Gothic Conventions

Gothic novels often deal with human emotion, mystery and the supernatural. This is a gothic novel that aimed to shock the Victorian reader. Some of the conventions of a gothic novel are below, and these are key to Jekyll and Hyde.

Mysterious settings

The moon, deserted streets, and a foggy city all reflect the mood and create a sense of foreboding.

Troubling secrets

Jekyll and Hyde centres on the disturbing secret of Jekyll, a secret that causes all the people who encounter it to go pale with dread and terror.

Dreams

Utterson's dreams about Hyde in Chapter 2 show how the unconscious fears are released during sleep - a lack of control over our thoughts.

Gothic Conventions

Supernatural

Jekyll’s transformation into Hyde represents the supernatural.

Dual nature

Jekyll’s changing character - Jekyll becoming Hyde.

Isolation

Characters increasingly becoming alone.
Jekyll becomes isolated. In Chapter 7, his friends Enfield and Utterson try to coax him from the window but he refuses to come down.

Villain

Gothic novels usually include a villain or an evil character.
In Jekyll and Hyde, the wicked character is part of a respectable man’s character - even more horrifying to the reader, who would have been a respectable person themselves.
The idea that the villain is just like the reader themselves would have been ghastlier.

1Plot Summary

1.1Chapters 1-10

1.1.1Chapters 1 & 2

1.1.2Chapters 3 & 4

1.1.3Chapters 5 & 6

1.1.4Chapters 7 & 8

1.1.5Chapters 9 & 10

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-6

1.1.7End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-10

2Characters

2.1Jekyll & Hyde

2.1.1Dr Henry Jekyll

2.1.2Jekyll - Name & Quotes

2.1.3Mr Edward Hyde

2.1.4Jekyll/Hyde Quotes - Chapters 1-9

2.1.5Jekyll/Hyde Quotes - Chapter 10

2.1.6End of Topic Test - Jekyll & Hyde

2.1.7Exam-Style Questions - Mr Hyde

2.2Other Characters

2.2.1Mr Gabriel John Utterson

2.2.2Dr Hastie Lanyon

2.2.3Minor Characters

2.2.4End of Topic Test - Other Characters

3Gothic Genre

3.1Gothic Elements

3.1.1Gothic Conventions

3.1.2Gothic Settings & Symbolism

3.1.3End of Topic Test - Gothic Conventions

4Key Themes

4.1Key Themes & Quotes

4.1.1Science

4.1.2Dual Nature of Man

4.1.3Religion & Sin

4.1.4Violence & Horror

4.1.5Victorian Gentlemen

4.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Themes & Quotes

5Context & Author

5.1Context & Author

5.1.1The Victorian Era

5.1.2Deacon Brodie & Freud

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Context & Author

6Literary Techniques

6.1Literary Techniques

6.1.1Language

6.1.2Structure & Form

6.1.3End of Topic Test - Literary Techniques

7Grade 9 - Key Character & Theme Questions

7.1Key Character & Themes - Linked Questions

7.1.1Grade 9 - Key Characters & Themes

7.1.2Extract Analysis - Jekyll

7.1.3Extract Analysis - Duality

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