Robert Louis Stevenson was just a regular Irishman until one night when he had a nightmare. Stevenson, from this nightmare, became interested in what made up a person's character, and why people could be bad as well as good. In just three days, Stevenson had written the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde based off of his nightmare, a novella that would later become a hit sensation. In the novella Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson uses imagery, diction, and details to create a fearful mood.
First, in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson uses lots of imagery to create a very fearful mood. For example, Stevenson writes, ¨ The steps drew swiftly nearer, and swelled out suddenly louder as they turned the end of the street¨(59). The piece of imagery really helps
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Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson uses diction throughout the novella to help create a fearful mood. For example, Stevenson writes, ¨At the sight that met my eyes, my blood was changed into something exquisitely thin and icy¨(115). This diction really helps the reader understand the situation and Stevenson’s wording helps add a fearful mood to the story. Also, Stevenson writes, ¨The most racking pangs succeeded: a grinding in the bones, deadly nausea, and a horror of the spirit that cannot be exceeded at the hour of birth or death. Then these agonies began swiftly to subside¨(113). Stevenson, by using diction, helps the reader see and imagine the extreme side-effects of the drug, which helps create a very fearful mood. Finally, Stevenson writes in the story, ¨The last, I think; for o my poor old Harry Jekyll, if ever, I read Satan’s signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend¨(61). This word choice of Stevenson helps the reader imagine what Edward Hyde’s face looks like and helps add mystery which all helps create a fearful mood. Stevenson, by using a very formal and complex diction, creates and develops the fearful mood in the