The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Writing about Theme
Robert Louis Stevenson, inspired by his interest in the duality of humans, created the characters of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In creating his novel, Stevenson also developed a story that many believe reflected the attitudes and traits of Victorian England. Using the charts discussed about the novel for class on conflict, character, and theme, write an essay that focuses on one of the novel’s themes. The themes to choose from include: Good vs Evil, Boundaries of Science, Loyalty and Professional Ethics, Isolation and Secrecy. Show how conflict and character development in the story aided in Stevenson’s expression of the theme chosen and life in Victorian England.
The essay should be a minimum of three (3) typed, double-spaced pages in 12 font, Times New Roma. Text evidence must be apparent to support your assertion, always support ideas with specific details. Use parenthetical citations to indicate the evidence from the novel and include a Works Cited page following MLA format. The essay—with an original title—is due by the designated due date and uploaded into Canvas.
Book ISBN for this essay: 978-0-205-65526-7 or 0-205-65526-2
Organizing the Literary Analysis Essay Graphic
As with all essays, there are divisions within the organization of the writing: heading, original title, introduction, body of report/essay, and conclusion. Writing the essay is a personal decision and organizing the essay is a personal choice. Please understand that how a writer presents the material of his argument is an individual act. Below is a graphic of a basic structure for organizing and writing the essay. Use this graphic organizer as a guide in developing your unique writing style and presentation of information.
Graphic Organizer
Heading (follow MLA format)
(Your) Original Title
[centered; main words are to be capitalized]
| Introduction | Attention Getter. Could use one of the following: · A quote · A strong, catchy statement · A question Background. Could include the following: · Pertinent information about the author · Something about the story that you believe needs to be added (a summary of plot is not needed) · Reflection of the society/culture of the writer and/or the setting of the literary work if pertinent to your thesis statement (purpose) · Thesis statement—claim for your argument of the literary criticism |
| Body — Multiple paragraphs that examine the thesis statement/claim of the literary criticism argument | Each body paragraph must include the topic, or points/breakdown of the thesis statement and should be developed with RENNS, reasons, examples, names/numbers (factual details), and sensory details (description and a connection of the writing to the reader) Topic—a main point of the thesis that will be examined within the body paragraph · Main point · Reason(s): Why/how you feel the way you do about the literary work · Examples: text evidence and secondary sources to support the thesis · Names: facts of text evidence and/or secondary sources · Numbers: facts of text evidence and/or secondary sources · Sensory details: personal experience, personal interpretation, text evidence, secondary sources · Text evidence: use details, quotes, etc. from the literary work to support your thesis and ideas of development · Secondary sources for support: use details, quotes, etc. from academic secondary sources to support your thesis and ideas of development
|
| Conclusion | Restate your thesis; summarize your major details; provide a lasting remark to emphasize the point you wish to leave with your reader. |
In researching and interpreting the literary work, you can focus on a variety of aspects: the writer’s style, word choice, character(s)/characterization, setting, point of view, symbols, irony, conflict, theme. You may identify how a combination of these elements build the literary work and reflect the main purpose of the author.
Here is a small screenshot of the grading rubric, I can provide more of if needed.