Chapter 49

 Pip is summoned once more to Miss Havisham's. An important chapter.

1) It is the beginning of atonement.  How does that word apply to Miss Havisham....to Pip? 

2)  How is Miss Havisham's fiery fate foreshadowed? 

3)  Other comments? 

Chapter 48

Dinner with Jaggers, and a walk with Wemmick.  More backstory is revealed.

1) Why do you think Jaggers brings up the idea that Drummle will have to beat Estella if he wants the upper hand in the marriage?

2) Molly is said to have been "tamed" by Jaggers from the moment she goes to work for him. How do you suppose she was "tamed"?

Chapter 47

To try and brighten his spirits, Pip attends the theatre again.....featuring the poor Wopsle. 

What do we make of this chapter? 

Chapter 45- 46

Pip returns to London only to find the warning "Don't Go Home".  He spends a mostly sleepless night at the Hummums.....which is actually a pretty famous place in London.....can you find anything out about it? 

Dickens does a nice job of capturing Pip's uneasy state of mind and his inability to sleep. Ever been unable to shut your brain off so you can sleep? I think Dickens did this very well.

1) Pip finds himself in an entirely new setting here. What does the setting described by Pip suggest? In other words, what does the setting symbolize here?

2) Pip, Herbert and Wemmick are going to an awful lot of trouble to ensure the safety of Magwitch.  Why do you think that is?  Do they have different motivations? 

3)  Who do you think the mysterious man who appears to be skulking about is?

Chapter 44

 Pip returns to Satis House for some answers. 

Important revelations are made by Pip, Estella and Miss Havisham, and we begin to see a new side of Miss Havisham.

What do you notice? 

Chapter 43

Here we get a much clearer picture of Brently Drummle......do you think his nickname is appropriate?  Why or why not? 

I found this chapter quite funny......did you? 

Chapter 40 - 42

As Pip and Herbert come to terms with their unwanted visitor, we get Able Magwitch's backstory. 

1)  What kind of person is Magwitch based on both his past and present actions? 

2)  Jaggers is very careful with his words when he speaks with Pip, and he makes sure Pip is very careful with his words, as well. What more does this exchange tell us about Jaggers' character?
3) Pip is the novel's narrator, but Magwitch is the narrator of his own story. Is Magwitch a reliable narrator? If so, what evidence can you give to support that? If not, why not?

4)  How do you account for the difference in the way the justice system treats Magwitch and Compeyson? 

5)  Who is Arthur? 

A Pause to Reflect

We've met all of the characters (some in-depth...others just mentioned) and the plot has developed to a point where things just need to play themselves out. 

1)  First off....any questions or confusions? 

2)  What "stories" within the novel need to be resolved?  What predictions do you have for how Dickens will do this? 

Important Note:  At this point I've given you around 150 questions to ponder as you read.  Hopefully this has helped you make sense of the text by pointing out things to pay attention to.  My intention at this point is to step back a bit, and allow you to fly on your own.  My questions will be reduced, and sometimes, I will just put up a page for a chapter and let you respond on your own.  If you need some help with that here are some suggestions: 

1)  Characters - what do you notice about how characters are changing?  What events, lines, words give you clues about characters? 

2)  Plot twists - yes there are a few more to come! 

3)  Dickens' style  - his use of diction, figurative devices, and particularly humour, exaggeration, satire.
4)  Emerging themes - particularly as you get towards the end of the novel. 

5)  Pip as narrator - does he change? 

And of course....if you go back to your Mockingbird journal assignment, there are a whole host of ways to respond to any text on that handout. 

Happy Reading......and Happy New Year! 

Chapter 39

The convict returns!!!   Da Da Da Dum!!

1)  Near the beginning of this chapter we get a long passage describing the weather.  What mood is created?  How?

2)  To say that Pip is disappointed in the identity of his benefactor would be an understatement to say the least.  Why does Pip feel such revulsion?  What implications does this twist in the story have for Pip's future? 

3)  Once the convict goes to sleep, Pip ponders hard on the turn of events.  What gives him the greatest anguish about the situation?  What does this tell us about Pip? 

