Starter quiz
- In what year was 'The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' first published?
- 1886 ✓
- 1986
- 1786
- 1686
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- In Chapter 10 of 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', as Hyde grows stronger, Jekyll grows ______.
- 'weaker' ✓
- Which of the below would be examples of genres in literature?
- love
- comedy ✓
- tragedy ✓
- science fiction ✓
- space
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- What is the missing word from this definition of 'conventions'? 'The defining __________ of a particular genre.'
- characteristics ✓
- language devices
- examples
- characters
- settings
-
- Which of the below is the correct description of the word 'conform'?
- To comply with certain rules, standards or laws. ✓
- To challenge certain rules, standards or laws.
- To ignore certain rules, standards or laws.
- To disagree with certain rules, standards or laws.
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- What is being described here: 'To corrupt or undermine something.'
- To subvert ✓
- To spoil
- To challenge
- To meddle
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Exit quiz
- Which word is missing from this definition of the Gothic: 'writing that is characterised by the inclusion of dark and ______ elements.'
- 'Supernatural' ✓
- 'The Gothic can be considered a ______ of literature.' Which word below best fits here?
- Genre ✓
- Subversion
- Convention
- Theme
-
- In what century did Gothic literature first appear?
- 18th ✓
- 19th
- 17th
- 16th
-
- Gothic literature was influenced by which earlier literary movement?
- Romanticism ✓
- Realism
- Science fiction
- Elizabethan tragedy
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- Which of these Gothic conventions does the novella subvert?
- Illicit desires
- A villain
- Isolated and remote settings ✓
- A clear hero and villain ✓
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- With reference to 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', which of the below best outlines the novella's approach to Gothic conventions?
- The novella conforms to Gothic conventions but subverts them too. ✓
- The novella has no Gothic conventions.
- Although it is a Gothic novella, it doesn't really follow Gothic conventions.
- It is a textbook example of a Gothic novella, following all Gothic conventions.
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Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Gothic fiction is fascinated by strange places, yet Stevenson sets his story in London.
- The figure of Hyde allows Stevenson to explore violent differences in power.
- Gothic writing often focuses on irrational or illicit desires; Stevenson conforms to this.
- The uncanny is a key idea within the Gothic and links to duality, but also the human/ inhuman appearance of Hyde.
- Hyde seems to have supernatural powers and strength, conforming to the conventions of the gothic villain.
Common misconception
'Jekyll and Hyde' is a stereotypically 'Gothic' novella.
Whilst certain elements of 'Jekyll and Hyde' do follow the conventions of the Gothic, others subvert it.
Keywords
Conform - To comply with certain rules, standards or laws.
Subvert - To corrupt or undermine something. In literature, if you subvert something you undermine what is expected.
Convention - The defining characteristics of a particular genre.
Genre - A particular style or category of literature.
Gothic - A genre of writing that is characterised by the inclusion of dark and supernatural elements.
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