Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (AQA GCSE English Literature)

Exam Questions

5 hours119 questions
11 mark

In which chapter is Dr Jekyll first introduced in the novella?

  • Chapter 1

  • Chapter 2

  • Chapter 3

  • Chapter 4

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21 mark

What is Dr Jekyll's motivation for creating Mr Hyde?

  • to explore the duality of human nature

  • to escape from his responsibilities

  • to help his friend Lanyon with an experiment

  • to destroy his reputation

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31 mark

What specific word does Stevenson use to describe Hyde’s nature in Chapter 1?

  • calm

  • savage

  • animalistic

  • civilised

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41 mark

How does Dr. Jekyll's behaviour change as the novella progresses?

  • He becomes more sociable and outgoing.

  • He stops conducting experiments.

  • He seeks forgiveness for his crimes.

  • He becomes increasingly erratic and isolated.

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51 mark

Which Victorian value is Sir Danvers Carew seen as representing?

  • greed and dishonesty

  • religious virtue

  • kindness and honour

  • scientific progress

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61 mark

What role does Mr Gabriel Utterson play in the novella?

  • He is Jekyll’s lawyer and close friend.

  • He is a detective investigating Jekyll.

  • He is Jekyll’s scientific assistant.

  • He is Jekyll’s rival and enemy.

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71 mark

What causes the breakdown in friendship between Dr Jekyll and Dr Lanyon?

  • Jekyll's decision to stop his experiments

  • Lanyon’s discovery of Jekyll’s unethical experiments

  • a personal dispute over inheritance

  • Lanyon’s jealousy of Jekyll’s scientific success

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81 mark

Summarise the symbolism behind Mr Hyde's character.

  • He symbolises the dangers of unchecked ambition.

  • He represents the Victorian ideal of a gentleman.

  • He represents the inner evil side of human nature.

  • He symbolises the danger of science.

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91 mark

Comment on how Mr Utterson's perspective helps shape the narrative of the novella.

  • It presents a biased view of events, leading to confusion.

  • It adds mystery by withholding information about Jekyll and Hyde.

  • It enables the truth about Jekyll to be revealed early on.

  • It provides an objective view that helps readers piece together the mystery.

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101 mark

Explain why Jekyll’s transformation into Hyde becomes more frequent as the story progresses.

  • Jekyll wants to escape from society.

  • Hyde’s personality becomes more dominant and uncontrollable.

  • Jekyll enjoys committing crimes as Hyde.

  • Jekyll’s experiments have caused a physical change that requires him to transform more often.

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11 mark

Explain why Dr Jekyll believes he needs to create Mr Hyde.

  • to prove his superiority as a leading scientist

  • to explore the limits of scientific experiment and prove religion wrong

  • to gain wealth and power in Victorian society and increase his status

  • to explore the duality of human nature, separating the good from the evil within himself

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21 mark

Summarise the symbolic significance of Hyde’s physical appearance as described in the novella.

  • It represents Hyde’s evil nature and his separation from society’s norms.

  • It suggests that Hyde is an intellectual character and a deep thinker.

  • It shows that Hyde is a figure of admiration and strength.

  • It symbolises Jekyll’s inner goodness.

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31 mark

What does Jekyll’s use of the term “scientific heresies” suggest about his relationship with Dr Lanyon?

  • Jekyll believes that Lanyon’s scientific views are outdated and conservative.

  • Jekyll is trying to provoke Lanyon by ridiculing his religious beliefs.

  • Jekyll feels that Lanyon is too focused on moral considerations in his experiments.

  • Jekyll acknowledges his experiments are unconventional, but does not think they are dangerous.

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41 mark

How does the description of Mr Hyde as “hardly human” and “ape-like” reflect Victorian concerns about science and evolution?

  • It supports the Victorian belief in the supernatural.

  • It criticises the theory of evolution.

  • It highlights Hyde’s superiority over humanity.

  • It emphasises Victorian interest in religious purity.

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51 mark

Suggest how Mr Utterson's role as Jekyll’s lawyer influences the progression of the plot.

  • His legal expertise helps Jekyll hide his secret from society.

  • His role as a lawyer makes him indifferent to Jekyll’s plight.

  • His rational thinking drives him to uncover the truth about Hyde and Jekyll.

  • His legal skills lead him to defend Hyde in court.

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61 mark

How does the violent act of Mr Hyde killing Sir Danvers Carew affect Dr Jekyll’s control over his transformations?

  • It strengthens Jekyll’s control over Hyde.

  • It causes Jekyll to fully embrace his dark side and renounce any morals entirely.

  • It leads Jekyll to stop transforming into Hyde as frequently in order to avoid suspicion.

  • It results in Jekyll losing control over Hyde, who begins to appear without the potion.

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71 mark

Suggest why Stevenson describes Hyde’s first crime as “trampling calmly” over a child’s body.

  • to juxtapose serenity with violence, emphasising Hyde’s inhumanity

  • to show that Hyde is a kind-hearted character

  • to suggest that Hyde felt no remorse for his actions

  • to indicate that the child was not seriously harmed

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81 mark

Which statement supports the argument that Dr Jekyll is not entirely deserving of readers' sympathy?

  • He is manipulated by his peers into creating Hyde.

  • He fails to acknowledge the risks of his experiments.

  • He has no control over Hyde’s actions.

  • He uses Hyde to indulge in immoral behaviour without consequences.

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11 mark

How does Dr Jekyll’s statement, “the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr Hyde”, reflect his internal conflict about control?

  • It reveals Jekyll’s belief in his complete control over Hyde.

  • It shows Jekyll’s confidence in his scientific abilities to separate good and evil.

  • It highlights Jekyll’s confusion, as he cannot fully control Hyde despite his claims.

  • It suggests that Jekyll’s choice to become Hyde is entirely voluntary.

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21 mark

How does Stevenson use the imagery of “deformity and decay” to reflect Dr Jekyll’s views on his darker side?

  • It symbolises the natural and inevitable destruction of Hyde’s physical body.

  • It represents the physical manifestation of Jekyll’s suppressed evil.

  • It highlights society’s fear of physical deformity and difference.

  • It shows that Hyde’s deformity is a result of the repression of all emotions, good or bad.

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31 mark

How does Stevenson want readers to reflect on Dr Jekyll’s transformation into Mr Hyde?

  • It is a scientific achievement, as it demonstrates the power of human intellect.

  • It is a moral failure, as it shows Jekyll’s willingness to abandon ethics in pursuit of power.

  • It is a necessary step in human evolution, as it explores the limits of human nature.

  • It is both a scientific success and a moral failure, as it reveals the potential of science and the dangers of ignoring ethical boundaries.

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41 mark

Assess the role of secrecy in Mr Hyde’s interactions with others, particularly in the quote, “Common friends… Who are they?”

  • It illustrates Hyde’s desire to maintain control over Jekyll’s identity.

  • It reveals Hyde’s fear of exposure and the destruction of his reputation.

  • It shows Hyde’s misunderstanding of social norms and relationships.

  • It highlights the novella’s theme of the conflict between personal and public identities.

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