THIS IS THE END OF THE SECOND STAGE OF PIP'S EXPECTATIONS!

Chapter 38

Pip's obsession with Estella continues.  He says of her that "I hever had one hour's happiness in her society, and yet my mind all round the four-and-twenty hours were harping on the happiness of having her with me unto death" (326). 

1)  Despite the fact that Estella gives Pip no encouragement, and even warns him about her cold heart.....he persists. What do you think causes a person to love someone who doesn't love them back?  What other stories, movies, myths etc have you seen or read that explore this kind of love? 

2)  Is Pip correct in his thinking -- that he is chosen by Miss Havisham, and that makes Estalla more able to break the hearts of other men because she is untouchable?

3) It seems that Miss Havisham really has made a heartless monster of Estella. Are Estella's logical analogies true? Is it possible for a human to feel no love for another?  Is there any evidence in the chapter that suggests Miss Havisham and Estella are not as cold hearted as they claim/appear to be?

4)  The last paragraph of the chapter describes an event.  What kind of event is it?  Where have we seen this motif before?  You can probably guess what literary technique is at work here....can you predict what will happen? 

Chapter 37

A pleasant interlude at Wemmick's home in Walworth. 

1)  Wemmick sets up Herbert at Pip's request. Pip says that he is glad his expectations have done someone some good. What does he mean by that? Don't his expectations do him some good?

2)  Here's a question: How is it that Pip sees fit to help out Herbert but does not help out Joe?

3) Compare Wemmick's public behavior to his private behavior at home.  What is Dicken's saying about society?  (Here's another example of satire). 

Chapter 36

Upon turning 21, Pip expected that his benefactor would be revealed, but Jaggers remains silent, and he is disappointed. 

1) Now that Pip is 21, he is a man in this culture. He is now in charge of his own money. How well do you think he will handle that responsibility?

2) What possible motivation would the benefactor have for not revealing their identity?

3) Does Wemmick provide sound advice concerning Pip's desire to help Herbert out? What advice do you think he would have given if he were at Walworth?

Chapter 35

1)  What mental unrest and echoes from the past does the death of Mrs. Joe bring to Pip?  As he walks to the forge, what memories come to him? 

2)  Mrs. Joe -- his sister, Joe's wife -- has died, yet Pip stays at the Blue Boar before the funeral. What does this tell us about Pip?

3)  Is there significance to the three words Mrs. Joe says before she dies?

4)  What's up with creeper Orlick?

5)  In his talk with Biddy, why does Pip constantly "give up the point?"

6)  Compare Pip's relationship with Biddy and Estella.  How does Biddy act as a conscience for Pip? 

Chapter 34

1)  Pip is aware of the negative effect his "great expectations" have had on him. This being the case, why doesn't he make an effort to change? What could/should he do?

2)  Pip is a big spender now, by his own admission. Why does he have regret about doing this with Herbert?

3)  Humour and irony abound in this chapter.....can you find some examples? 

4) What significance do you think Mrs. Joe's death will have for Pip? for Joe?

Chapter 33

Pip and Estella finally get some time alone.  You'd think this would make him happy. 

1)  Pip states in a parenthetical comment: "I was not at all happy there at the time, observe, and I knew it well." Why wasn't he happy to have Estella alone in a restaurant?

2)  After getting a kiss of her statue like face, Estella reminds him of Miss Havisham's instructions.  "Her reverting to this tone, as if our association were forced upon us and we were mere puppets, gave me pain; but everything in our intercouse did give me pain" (289).  In what way are Pip and Estella mere puppets.  Explain the irony of this situation. 

3)  Speaking of irony.....what is ironic about Mr. Pocket's lectures?  (292)

4)  In these middle chapters, we see Pip taking on the role of his new "class" in life.  What do you notice about the way he behaves and the way he treats others?

Chapter 32

While Pip waits for the coach that will bring Estella to London, he runs into Wemmick who takes him on a tour of Newgate prison.

1) Is there any hope for a relationship with Estella based on her letter to Pip? Why, or why not?

2)  A little background knowledge about the conditions of Newgate prison in the 18th century would be helpful here.  Google search anyone? 

