mystery

Question 1

beginning

Answer 1

• mystery is presented through the strange behaviours of hyde
• ‘gave an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation’ - creates mystery as it does not explicitly say what hyde looks like. this leaves a cloud of uncertainty about hydes appearance to the reader
  -> unable to comprehend hydes true appearance
  -> links to the victorian belief that evil could be seen in deformities
• hyde is described as ‘odd’ - idea that hyde is furtive; implies he is sneaking - has something to hide
• ‘trampled calmly’ - hydes strange behaviour is evident in the fact he ‘trampled’ a girl over
  -> use of an oxymoron here creates a sense of mystery and tension due to his abnormal response to his action
  -> the verb ‘trampled’ implies a vicious attack and highlights his lack of conscience

Question 2

middle

Answer 2

• stevenson uses the setting to present mystery
• the ‘moon shone on his (Carew’s) face’
  -> stevenson uses imagery from gothic conventions such as the moon, darkness, fog throughout the novella but to different effects
  -> in this case, the moon shining on carew emphasises his openness - he has nothing to hide unlike hyde who lives in the shadows and is a matter of concealment
  -> hydes concealment creates an ominous effect and adds to the mystery and tension
• stevenson uses ‘fog’ many times throughout the book as a metaphor for
  the appearance of evil
  -> after hyde commits a sinful act there is fog, which highlights uttersons confused mind and that there are dark secrets hidden within the fog on the streets of london
• ‘fog rolled over the city’
  -> instills a sense of uncertainty and concealment, perhaps symbolising the hidden aspects of Jekyll’s personality
  -> gothic literature often used dark and mysterious settings to create suspense and intrigue, aligning with Victorian fears of urban anonymity (experience of feeling invisible or disconnected in a bustling environment)

Question 3

end

Answer 3

• stevenson uses fear to present mystery
• ‘abject terror and despair’
  -> superlative adjective ‘abject’ premodifies the word ‘terror’ to emphasise the extent of his fear
  -> emphasises his terror
  -> makes the reader question what they have seen
  -> only time a physical reaction like that has taken place is when one sets his eyes upon hyde - would remind victorian reader of the theory of activism again
• ‘sleep has left me; the deadliest terror sits with me at all hours of the day and night’
  -> line appears in Lanyon’s letter revealing his horror upon witnessing Jekyll’s transformation
  -> Lanyons reaction exemplifies intense fear, which serves to increase the readers curiosity about Hyde’s origins
  -> ‘deadliest terror’ implies an encounter beyond natural understanding, suggesting supernatural horror
  -> Stevenson creates fear through Lanyons disturbed mental state, showing how Jekyll’s transformation defies the laws of science and reason
  -> this unsettling fear heightens the mystery as readers still don’t fully understand how Jekyll’s transformation defies became Hyde and why the transformation has such a profound effect on those who witness it

Question 4

intro

Answer 4

• Jekyll and Hyde is a novella published in 1886 by Robert Louis Stevenson
• mystery is a key theme in the book that helps build tension and keep the readers engaged
• Stevenson uses Victorian societal fears and gothic settings to create mystery
• through his use of narrative techniques, gothic elements and character duality, Stevenson crafts a pervasive sense of mystery that enhances the stories impact and moral complexity

Question 5

conclusion

Answer 5

• stevenson use of character behaviours, setting and display of fear all contribute to a persuasive atmosphere of mystery
• the mystery not only captivates readers but also reflects Victorian fears about the hidden depths of the human psyche