Study Guide -- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Study Guide

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson

Chapter 1 – Story of the Door

1. In the beginning of the book, the readers are presented with what seems like a detective novel, beginning with a sinister figure, a mysterious act of violence, and hints of blackmail and secret scandal.  Give examples from the text (direct quotations) that indicate these aspects.  Include the phrases and page numbers.
2. What of the characteristics of the two men, Enfield and Utterson, seem to be Victorian attributes?  In other words, in what ways do they act and speak that different from men of our day?
3. Victorian society highly valued reputation, even at times at the expense of reality.  What ideas about reputation can you draw from this first chapter?
4. A major theme of this book is the conflict between the rational (reasonable, logical) and the supernatural (otherworldly, metaphysical).  What examples of this conflict do you find in the first chapter?

Chapter 2 – Search for Mr. Hyde

1. What causes Mr. Utterson to be concerned about Dr. Jekyll, and what does he do about it?
2. What significance does his dream have?  What affect does it have on the plot?  On the atmosphere? Symbolically?
3. Describe Hyde’s appearance.  Give specific details (along with page numbers).  What significance does the word “troglodyte” have? 
4. What is Dr. Lanyon’s relationship to Dr. Jekyll?  Describe his opinions and response to Jekyll’s experiments.

hapter 3 – Dr. Jekyll Was Quite at Ease

1. What attracted people to spending time with Utterson?  What was Jekyll’s opinion of him?
2. What reasons does Jekyll give for his interest in Hyde?  Are they acceptable to Utterson?  Why?  Why not? 
3. Why do you think Jekyll asks for justice for Hyde?

Chapter 4 – The Carew Murder Case

1. How much later does the next part of the story take place?
2. List 5 new characteristics that the readers learn about Hyde.
3. How can Hyde be viewed as “otherworldly”  as a result of this chapter and the author’s descriptions?

Chapter 5 – Incident of the Letter

1. How does Utterson behave like the proper Victorian English gentleman?
2. How is the importance of reputation expressed in this chapter?  Which is more important?  Reputation or truth?  Outward appearances or evil potential?
3. How is London described?  What is the mood or atmosphere caused by this description?
4. One analysis of this book says that much “of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is written in a brisk, businesslike, and factual way, like a police report on a strange affair rather than a novel.”  Do you agree or disagree?  Why?  Give specific examples from the book to back up your opinion.

Chapter 6 – Remarkable Incident of Dr. Lanyon

1. How is Jekyll different when Hyde is not around?
2. Describe Dr. Lanyon’s condition and situation.  How does he account for his condition?
3. What might be the reason for the author not telling us exactly what happened to Lanyon?  What other important details are left unexplained at this point?
4. Why is Utterson both desirous AND reluctant about seeing Jekyll again?

Chapter 7 – Incident at the Window

1. When Jekyll talks to Utterson and Enfield from his window, what comparison does Stevenson make?
2. What does Jekyll mean when he says “It will not last very long” to the men?
3. How did their conversation end?  What do you think happened?

Chapter 8 – The Last Night

1. How would you describe Jekyll’s butler, Poole?  What are some of his characteristics?  Give specific examples from this and previous chapters.
2. What was the weather like when they hurry to Jekyll’s house?  What specific language does Stevenson use?  How does this affect the story?
3. Appearances and decorum continue to be important to Utterson.  Give examples from this chapter.
4. What reasonable and, to him, logical explanations does Utterson give for the present situation and for Poole’s concerns?
5. Gothic literature often conveys a sense of the uncanny, of dark and disturbing events or deep secrets that break upon every day life.  Could this book be considered a gothic novel?  Explain.
6. Give 5 – 6 words that describe the atmosphere of this chapter.

Chapter 9 – Dr. Lanyon’s Narrative

1. What mysteries are cleared up in this chapter?  What details remain unclear or unexplained?
2. Why was Jekyll’s experiments with “transcendental medicine” and its results so shocking to Lanyon?

Chapter 10 – Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case

1. Describe the struggle that Jekyll, as a young man, had between his good side and his bad side.  Give specifics from the story.
2. What was the dual life that he led?
3. Why was Hyde smaller in stature?  What were his other physical characteristics?
4. Why did Jekyll cave in and take the potion after repressing Hyde?
5. What further points of the mystery of Jekyll and Hyde are cleared up?  Do any questions remain unanswered?
6. What motivated Jekyll in the first place? What drove him to separate his personalities?