Year 8 Literature

This term, VUSC’s two Year 8 Literature classes (8B and 8E) have been studying the 19th Century novella, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. 

It was an interesting but difficult read for many students, mainly because it is written in formal 19th Century English. However, both classes have successfully navigated this text and picked up some interesting 19th Century vocabulary along the way!

The below task is a small sample of what 8B and E achieved this term. The aim of this task was to create a ‘Wanted’ poster, reminiscent of the type posted throughout Victorian London, which described one or two of the crimes committed by the book’s villain, Mr Edward Hyde. The students also had to include an eyewitness account of the crime/s (which they either directly quoted from the book or created themselves) and a description of Mr Hyde (who is notoriously difficult to describe). 

Using a conversion of £1 (Victorian Pound) = $150 (modern Australian Dollars), I also asked them to set a reward in Victorian British Pounds that (in their opinion) matched the gravity of the crime (i.e. it was not too high or too low) and they had to write their descriptions in the style of Victorian middle-class English. Pictures of the assailant (Mr Hyde) were optional. 

Please take some time to read through just a small number of the posters submitted. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did.

Mr Jon Worthen

Year 8 Literature Teacher