Teaching the Gothic Novels Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Abstract

This master’s thesis discusses the importance of teaching English literature in an upper secondary class according to curricular aims, with examples from the novels Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. The reason for choosing these two novels is because they contain psychological themes which are interesting to analyze. The analysis of these themes could be utilized to promote psychological insight and social competence among students. The thesis is twofold, the first part consists of a literary analysis focused on themes of double, identity and anxiety in both novels. The second part focus on why teaching these novels and didactical principles in teaching literature based on the analysis. This thesis also emphasizes what students in their formative years could learn from literature in terms of critical thinking and social competence. Through the psychological themes of doubleness, identity and anxiety the novels could inspire personal insight into the students’ own psychology. Suggestions of methods for teachers to activate the novels in order to facilitate these psychological themes in the novels are presented.