GCSE Literature Boost: Jekyll and Hyde
Using Critical Theory at GCSE
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Publishing:7th Dec '26
£171.99
This title is due to be published on 7th December, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
GCSE Literature Boost: Jekyll and Hyde uses academic criticism and theory to help you teach Stevenson’s novella with intellectual ambition and classroom clarity. It shows teachers how to use accessible “theoretical lenses” such as ideas about power, gender, psychology and context not as bolt-on jargon but as tools that help students move from technique-spotting to confident, thesis-led interpretation.
Structured to support both planning and delivery, the book explains why theory matters at GCSE and offers a whistlestop tour of key critical approaches along with guidance on building theory coherently through a wider English curriculum. It then offers classroom-ready “big idea” essays and resources to adapt for lessons and departmental CPD. Features include:
- Case studies showing how English teachers have used academic theory in practical ways.
- Ideas for teaching linked to GCSE assessment objectives at the end of each chapter.
- Key points at the end of each chapter that highlight the key takeaways from that chapter.
- Real examples of student work which can be used as models and exemplars.
This is essential reading for all secondary English teachers looking to create a climate of high expectations and to improve their students’ knowledge and understanding of the big ideas in literature.
"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
ISBN: 9781032591452
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
214 pages