3)  Based on what you read, what is Dickens' opinion of the penal system, as filtered through the descriptions of Pip?

4) What do you make of Wemmick's conversation with the Colonel? What does this interaction tell us about Wemmick's character?

5)  What IS the nameless shadow mentioned in the last sentence of the chapter?

Chapter 31

The play's the thing!  Pip and Herbert attend Wopsle's London debut on the stage. 

1)  Clearly, Herbert and Pip are not in Denmark...bonus point to the first person who identifies the play they are watching.

2)  Sounds like a fun play to watch -- what's ironic about that?

3)  Clearly the play is a debacle.  What humour or exaggeration can you find in Pip's narration of the event?  Since humour and exaggeration are hallmarks of satire....what do you think Dickens is satirizing here? 

4)  Wopsle goes home with the boys to dine at Pip's request. This is probably the most decent thing Pip has done since he became aware of his great expectations. Can you think of anything else he's done that can be considered thoughtful on his part? What does this action tell us about Pip at this point?

Chapter 30

Pip's "great expectations" have given him certain expectations about his influence, and how he should be treated. 

1)  Pip convinces Jaggers to get Orlick away from Miss Havisham. How do you think Orlick will react if he finds out Pip is the one who convinced Jaggers to do this?

2)  Trabb's boy...again...what do you make of his odd behavior? What about Pip's reaction to his behavior?

3)  Herbert seems to have a very good idea of what makes Pip tick. What seems to be Dickens' purpose for including a character like Herbert in this story?

Chapter 29

So Pip and Estella meet again, and at first he doesn't even recognize her....sitting next to Miss Havisham was "an elegant lady I had never seen" (255). 

1) Pip has very lofty romantic ideas about Estella, but he tempers them with doses of reality.  How does he feel about Estella?  Why does he love her?  How does she seem to feel about him?  Does he really think he'll be able to gain the affections of Estella? Do you?

2)  It's odd that Estella can't remember her cruel treatment of Pip. She has no heart, according to her own words...no sentimentality. What proves this idea wrong?

3) Miss Havisham implores Pip to love Estella.  "I adopted her to be loved, I bred her and educated her to be loved.  I developed her into what she is, that she might be loved.  Love her!" (260-61).   What do you make of this?  What has Miss Havisham done....and more importantly....why? 

4)  Why won't Jaggers look at Estella during dinner -- even when he talks to her -- yet he sneaks looks at her while they are playing cards? What do you make of that?

5) And a short question:  Sarah Pocket is described as being "green and yellow" twice in this chapter.  What does this mean? 

Chapter 28

Pip is summoned once again to Miss Havisham's and decides not to stay at Joe's. He spends a whole long paragraph "justifying" his actions.....even he knows he is making excuses and calls himself a "self-swindler".

1)  So why REALLY does he not want to stay at Joe's? 

2)  Here's a hard one!  Pip uses a money analogy to explain the seriousness of being a "self-swindler"  Can anyone explain the analogy? (p. 245)

3)  FLASHBACK .....well sort of.  The stranger who gave Pip the two pound notes at the Three Jolly Bargemen reappears and his conversation with his fellow convict fills in some information.  It's odd that Pip's convict gave another convict (a stranger) the two pound notes to give to Pip. Very naive, indeed. So why did the convict from the Jolly Bargemen give Pip the money instead of spending it himself?  And why do you think Pip's convict sent him the money? 

4) Pumblechook is shameless. Why does he spend so much time and energy trying to convince others that Pip's great expectations are due in large part to Pumblechook's doings?  

Chapter 27

Pip receives a letter from Biddy informing him of Joe's impending visit.
1) Pip doesn't like this.....why?

2)  Pip has a new manservant "The Avenger" who doesn't appear to have much to do.  Why do you think Pip hired him....and what is funnily appropriate about his nickname? 

3)  The breakfast with Joe is strained at best.  How would you describe the change in Pip and Joe's relationship?  Draw conclusions with examples. 

4)  Judging from Biddy's letter, Joe had expected real pleasure from his visit with Pip.  In what ways are his expectations disappointed?  Why doesn't he reject Pip as a person?  What does this tell us about Joe? 

