Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - LANGUAGE FORM AND STRUCTURE STUDIES

Language: Duality & Contrast - LANGUAGE, FORM + STRUCTURE STUDY

"Man is not truly one, but truly two.” - Antithesis - highlights the core theme of duality - how good + evil coexist in every person. Repetition - “truly” emphasises the sincerity + truth in Jekyll’s realisation. Metaphor - for the psychological + moral conflict w/in the human psyche, aligning w/ Victorian anxieties about identity + morality.

Language: Animalistic Imagery - LANGUAGE, FORM + STRUCTURE STUDY

“With ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot.” - Similie “ape-like fury” links Hyde to primitive, uncontrollable instincts, suggesting regression + de-evolution. Zoomorphism presents Hyde as less than human, connecting to Darwin’s theory of evolution - a controversial idea in Victorian society. Violent imagery shows Hyde’s savage, unchecked nature, contrasting sharply w/ Jekyll’s gentlemanly facade.

Form: Narrative Structure - LANGUAGE, FORM + STRUCTURE STUDY

The novella uses multiple narrative perspectives + fragmented structure (letters, statements, third-person narration).

The shift between third-person narration (Utterson) + first-person confessions (Jekyll, Lanyon) mirrors the theme of duality. The fragmented structure builds suspense + reflects the hidden truths in Victorian society. The epistolary form (letters) adds realism + reliability while also emphasising secrecy + the eventual unveiling of truth.

Structure: Delayed Revelation - LANGUAGE, FORM + STRUCTURE STUDY

Hyde’s identity as Jekyll’s not revealed until the final chapters.

Structural technique of delayed revelation keeps the reader in suspense + mimics the idea of concealed identities + hidden sins. Builds dramatic irony as readers begin to suspect the truth before the narrator does. Reinforces Victorian obsession w/ reputation + fear of public disgrace, as Jekyll hides his dark side for as long as possible

Language: Setting & Gothic Imagery - LANGUAGE, FORM + STRUCTURE STUDY

“A certain sinister block of building… bore in every feature, the marks of prolonged + sordid negligence.” - personification of building creates an eerie atmosphere - it’s not just neglected, but sinister, reflecting Hyde’s presence inside. Gothic elements reinforce theme of secrecy + moral decay. Sibilance in “sinister” + “sordid” adds to the unsettling tone + builds tension.

Language: Respectability & Repression - LANGUAGE, FORM + STRUCTURE STUDY

“The moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr Hyde. I choose to appear in my own shape.” - First-person narrative shows Jekyll’s illusion of control over his darker side. Modal verb “can” expresses confidence, but this becomes dramatic irony as he later loses that control entirely. Highlights Victorian ideals of self-discipline + repression - which ultimately fail.

Form: Novella & Genre - LANGUAGE, FORM + STRUCTURE STUDY

Jekyll and Hyde = novella, + a blend of Gothic, Science Fiction, + Detective genres.

The short form increases intensity + focus on cnetral themes - duality, science vs religion, + morality. The Gothic genre evokes fear + the supernatural. The detective elements (Utterson’s investigation) keep readers engaged + echo the Victorian fascination w/ crime + hidden identities. The science fiction side critiques uncontrolled scientific experimentation.

Structure: Juxtaposition - LANGUAGE, FORM + STRUCTURE STUDY

“The street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood, like a fire ina forest.” - Juxtaposition between light + dark reflects dual nature of man - beauty and horror side-by-side. The similie “like a fire in a forest” evokes something unnatural, perhaps even dangerous - light as concealment. Victorian London becomes a metaphor for the human mind - order + chaos coexisting.