How to Write... The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Your old man kept on raving about Fredric March, and you have no idea who he is. And he gave you a soured look when you asked him if he was related to Robert Pattinson. Maybe his face, hardly recognizable after the transformation, would mean this was a forgotten horror picture. But it turned out to be an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's book. You must finish it within the week.

Seven days would have been enough to go through the book, but you have other readings. You turned down an invitation to a party this Friday night, and you don't want want to think of another cramped weekend. (You don't want to be unprepared during the lecture.) You have a vague idea of "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde", but the assignment must be about details. And more details. (You wished.) So you tried to recall your conversation with your father, making sure you didn't get it wrong. How would his words fit into your paper?

This is not the idiot's guide to "How to Write a Robert Louis Stevenson book", but close. Your assignment must include valuable insights on the novella, and it could be a series of questions. After all, you remembered one of your lectures during your first week. (Don't hesitate to ask.) Here are three things to keep in mind:

You can be Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. It's not literal! Think of your good traits. (Pleasant, cheerful, resourceful.) How about your bad ones? Don't be shy. Did your housemate swore how you snored loudly not many moons ago? How about your tendency to lose focus, as you had too many distractions? And your friends couldn't comprehend someone with a sunny disposition would live in an untidy room. These may not be sufficient to call the reporter of National Enquirer, but it would make you quite interesting to some people. (Now, you wonder where are these people.) How do you deal with your unpleasant side? Do you think too much of yourself when other people compliment your good side? It would dawn on you that Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde struggled with these questions. You have a start there.

Stare at old photos. If not for the Internet, then you must imagine London during the Victorian era. And the mind can play tricks. You won't encounter a problem here, as it won't take a few minutes to find images of the British capital during the 19th century. It would give you an idea on the general attitude of Londoners during that period. But this was pleasant matter. What was Stevenson's view on murder and death? You have to be familiar with his biography. Try to do a research on Edinburgh, his hometown. There might be a custom or belief, which you can expound on.

Watch period films. You wonder if too much clothing will make you noticed during a Halloween party. You've been watching too many episodes of "The Walking Dead", and your housemate keep on recommending "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies". You figured out it was cool looking at charming ladies who could defend themselves against the dreadfuls. Perhaps you can include a mash-up version of Stevenson's book with werewolf legends. It could be the vampire. Now, you're confused.