GCSE Literature Boost: Jekyll & Hyde Using Critical Theory at GCSE

Foreword  Introduction  1. A Whistlestop Tour of Some Theoretical Lenses and Jekyll and Hyde  2. Critical Theory Journey Through the English Curriculum  3. Case Studies from English Teachers  4. Duality of Human Nature  5. Devil Woman?   6. A Narrative of Addiction  7. The Return of the Repressed  8. The Beast Within  9. Gothic Modernity and the Double  10. Jekyll, Hyde, and the Queer Gothic  11. Dreams, Borwnies, and the Double Life  12. 'Broke out of all bounds and clubbed him to the earth'  13. The Temptation of a Discovery So Singular and Profound  14. Satan's Signature in the City

Biography

Dr Haili Hughes is an Associate Professor of Educational Innovation and Impact at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia and was a trust and school leader for 20 years.

"This is a thoughtful and genuinely exciting book for English teachers. Dr Haili Hughes brings together rich subject knowledge, critical theory and classroom practice in a way that feels both intellectually ambitious and completely grounded in the realities of teaching. Rather than reducing Jekyll and Hyde to exam technique, the book opens up the bigger ideas at the heart of the novella - identity, repression, morality, gender, power and the self - while showing how all students can be supported to engage with them. Warm, rigorous and highly practical, this is an invaluable contribution to English curriculum thinking and professional learning."

- Sam Gibbs, Director of Professional Learning at Greater Manchester Education Trust, Co-Author of ‘The Trouble With English and How to Address It – A Practical Guide to Designing and Delivering a Concept-Led Curriculum’

"Having taught Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde for over a decade, I know how easy it is to rely on familiar interpretations of the novella. Haili Hughes offers something refreshingly different, inviting teachers to engage with Jekyll and Hyde through a range of critical lenses that deepen understanding without overwhelming the reader. Hughes has an exceptional ability to make complex literary theory accessible, demonstrating how different critical perspectives can transform the way we read, teach and discuss the text. The result is a resource that builds teachers' confidence while encouraging students to think more critically and write with greater sophistication. Whether you are looking to strengthen your own subject knowledge or enrich classroom discussions, this is an insightful and invaluable guide that will become an essential companion for anyone teaching Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde."

- Miriam Hussain, Vice Principal and author

"This book is a lantern in the fog for English teachers navigating Jekyll and Hyde. It makes literary theory feel vivid, usable and exciting, opening hidden doors into the novella without overcomplicating it. Intellectually rich yet classroom-friendly, it will help teachers spark sharper analysis and braver interpretation."

- Jennifer Webb, Trust Director for English and Literacy at Carlton Academy Trust