Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (AQA GCSE English Literature)

Exam Questions

5 hours119 questions
11 mark

Which theme is most strongly associated with the character of Dr Jekyll?

  • science and religion

  • secrecy and reputation

  • duality

  • good and evil

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21 mark

In the novella, how does Hyde’s appearance reflect Stevenson’s theme of good and evil?

  • Hyde’s appearance represents the allure of evil.

  • Hyde’s appearance symbolises hidden good within him.

  • Hyde’s physicality symbolises pure evil.

  • Hyde’s appearance reflects a balance between good and evil.

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31 mark

Why is the relationship between Jekyll and Lanyon significant in exploring the theme of science and religion?

  • Lanyon’s refusal to accept Jekyll’s experiments contrasts science with moral limits.

  • Lanyon encourages Jekyll to continue his experiments knowing that this will be his downfall.

  • Lanyon secretly supports Jekyll’s scientific discoveries as he wants to challenge religion.

  • Lanyon’s death symbolises the moral consequences of meddling with nature.

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41 mark

How does Stevenson use the setting of London to explore duality?

  • The city is divided between rich and poor areas.

  • London represents the merging of old and new societies.

  • The contrasting areas of London mirror Jekyll’s double life.

  • The city is used to show scientific progress.

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51 mark

What does Jekyll’s transformation into Hyde reveal about Stevenson’s view of human nature?

  • It shows that good always triumphs over evil.

  • It suggests that humans have both good and evil within them.

  • It shows that evil is only a surface characteristic.

  • It implies that humans are inherently evil.

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61 mark

Why is Mr Utterson’s role important to the theme of secrecy and reputation?

  • He exposes Jekyll’s secrets to the public wishing to ruin him.

  • He tries to maintain Jekyll’s reputation despite knowing the truth.

  • He hides his own secretive behaviour in order to protect his reputation.

  • He represents the temptation of living a double life.

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71 mark

Summarise how Stevenson best explores the theme of good and evil through the character of Hyde.

  • Hyde’s actions demonstrate how easily evil can be hidden.

  • Hyde shows that evil can exist without consequences.

  • Hyde represents the unchecked power of evil within human nature.

  • Hyde’s evil actions are a reflection of Jekyll’s internal moral conflict.

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81 mark

Explain why secrecy plays a critical role in Jekyll’s downfall.

  • His secretive behaviour isolates him from his friends.

  • His secrecy allows Hyde to grow stronger and more dangerous.

  • Jekyll’s need for secrecy leads to his discovery by the authorities.

  • Jekyll’s secrecy results in his losing control over Hyde.

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91 mark

Comment on Stevenson’s use of Christian imagery in describing Hyde’s evil.

  • It reinforces the idea that Hyde is beyond redemption.

  • It suggests that Hyde is a representation of humanity’s temptation by sin.

  • It demonstrates that evil is only temporary.

  • It shows that Hyde is a demonic figure, linked to Hell and Satan.

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11 mark

Summarise the message Stevenson conveys through the duality of Jekyll and Hyde.

  • Humans are either purely good or purely evil.

  • Humans have the potential for both good and evil within them.

  • Society controls whether a person becomes good or evil.

  • Evil always overtakes good in human nature.

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21 mark

Why does Stevenson uses contrasting imagery to describe London?

  • to show the economic divide between the rich and the poor

  • to emphasise the social tension in Victorian society

  • to highlight the theme of duality that runs throughout the novella

  • to criticise the urban development of London

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31 mark

Comment on the role of secrecy in shaping the characters’ actions throughout the novella.

  • Secrecy allows the characters to protect their personal lives from society.

  • Secrecy gives the characters more power and control.

  • Secrecy isolates the characters and leads to their downfall.

  • Secrecy helps the characters achieve their personal ambitions.

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41 mark

How does Stevenson’s portrayal of Hyde suggest that evil is an inherent part of human nature?

  • Hyde’s violence is shown as being a result of his environment.

  • Hyde’s appearance immediately signals his evil nature.

  • Hyde’s actions are a direct consequence of Jekyll’s suppressed desires.

