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Why is violence important in the novella?
It defines Hyde’s character and establishes the text as shocking gothic fiction; only Hyde commits violence. (Throughout)
How does Stevenson make Hyde’s victims appear innocent?
He chooses vulnerable characters, making Hyde’s brutality seem even more unprovoked. (Throughout)
What is the effect of ‘the man trampled calmly over the child’s body’?
Understated narration contrasts with horrific violence; ‘calmly’ shows Hyde’s emotional detachment. (Chapter 1)
How does the Carew murder highlight class tension?
Carew is an upper‑class MP; Hyde’s attack shows disregard for social hierarchy. ‘This will make a deal of noise’. (Chapter 4)
What does ‘a great flame of anger’ reveal about Hyde?
The metaphor shows volatility; natural imagery suggests violence is intrinsic to him. (Chapter 4)
What is the effect of the ordered clauses in ‘stamping… brandishing… carrying on like a madman’?
Structured syntax contrasts with irrational violence, intensifying Hyde’s unpredictability. (Chapter 4)
How does Stevenson use animalistic imagery to show Hyde’s brutality?
‘Trampled’ connotes animal aggression; Hyde behaves without human empathy. (Chapter 1)
How does the setting reflect violence?
‘A certain sinister block of building thrust forward its gable’ mirrors Hyde’s disruptive presence in society. (Chapter 1)
What is the effect of ‘block of building’ and ‘certain sinister’?
Plosive alliteration and sibilance create a jarring, threatening atmosphere. (Chapter 1)
How does the building’s ‘prolonged and sordid negligence’ link to Hyde?
It suggests his violence stems from isolation and moral decay. (Chapter 1)
What does ‘streaming tears’ reveal about the maid?
She fits the gothic archetype of the emotional, innocent female witness. (Chapter 4)
How is Carew feminised in his description?
He is an ‘aged beautiful gentleman with white hair’, giving him angelic vulnerability. (Chapter 4)
How does Stevenson show the violation of innocence?
Both the girl and the maid witness horrors that destroy their naïveté. (Throughout)
How does Hyde’s violence relate to Victorian fears?
His brutality embodies anxieties about degeneration and the collapse of civilisation. (Throughout)