Chapter 26

And so.....the story continues with Pip and "the boys" being invited to Jaggers' home for dinner. 

1)  What's with Jaggers' compulsive handwashing? 

2)  The incident with Molly the maid is very strange indeed.  What information can we draw from what Jaggers does, and how both he and Molly react to it? 

3)  Drummle is a fairly nasty character.  What is it about him that Jaggers seems to like even though he tells Pip not "to have too much to do with him". 

Chapter 25

1) Pip starts with commentary about the variety of people he is surrounded by. What traits does he seem to dislike? What does he tend to like in other people?

2)  We see the adult Pip as narrator peeking in with the line "I have an affection for the road yet (though it is not so pleasant a road as it was then), formed in the impressibility of untried youth and hope" (222)  What does this line suggest about the story yet to be told? 

The description of Wemmick's home has always reminded me of the scene from Mary Poppins  where the Admiral across the street blasts off his cannon every day at the same time.....funny!  What does it remind you of?

3)  What do you notice about the differences between Wemmick at work and Wemmick at home?  Why do you think he is so insistant about keeping the two places separate? 

Chapter 24

Pip is like many college freshmen...they know that they want to go to college and get an education, but they aren't sure what profession they want to pursue.

1)  Why is Jaggers giving Pip such a hard time when Pip asks for money? He acts as if it is his own money he's giving to Pip.

2)  Why do you think Jaggers keeps facial casts of men who have been executed for crimes?  When talking about the casts, Wemmick says "You had a particular fancy for me hadn't you Old Artful?" (218).  To what is this an allusion? 

3) Wemmick has been referred to as a post office box several times now.  In what way is he like a "post box"?  Why is "portable property" so important to Wemmick?  And...of course...what is "portable property"?

Chapter 23

The Pocket household is chaotic at best! 

1)  Does anyone notice a change in Dickens' writing style that reflects the events going on?

2)  Mrs. Pocket's history provides some clues about her role in the family.  Can you draw some conclusions?   

3)  Bonus point for anyone who can define a "grinder" and connect it to the occupation of Matthew Pocket.

4)  What do you think is the significance of Mr. Pocket "pulling himself up by the hair"?   

4)  This chapter is an example of Dickens' take on the bourgeois level of society.  First of all....let's define bourgeois.  What does it mean?    What do you think his opinion of that level of society is?

Chapter 22

So......of course the pale young gentleman turns out to be Herbert Pocket.....son of Matthew Pocket who is related to Miss Havisham.  In this chapter we get the backstory of Miss Havisham. 

1)  Can anyone summarize Miss Havisham's story?

2)  After nicknaming Pip "Handel" (why Handel?), Herbert relates the story of Miss Havisham all the while correcting Pip's table manners.  What is the humour in this? 

3)  What kind of person does Herbert seem to be?  Look at his treatment of Pip, and his explanation of what he does for a living. 

4)  We are introduced to the Pocket family at the end of this chapter.  What impression do you have of Mrs. Pocket and her parenting skills (tumbling up)?

Chapter 20 - 21

Pip arrives in London to begin his new adventures.  His first impressions aren't that great. 

1)  What does he see? What kind of people does he meet? What does he think?  What words and phrases does Dickens use to describe this place?

2)  Draw a conclusion about what impression Dickens want to create of London.....the place where Pip is to become a gentleman and improve his station in life. 

Wemmick (Jagger's clerk) escorts Pip to Barnard's Inn where he will be staying with "young Mr. Pocket".  Where have we seen this name before?  Dickens is famous for introducing a character who promptly disappears, only to reappear later in the story. 

3)  What do we think of Wemmick?  And what are mourning rings?  Pip thinks Wemmick has "sustained a good many bereavements".  This is not the case.  Where do you think Wemmick gets the mourning rings from? 

4)  Pip's impression of Barnard's Inn is no better than London.  How does he view it? 

A Brief Interlude

Since not many people are asking questions as we read.....I thought I'd give the opportunity formally here before I posed a few more.  What questions do you have???????

Here are a few of mine:

1)  Recall the term satire:  A literary technique that uses ridicule, exaggeration, and plain old "smack talk" (among other things) in order to point out the faults of society, or human nature.  Based on that lesson, what things/people does Dickens seem to be satirizing? 

