Engaging with Jekyll and Hyde Through Drama and Speaking Activities: Chapter One

This comprehensive resource on Chapter One is designed to help GCSE English Literature teachers guide students through the key themes, characters, and plot of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Chapter One using drama and discussion activities. It is particularly suited to students who find reading challenging.

What’s Included:
Speaking and Listening Tasks: Students explore essential themes like duality, reputation, and social responsibility through targeted speaking and listening questions. These activities encourage discussion, helping students to articulate their thoughts on Victorian values, morality, and the nature of evil as portrayed in Jekyll and Hyde.

Drama Activities and Play-Script: A play-script based on Chapter 1, The Story of the Door, allows students to perform key scenes. This hands-on approach deepens their understanding of the novella by actively engaging with the characters and narrative. Role-playing the interactions between Mr. Utterson, Mr. Hyde, and Mr. Enfield provides insight into the novel’s tension and atmosphere.

Character Analysis and Themes: Through activities like tableau, role on the wall, and conscience alley, students explore characters’ psychological depth and internal conflicts, while also reflecting on important themes such as secrecy, urban isolation, and morality.

Monologue Writing and Performance: Students write internal monologues from the perspectives of major characters like Mr. Utterson, Mr. Enfield, or Mr. Hyde. This writing exercise encourages students to delve into character motivations, moral dilemmas, and thematic concerns, followed by a performance to bring these reflections to life.

Glossary and Key Vocabulary: A glossary of challenging words from the text ensures that students can engage with the language and understand the novella’s more complex vocabulary, facilitating deeper comprehension. A reading activity is included to improve fluency and pronunciation when reading passages from Chapter One.

Learning Outcomes:
Deep Understanding of Themes: Students will develop a nuanced understanding of the novel’s themes, such as duality, reputation, and evil.
Character Insight: Through drama and monologue writing, students will gain a deeper emotional and intellectual connection to the characters.
Speaking, Listening, and Writing Skills: These activities promote critical thinking, discussion, and extended writing, preparing students for GCSE exam success.
This resource offers an interactive and creative way for students to explore Jekyll and Hyde, making complex themes and characters accessible through drama and collaborative learning.