Essential Plot Study Worksheet: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

This comprehensive plot study worksheet for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde helps high school students deconstruct the narrative architecture of Stevenson’s classic novella. By mapping key events from exposition to resolution, learners develop a deeper understanding of how structural choices drive the story’s tension and mystery.

At a Glance

• Grade: 8–11 · Subject: English Language Arts
• Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3 — Analyze how complex characters develop over the course of a text and interact.
• Skill Focus: Plot Structure & Thematic Analysis
• Format: 2 pages · 6 tasks · Answer key included · PDF
• Best For: Literary analysis and novel study review
• Time: 30–45 minutes

This resource features a structured plot diagram and dedicated sections for analyzing major themes. Students will identify the inciting incident, climax, and resolution while documenting character transformation. The second page provides a complete answer key for efficient grading and student self-assessment.

Skill Progression

• Guided Practice: Students identify the setting and primary conflict in the exposition (2 tasks), using prompts to ground their analysis in the text.
• Supported Practice: During the climax and falling action (2 tasks), students summarize pivotal scenes and explain their impact on the story’s suspense levels.
• Independent Practice: The worksheet concludes with an analysis of the resolution and major themes (2 tasks), requiring students to synthesize the narrative arc.

This gradual-release approach ensures students move from recall to synthesis while following the I Do, We Do, You Do model.

Standards Alignment

This resource is aligned to CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3, focusing on character development and plot interactions. It also supports RL.8.3 regarding how incidents propel action. These standard codes can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

How to Use It

Use this as a summative review or formative assessment. For a collaborative twist, have students work in pairs to debate the climax before finalizing their diagrams. This activity typically takes 35 minutes and provides clear data on student comprehension of narrative structure.

Who It's For

This worksheet is designed for Grade 8–11 students in general education or honors English. It is effective for learners who benefit from visual organizers and can be paired with an anchor chart to support those needing additional scaffolding.

Integrating structural narrative analysis into high school literature is a fundamental component of college readiness. According to research by Fisher & Frey (2014) on the gradual release of responsibility, providing students with structured graphic organizers like this plot diagram allows them to internalize the logic of complex texts before attempting unassisted literary criticism. This worksheet focuses on CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.3, a standard that emphasizes the relationship between character development and plot trajectory. By explicitly identifying the climax and resolution in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, students build the cognitive muscles necessary to navigate dense Victorian prose. This evidence-based approach to literacy ensures that learners are not merely summarizing plot points but are instead analyzing the craft behind the storytelling. The inclusion of task-specific prompts further supports students in citing textual evidence, a critical skill highlighted in the NAEP framework for reading comprehension.