2)  What are your predictions for this novel? 

Chapter 19

And so....Joe burns Pip's indenture papers, and his new life is about to begin. 

1)  Pip has already gained some of the snobbery associated with the upper class he is to be a part of. What things struck you as somewhat snobbish behavior on his part? What do you think of his behavior in this chapter?

2)  How do people treat Pip differently now that he has expectations of "being a gentleman"?  Look particularly at Mr Trabb, Trabb's boy, Pumblechook, and any others. 

3)  Why is it significant that Pip should always and forever keep the name of Pip?

Thus ends the first stage of Pip's Great Expectations!

Chapter 18

Ahhh another stranger at the Three Jolly Bargemen! 

1) Who is this man?  Where have we seen him before?  (hint....my favorite chapter)

This stranger brings tidings of great fortune and expectation for Pip. 

2)  What are the three conditions that Pip must agree to in order to accept his "expectation"? 

3)  Why does Pip assume that Miss Havisham is behind his "great expectations"?

This is like a dream come true for Pip -- he is to have a fortune and become a gentleman. It's kind of like hitting the lottery. Can you think of any movies with a similar plot?

Chapter 17

Pip's Trouble with Women!

1)  What do you think about the way Pip describes Biddy?  How DOES he really feel about her?  How does Biddy feel about Pip based on her behavior and their conversation?  Does she like him? How does Estella fit into the equation?   What's with Pip's relationships?????

2)  How many references to ships in the sea can you find in this chapter?  (Remember that repetition of elements are important in literature!)  Quote them.  Can you draw any conclusions? 

Chapter 16

"Who Done It?"  

1)  Orlick, or the stranger from the pub? What say ye?  Weigh in with your opinion and evidence!!!

2)  As bad as she was, Mrs. Joe certainly didn't deserve this fate. Why is she being so nice to Orlick now?

3)  Take a look at the description of the police and investigators (137).  How does Dickens portray them?  Any idea what literary technique is at work here?

Chapter 15

Pip's formal schooling ends, but he retains his desire to be "wiser"......and continues to be dissatisfied. 

1) When out at the old battery with Joe one day, Pip describes the sea and the ships (124).  Why do they remind him of Miss Havisham?  What's the connection?  What does the sea seem to represent to Pip?

2)  What do you think of the Orlick character? What stands out about this man?  We also get to see another side of Joe due to the resulting fight. Any opinions on this?

3)  When Pip meets up with Mr. Wopsle in town, he has a copy of "the affecting tragedy of George Barnwell.  This is an allusion.  To make any sense out of the next two pages you'll need to do a quick search.  Why is Dickens' choice of this piece of literature appropriate for our story?  Oh.....speaking of Mr. Wopsle....what do we think of him?  What is his occupation?  What does he want to be? 

Pip's visit to Miss Havisham only results in more frustration, but we are left again with a mystery that keeps us reading...Mrs. Joe bonked on the head!

Chapter 13-14

Pip and Joe are summoned to Miss Havisham's to arrange for Pip's apprenticeship to Joe for which Joe is paid the handsome sum of 25 pounds. 

1)  How has Dickens used humour in this meeting?  How does Pip react to Joe and the meeting?  What does this say about Pip? 

2)  Look carefully at the description of the courthouse where Pip is taken to sign his indentures.....btw....what is an indenture?  What impression do we get of the legal system here? (p 117-118) Quote some lines to support your conclusion. 

3)  In chapter 14, we see a major turning point in the novel.  Pip is "ashamed of home" where all is "course and common", and he becomes miserable at the thought of being apprenticed to Joe.   What and/or who has caused this change? Do you sympathize with Pip, or do you look down on him for his change in attitude?  Or something else.....  Explain your reasons.

Chapter 12

Time Passes - In this chapter Pip summarizes the events that pass over a period of "eight or ten months".  His visits to Miss Havisham take on a routine. 

