Plot Summary

Knowing the plot of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde inside out is non-negotiable at GCSE. This lesson provides a detailed chapter-by-chapter breakdown, identifies key turning points, and maps the narrative structure so you can write confidently about any moment in the novella.

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Narrative Structure Overview

The novella has an unusual structure — it is not told chronologically. Instead, the reader pieces together the mystery through multiple perspectives. The full truth is only revealed in the final two chapters.

Chapters 1-8: The Mystery Builds
  (Utterson investigates the connection between Jekyll and Hyde)
     /\
    /  \
   /    \       Chapter 9: Dr Lanyon's Narrative
  /      \      (Lanyon witnesses the transformation — he is horrified)
 /        \
/  Rising   \
/  tension   \         Chapter 10: Henry Jekyll's Full Statement
/  and clues  \         (The entire truth from Jekyll's perspective
/               \        — the novella's climactic revelation)
/                 \
--Exposition--------\----->
(Ch 1: Enfield tells
 Utterson about Hyde)

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Chapter 1: "Story of the Door"

Utterson and his cousin Enfield are on their regular Sunday walk. They pass a sinister door in a by-street. Enfield tells Utterson a disturbing story: