interesting? Take the discussion another step by asking if the characters are one-dimensional, or if they have battles between good and evil within themselves. “The Monkey’s Paw” and “King Midas” are others. I think Robert Stevenson based the story on his own nightmare and hi wanted to transmit those feelings in the novel. Describe why you think these people are evil. “The Bottle Imp” is only one of the many stories written about accursed wishes. Jekyll writes that even as he composes his letter he knows that he will soon become Hyde permanently, and he wonders if Hyde will face execution for his crimes or choose to kill himself. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, with an introduction from best-selling author Garth Nix.

Respectable citizen by day...killer by night? Students will enjoy learning the sinister synonyms that the author uses in his descriptions. ), While Mr. Hyde was sinister and detestable, Dr. Jekyll was, at the beginning of the story, charming and likeable. Begin a list on the whiteboard or chart paper with the heading: “Battle Between Good and Evil.” Ask students to contribute the names of more stories and movies that fall under this theme and the characters that represent good and evil. What other words could be used to describe Dr. Jekyll—the opposite of Mr. Hyde? Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. It is the mark of a modest man to accept his friendly circle ready-made from the hands of opportunity; and that was the lawyer’s way. Why do you think some people are mostly good and other people are mostly evil? Activities engage students in comparing Stevenson’s stories with other famous legends and reflecting on their own positive and negative traits. Ask them to list the traits and actions of both “characters” as they read. Childoftheonetrueking I would recommend 12+, the book is rather intense at points. 6–8, It was his custom of a Sunday, when this meal was over, to sit close by the fire, a volume of some dry divinity on his reading desk, until the clock of the neighbouring church rang out the hour of twelve, when he would go soberly and gratefully to bed Ask them to report to the class on their research about the real pirates of the Caribbean. Remind students that the theme of a book is the message about life or society that the author is conveying to the reader. Error rating book. Help students become familiar with the structure of the story including long descriptive passages and long narrated stories. How does the character regain his or her normal state again? Encourage students to research the history behind the story on sites such as Treasure Island: The Untold Story. TM ® & © 2016 Scholastic Inc. All Rights Reserved. It's considered as a "Adult-horror" one. The artist has split the face in half, just as the character’s identify is split in half. This is Robert Louis Stevenson's harrowing tale of good and evil caught in the same person — a kind and well-respected doctor who has discovered a powerful and deadly drug.

. Even modern classics like Star Wars have a character that represents good—Luke Skywalker—and a character that represents evil— Darth Vader. Transformation or metamorphosis is a favorite literary theme from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde to Batman to Twilight. Brainstorm with students to create a list of personality traits. Challenge students to calculate what the lowest possible price would be for the bottle. Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Religion. The questions require them to apply the meaning of the words to their own experiences. Robert Louis Stevenson is responsible for much of the romance and legend surrounding the pirates of the Caribbean through his classic novel Treasure Island. Refresh and try again. Ask them to write why they think this theme is so enduring in world literature. When they have finished the story, ask students to state its theme in one or two sentences using the traits from their list as support. When they have finished the story, ask students to state its theme in one or two sentences using the traits from their list as support. This is Robert Louis Stevenson’s harrowing tale of good and evil caught in the same person — a kind and well-respected doctor who has discovered a powerful and deadly drug. Did they influence or harm other people with their evil? The dissertation about good and evil as both present inside each one are hard to understand for kids. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is often read as a tale of terror and suspense. Why do you think some people are mostly good and other people are mostly evil? As he probes further into the events and the hidden life of Mr. Hyde, Utterson slowly uncovers a terrifying and ghastly story.