Vocabulary
What is a phial?
A small bottle or vial.
Who sends the registered letter that begins this excerpt?
Dr. Henry Jekyll.
Who narrates this excerpt?
Dr. Lanyon.
Which theme is shown through Lanyon's willingness to help Jekyll despite confusion?
True friendship involves loyalty and support during difficult times.
What figurative language is used in "my troubles will roll away like a story that is told"?
Simile.
What does postpone mean as it is used in Jekyll's letter?
To delay or put off until a later time.
What does Jekyll instruct Lanyon to retrieve from his cabinet?
A specific drawer containing powders, a phial, and a notebook.
What is Poole's role in Jekyll's household?
He is Jekyll's butler.
Which theme is revealed through Jekyll's secrecy?
Secrets can create problems and lead to negative consequences.
What figurative language is used in "blackness of distress"?
Metaphor.
What does morbid fear mean in the letter?
An unhealthy or excessive fear.
Why does Lanyon need a locksmith and carpenter?
To force open the cabinet door if necessary.
What character trait does Jekyll demonstrate by asking for help from Lanyon?
Desperation, urgency, or helplessness.
What theme is suggested by Jekyll's strange scientific experiments?
Ambition and the pursuit of knowledge can have unintended consequences.
Which archetype does Lanyon most closely fit in this excerpt?
The Caregiver.
Explanation: Lanyon puts aside his own concerns and takes responsibility for helping Jekyll, even when he does not understand the situation.
What does punctually mean when Jekyll tells Lanyon to serve him punctually?
Exactly on time; promptly.
What is Lanyon instructed to do at midnight?
Admit a man sent by Jekyll and give him the drawer.
What character trait does Lanyon display when he follows Jekyll's unusual instructions?
Loyalty, responsibility, or dependability.
How does Lanyon's belief that Jekyll is suffering from cerebral disease connect to a theme?
It highlights the theme of sanity versus madness.
The struggle between reason and madness can shape people's actions and relationships.
Which archetype does Jekyll represent in this passage?
The Magician.
Explanation: Jekyll is connected to secret knowledge, transformation, and experiments that attempt to alter reality, all characteristics of the Magician archetype.
What does Stevenson most likely mean by the phrase "shipwreck of my reason"?
The complete destruction of Jekyll's sanity or mental stability.
How does Lanyon's view of Jekyll change by the end of the excerpt?
He becomes convinced that Jekyll is suffering from some form of mental illness, though he still follows his instructions.
Based on the letter, how are Jekyll and Lanyon's personalities different?
Jekyll is emotional, secretive, and desperate, while Lanyon is rational, skeptical, and scientific.
What major theme is developed through Jekyll's fear that his life, honour, and reason depend on retrieving the drawer?
A person's choices can have powerful consequences that affect their identity and future.
In the phrase "shipwreck of my reason," what figurative language is used, and what does it suggest?
Metaphor; it suggests Jekyll's sanity could be completely destroyed.