1)  In Chapter 8, Pip says, "I thought I overheard, 'Well? You can break his heart.'" In this chapter, he says he thought he heard Miss Havisham "murmuring something that sounded like, 'Break their hearts, my pride and hope, break their hearts and have no mercy!'"(108).  What does Miss Havisham seem to be up to? 

2)  A lot of exposition (background information to the audience about the plot, characters' histories, setting, and theme) in this chapter...A LOT! There is also a time leap of almost a year. See if you can find information on what it meant to be apprenticed to a trade during the Victorian Era. What would that generally be like for a young boy like Pip?

3)  What makes Mrs. Joe go on such a rampage when she hears that Joe has been summoned by Miss Havisham? What does this reveal about Mrs. Joe?

Chapter 11

Chapter 11 has, for awhile now, been one of my favorite chapters.  It is full of wonderful imagery that creates a definite mood.  That being said, it's also complicated because we get introduced to a lot of new characters. 

I've decided to start numbering my questions.  In your responses, please make reference to the question number.  I think this will help keep us organized. 

1)  Pip is led into a room with 3 ladies and one gentleman.  These are Miss Havisham's relatives.  In order to keep them straight......can you identify each by name, and give a quote or two that sums up what kind of person each is. 

2)  Pip draws the conclusions that these relatives are "toadies and humbugs".  What is a toady and what is a humbug?  How do the actions of the characters fit these definitions?  

3)  Once Pip is admitted to the house, Miss Havisham directs him to the "room opposite".  Look carefully at the diction used to describe this place.  What words and phrases stand out?  What one word describes this room for you? Put your conclusion in bold print at the end of your response. 

4) Why have all the relatives (except Matthew Pocket, apparently) come to visit Miss Havisham...the REAL reason? What is Miss Havisham's attitude toward her relatives?

5)  We're still looking for some answers about the narrative style......so......I'll quote a line and ask you what you notice about the narrative manner.  (Hint:  we've see this before in another novel this semester)  "'Because I'll never cry for you again." said I.  Which was, I suppose, as false a declaration as ever was made; for I was inwardly crying for her then, and I know what I know of the pain she cost me afterwards" (94).  

6)  The pale young gentleman - What's your impression of him based on the way he fights? 
 

Chapter 9-10

  Pip tells a whopper about his experience at Miss Havisham's to Mrs. Joe and Pumblechook.....and he's not very good at it.  Why does he lie?  More importantly, what does it say about Mrs. Joe and Pumblechook that they believe him?

Pip confesses his lie to Joe, and says that the lies had come out of being made to feel  "common".  What does it mean to Pip to be common?  What does this tell us about Pip? 

In chapter 10 at the Three Jolly Bargemen, Pip meets a stranger.  What do you make of this stranger?  Who is he?  Why is he there?  What literary technique is at work here?   

Chapter 8

Pip has been summoned to Satis house to "play".  There he meets the strange inhabitants.....Estella and Miss Havisham. 

Pip's first impression of Estella is that she was "very pretty and seemed very proud" (65).  What evidence can you find in the chapter that she is proud?  Is this a different meaning of the word "pride" than we are used to?

Miss Havisham is strange beyond strange!  How is she described?  Any speculations as to why she became the way she is? 

Pip leaves his first visit to Satis house feeling totally downheartened.  What has he realized? 

Chapter 7

There have been many film versions of Great Expectations over the years.  This photo is Joe from the BBC version that was released recently to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Dickens' birth. 

So....this chapter is all about Joe.  We learn his backstory, and get a sense of who he is from his conversation with Pip.  What conclusions can you draw about Joe?  Let's do a little character analysis here.  Don't forget to support your conclusions with evidence from the text. 

We've seen the word "pompeyed" several times now.....and will see it again.  You may have discovered that this word isn't in the dictionary.  Any guesses as to what it means based on the context? 

On the last page of the chapter Mrs. Joe says " this boy's fortune may be made by his going to Miss Havisham's" (51).  What does this tell us about Mrs. Joe?  Any connections with the title of the novel, or ideas from your anticipation guide?

Note:  My edition of the novel is different from yours....so the page references will be off by a few pages.  I'll correct this soon.

