The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Study Guide
Chapter Summaries and Questions
Chapter 1-3
-What did the newspapers and the police discover about Mr. Hyde’s past life? He was a cruel, violent man, who had lived an evil life full of hate and jealousy.
-Did Dr. Jekyll get any better? Yes, he appeared calmer and happier.
-What happened on January 8th, 12th and 14th to Dr. Jekyll? On the 8th of January, Mr. Utterson was invited to dinner at Doctor Jekyll’s house. Doctor Lanyon was there too. On January 12th and again on the 14th, Dr. Jekyll refused to see visitors.
-In what way had Dr. Lanyon changed when Mr. Utterson went to see him? The doctor’s appearance had changed; his face, which was usually pink and healthy, was grey and thin, and there was a frightened look in his eyes. He was suddenly an old, sick man.
-What did Dr. Lanyon say about himself? He had had a shock and it would cause his death.
-What did Dr. Lanyon want of Mr. Utterson? He didn’t want Mr. Utterson to mention Jekyll’s name.
-What was Dr. Jekyll’s answer to Mr. Utterson’s letter? He wasn’t angry with Lanyon, and the two of them must never meet again. He asked Utterson to forgive him.
-What happened to Dr. Lanyon two weeks later? He was dead.
-What did Mr. Utterson read when he took Mr. Lanyon’s envelope? First, he read “G. J. Utterson private” and then inside was another envelope, with the words: “not to be opened until the death or disappearance of Jekyll”.
-What did Mr. Poole answer to Mr. Utterson when the lawyer went to see Dr. Jekyll? The doctor refused to see him, and Poole explained that Jekyll wasn’t very well and he spent all his time in the study above his laboratory. He slept there as well. He seemed very silent and uneasy. “Something was worrying him, sir, but he wouldn’t tell anyone.”
-What did Dr. Enfield find surprising about the mysterious door? That mysterious door led to the laboratory at the back of Jekyll’s house.
-Who did Mr. Utterson and Dr. Enfield see at the window? Doctor Jekyll.
-What change did Mr. Utterson and Dr. Enfield see at the window? The doctor answered them with a smile, but suddenly the smile left his face and was replaced by an expression of hopelessness, fear, and horror.
-What did the two men do after Dr. Jekyll closed the window? The two men looked at each other, then turned and left the courtyard without a word.
-Whom did Mr. Utterson receive at home one evening in March? Dr. Jekyll’s servant, Poole.
-Why did Poole go to visit Mr. Utterson? Because Poole was frightened for Jekyll.
Chapter 4-6
-How did Mr. Utterson answer Poole? He invited him to sit down, and then he went with Poole to Dr. Jekyll’s house.
-Was there anybody at Jekyll’s hall? Why? Yes, the room was full of people because they were frightened.
-What story did Poole think it was when he heard Dr. Jekyll’s voice? That someone had murdered his master.
-Did Poole find any orders on the stairs in those days? Was there anything strange? “They have had nothing else this week, nothing except written orders and a locked door.” No, there wasn’t.
-What did Dr. Jekyll write on one of his notes? It said: “I am returning your chemicals, as they are impure and therefore useless. In the year 18- you made up a mixture of chemical powders for Jekyll. Please search your cupboards for some more of the same mixture and send it to Doctor Jekyll at once. This is very important.”
-Why did Poole think that the man among the boxes was Dr. Jekyll’s murderer? Because he was wearing a mask over his face and he cried out like a trapped animal and ran away from Poole.
-What explanation could Mr. Utterson give about Dr. Jekyll’s behaviour? Mr. Utterson thought the illness had changed Dr. Jekyll’s appearance and perhaps that also explained the changes in his voice, the mask, and the way he had been avoiding his friends.
-Was there any difference between the appearances of Dr. Jekyll and the potential murderer? The stranger was much shorter than Jekyll. Jekyll was a tall, fine, well-built man.
-What did Poole say about Dr. Jekyll’s usual noises? Poole said: “Henry Jekyll’s footsteps were long and heavy.”
-What did Mr. Utterson decide to do when he didn’t hear the voice of his friend? He ordered Poole to break the door down.
-What did the two men see inside the room? They saw a warm, comfortable room with a good fire burning in the fireplace and a few papers on the big table, and they saw the body of Hyde in the middle of the floor.
-Once the two men saw Mr. Hyde, who were they looking for? The lawyer turned it over on its back and saw the face of Edward Hyde.
-What did a large packet addressed to Mr. Utterson contain? It contained three envelopes. One contained a will. The second contained a short note, and the third contained Jekyll’s confession.
Chapter 7-10
-What did Dr. Jekyll ask Dr. Lanyon in his letter? Jekyll asked Lanyon to come to his house and take some packets of chemical powders, a small bottle, and a book and give a man everything.
-What did Dr. Lanyon do? He did what Jekyll asked him, although Lanyon thought Jekyll was mad.
ought Jekyll was mad.