GO RESEARCH: ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
"The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
Religious or Secular?
Dear Students,
We have just finished the exciting story of Dr. Jekyll's failed experiment to rid himself of
evil, only to create in himself a Mr. Hyde, the embodiment of pure carnality and evil.
Upon initial reflection, the story reads as a cautionary tale of the battle of good versus
evil, which hints at religious undertones and symbolism, but is it truly an allegory?
Your job is to research this topic and create a defense for both sides of the argument. Use
several internet resources to research the author's background, his inspiration for his
work "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", and commentary and analysis by
other writers to build your case. Make sure to cite ALL of your sources on a Works Cited
page, and remember to take as many notes as necessary.
Once you have completed your research and written your notes, you will be asked to
argue that "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is written either from a religious
worldview or a secular worldview in our classroom debate. You will use your notes and
resources as support for your argument. Here's the rub: you will not know which side you
will be arguing until the day of the debate, so be prepared with both sides of the
argument!
Sincerely yours,
INTENTIONAL TEACHING