Key quotes Flashcards
“I let my brother….
…go to the devil in his own way.” - chapter 1
Who says “I let my brother go to the devil in his own way.” ?
Utterson says this quote.
Explain the meaning of this quote : “I let my brother go to the devil in his own way.”
This quote means that Utterson allows other people to make their own bad choices.
What bible story does this quote refer to?
“I let my brother go to the devil in his own way.”
This quote refers to the bible story of Cain and Abel, in which Cain kills his brother Abel and then says he doesn’t have responsibility for knowing where his brother is.
Do you think this quote suggests the speaker is moral or immoral?
“I let my brother go to the devil in his own way.”
In some ways this quote makes Utterson seem moral, as it implies Utterson doesn’t “go to the devil” in the same way as his ‘brothers’ do. However, his habit of allowing his ‘brothers’ to go to the “devil” could also be seen as immoral, because he does nothing to help his friends.
How does the speaker’s behaviour elsewhere in the novella reflect this quote? Give an example in your answer.
“I let my brother go to the devil in his own way.”
Utterson often avoids interfering in other people’s lives. For example, he disapproves of Jekyll’s will, as it gives everything to Hyde, but doesn’t refuse to carry it out. Instead, he gives Jekyll his “promise” to help Hyde when Jekyll is gone. This shows that he’s willing to let Jekyll make his own bad choices.
“if ever I read …
… Satan’s signature upon a face” - Chapter 3
“if ever I read Satan’s signature upon a face”
Who is speaking in this quote and who are they describing?
Utterson is describing Hyde here.
“if ever I read Satan’s signature upon a face”
What does this quote mean?
Utterson is saying that Hyde looks more evil than anybody else he’s seen. Many Victorian people believed you could tell a person’s personality from their facial features.
Which of these language techniques is found in the phrase “Satan’s signature”?
A. simile
B. sibilance
C. pathetic fallacy
D. personification
B. The use of sibilance at the beginning of “Satan’s” and “signature” draws attention to what Utterson is saying — that Satan played a part in creating Hyde.
“if ever I read Satan’s signature upon a face”
How does this quote make the person being described seem frightening? Refer to the language used in your answer.
- The use of “signature”
reminds the reader of the
way an artist signs their
work, which suggests that
Hyde was created by
Satan. This close
association with the devil
makes Hyde seem
frightening because it
suggests that, like Satan,
Hyde is pure evil. - The phrase “if ever I read”
suggests Hyde is the most
evil-looking person that
Utterson has seen. This
makes Hyde seem more
frightening because it
emphasises how unusual
he looks.
“with ape-like fury, …
… he was trampling his victim under foot”- Chapter 4
“with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot”
Who is “he” in this quote and who is “his victim”?
Hyde is “he” in this quote. The “victim” is Sir Danvers Carew.
“with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot”
Whose account of the attack is being given here?
This is a maidservant’s eyewitness account of the murder.
“with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot”
What happens to the “victim” after this?
Carew is killed by Hyde.
“with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot”
How does the language in this description make the attack seem violent?
The verb “trampling” indicates that Hyde is likely to cause terrible injury and shows he has no thought for the victim. The fact that Carew is “under” Hyde’s “foot” makes him seem helpless, which adds to the impression of violence by emphasising that the fight is unequal.
“with ape-like fury, he was trampling his victim under foot”
Explain the significance of the word “ape-like” in this quote. Refer to Charles Darwin in your answer.
At the time Jekyll and Hyde was published, Darwin had recently suggested that mankind had evolved from apes. By describing Hyde as “ape-like”, Stevenson suggests that he is a less-evolved version of Jekyll. Some upper-class Victorians also believed Darwin’s theories meant that they were more evolved than criminals or lower-class people — Stevenson’s portrayal of the criminal Hyde as a less-evolved character reflects this point of view.
“like a district of …
… some city in a nightmare”- chapter 4
“like a district of some city in a nightmare”
Which area of London is being described in this quote?
The quote is describing Soho
“like a district of some city in a nightmare”
Why is Utterson travelling through this part of London?
Utterson is taking the police officer to Hyde’s House. Hyde has just killed Carew and the police want to arrest him.
“like a district of some city in a nightmare”
What language technique is used in this quote and what effect does it have?
The quote uses a simile. The simile links this area to nightmares, which makes it seem terrifying.
“like a district of some city in a nightmare”
What attitude do you think Utterson has towards this area of London?
Refer to this quote and the other examples in your answer.
Utterson seems to have a negative attitude towards Soho. He thinks of it is a “nightmare”, which suggest that he is horrified by the experience of travelling through it. He also sees it as “muddy” and describes the people there as “slatternly”, which suggests that he feels disgusted by it.
“like a district of some city in a nightmare”
Why do you think Stevenson chose to include this description at this specific point in the novella?
This comparison with a “nightmare” makes Soho seem sinister. Including it at this point in the novella creates suspense, as it suggests there are scary or evil things taking place in this part of the city. This makes the reader feel more fearful about reaching Hyde’s home at the end of the journey.
“I swear to God…
… I will never set eyes on him again.” - Chapter 8