  • Hyde is influenced by the corrupt society around him.

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51 mark

Suggest why Lanyon’s reaction to Jekyll’s experiment leads to his death.

  • He is overwhelmed by the betrayal of his friend.

  • He cannot reconcile his religious beliefs with what he witnesses.

  • He is horrified by the scientific implications of Jekyll’s work.

  • He realises that Jekyll’s experiment has defied the natural order.

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61 mark

How does Jekyll’s relationship with Hyde reflect the theme of good versus evil in the novella?

  • Jekyll’s transformation into Hyde shows that good can easily turn into evil.

  • Jekyll’s ability to control Hyde shows that good is stronger than evil.

  • Jekyll’s separation of his personalities suggests that good and evil can be divided.

  • Jekyll’s gradual loss of control to Hyde reveals that evil can overpower good.

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71 mark

Suggest why Stevenson portrays Hyde with animalistic features and behaviour.

  • to show how Victorian society viewed criminals as less human

  • to represent Hyde as a purely primitive, evil force

  • to highlight the conflict between science and religion in the novella

  • to indicate that Hyde was part of a medical experiment which had gone wrong

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81 mark

How does Jekyll’s downfall serve as a warning about the dangers of unchecked scientific experimentation?

  • It shows that scientific ambition can be destructive when not tempered by ethics.

  • It demonstrates that science can be controlled only by those with strong moral values.

  • It reveals that science is not as powerful as the natural world.

  • It suggests that religious faith is more powerful than scientific progress.

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11 mark

Compare how Stevenson uses imagery to portray the characters of Hyde and Carew

  • Both characters are described in animalistic terms.

  • Hyde is depicted as violent and primitive, while Carew is associated with light and innocence.

  • Carew’s appearance is linked to secrecy, while Hyde is associated with sophistication.

  • Both characters are portrayed as victims of societal corruption.

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21 mark

How does the contrast between Jekyll's respectable home and Hyde's squalid surroundings symbolise the theme of duality in the novella?

  • It shows the division between Jekyll’s public persona and hidden desires.

  • It reveals how poverty is linked to evil in Victorian society.

  • It suggests that wealth alone cannot protect someone from moral corruption.

  • It highlights the influence of social class on behaviour.

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31 mark

Examine how Stevenson’s use of the fog in London adds to the theme of secrecy and concealment.

  • The fog represents the confusion felt by the characters as they unravel the mystery.

  • The fog symbolises the moral corruption that envelops the city.

  • The fog highlights the hidden secrets of Victorian society.

  • The fog reflects the scientific uncertainty of Jekyll’s experiments.

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41 mark

Evaluate the effectiveness of Stevenson’s use of Christian imagery to describe Hyde. How does this imagery affect the reader’s perception of Hyde?

  • The Christian imagery helps the reader understand Hyde as a figure of redemption.

  • The Christian imagery connects Hyde to a greater sense of societal evil, making him more terrifying.

  • The Christian imagery weakens the portrayal of Hyde, as it suggests his actions are forgivable.

  • The Christian imagery portrays Hyde as a fallen angel, struggling between good and evil.

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51 mark

Criticise the idea that Jekyll’s transformation into Hyde was motivated solely by scientific curiosity.

  • Jekyll’s transformation is driven more by his desire to escape societal expectations.

  • Jekyll’s motivation is purely scientific, as he wanted to explore the limits of the human mind.

  • Jekyll’s transformation is primarily caused by his personal ambition to gain wealth.

  • Jekyll’s experiment is a reaction to his deteriorating health and fear of death.

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61 mark

Debate whether Stevenson’s portrayal of Jekyll as a tragic figure evokes sympathy from the reader.

  • Yes, Jekyll’s internal struggle between good and evil makes him a sympathetic character.

  • No, Jekyll’s creation of Hyde is purely selfish and makes him undeserving of sympathy.

  • Yes, Jekyll’s scientific ambitions show his desire to improve humanity, evoking sympathy.

  • No, Jekyll’s wealth and status make him too detached from the reader’s experiences to be sympathetic.

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