Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Research

The background and historical context to Robert Louis Stevenson's iconic novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde is almost as interesting as the story's content. 

In the Tasks section of this webquest, you will find various links to help you collate information to enhance your understanding of the text and the issues that Stevenson wanted to explore concerning the nature of man and humanity. 

Create a summary guide to the historical, social and cultural context of the novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

You should be able to comment on the following aspects: 

• Robert Louis Stevenson’s background
• Victorian London and Edinburgh – particularly the living conditions between the classes and their beliefs
• Burke and Hare, and Deacon Brodie
• Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and the Church's response
• The Gothic Revival and the industrial revolution
• A brief outline of other Gothic novels published in the same era (such as Frankenstein, The Tell-Tale Heart, and Confessions of a Justified Sinner)

For each of these features you can write NO MORE THAN 100 OF YOUR OWN WORDS and include any accompanying images that you think are appropriate.