Chapter 6

After a long self examination, Pip comes to the conclusion that he "was too cowardly to do what [he] knew to be right, as [he] had been too cowardly to avoid doing what [he] knew to be wrong (42).

Do you think Pip's self assessment is accurate? 

This of course leads to other questions about the narrator of this novel.  What have you noticed about Pip as the narrator? 

Chapter 5

Another adventure, as they head off with the Red Coats to hunt the two escaped prisoners...Interesting that Pip refers to the convict he had met as "my convict"...

Both Joe and Pip are hoping that they don't find the two convicts. What are some of the reasons that they are hoping they don't find them?

Why does the convict say that he was the one who stole the goods from Joe's house? What motivation does he have to take the blame for something he really didn't do?

Chapter 4

 

Christmas Dinner

 



Humor is one of Dickens' trademarks. What are some of the humorous aspects of this chapter? And now for the hard part: Why are these things funny?

The people you meet in this chapter should be remembered (the dinner guests), as they will play a role in Pip's life. As this is a large book, I would suggest keeping a list of characters and their traits -- this helps track growth (or lack of) in characters as you go along.

A lot of tension is built up throughout the chapter as Pip awaits his fate. What do you know about the writing of this novel that would explain why we're left hanging at the end of every chapter? 

You may have noticed by now that the common folk often pronounced words differently.  "V's" and "W's" are often interchanged.  So "wittles" is really "vittles"  and "wiscious" is "viscious".  This is an example of colloquial language. 

A bonus point for the first person to define "contumaciously!!!!!

On the second page of chapter 4, Pip describes Mrs. Joe.  "Mrs. Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but she had an exquisite art of making her cleanliness more uncomfortale and unacceptable than dirt itself.  Cleanliness is next to Godliness, and some people do the same by their religion".  What does this reference to religion mean? 

Chapter 3

The picture above is a hulk, the prison ship mentioned in the novel. These ships served as prisons for convicts who were waiting to be shipped to penal colonies.  What can you find out about convict ships in Britain in this time period?  (A quick google search might be helpful)

The opening page of chapter 3 clearly shows Pip's guilty feelings about stealing the food for the convict. What words, phrases, imagery and figurative devices show Pip's guilt and create the mood for this meeting on the marsh?

Why doesn't Pip tell on the convict and turn him in to Joe?   Why does the convict trust Pip?

Clearly the convict knows the unidentified escapee that Pip came upon first...what seems to be their connection based on the information you have so far?

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 introduces us to Pip's family.  By the way.... the second "g" in Gargery is pronounced like a "j", making the phonetic spelling "Garjery.  (I got this wrong for many years!) 

So....Pip's sister is 20 years older than him, and he has five deceased siblings.  Interesting that Pip only refers to his sister as Mrs. Joe.  Any ideas why that is? 

There are lots of examples of exaggeration and hyperbole in this chapter.  Share a few and explain what this tells us about Pip as a character and as a narrator. 

Joe is described as being "a Hercules in strength, and also in weakness."  What does this mean?  How is he weak? 

The reference to "by hand" is repeated a number of times in this chapter.  What does it mean.....is there more than one meaning?  Does it have a different meaning for Joe...for Pip.....for Mrs. Joe?

Chapter 1

This novel is considered a Bildungsroman...that's a fancy literary term for a coming-of-age story. Knowing this fact, there are a couple of symbols you should think about connecting to that idea. First, Phillip Pirrip's nickname is Pip. What is a pip, and how is that a symbol of the Bildungsroman? Also, Pip's sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery, is married to -- you guessed it -- Joe Gargery, the local blacksmith. How might his profession have something to do with the Bildungsroman genre?

What are your thoughts about the first page and a half or so, especially when it comes to the importance of the background information and the setting?

What do you notice about the language in the dialogue? It changes as each character speaks...what does the language used tell you about each character (Pip and the pirate-looking guy)?

You may want to become friends with a dictionary...a couple of words that stick out to me are "wittles" and "gibbet."
What questions do you have about the opening chapter?

Great Expectations Introduction

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is a classic novel.  This blog will allow us to share our thoughts, ideas and questions about the novel as we read.  So....dive in.....read....and share your explorations as you follow the adventures of Pip in mid-19th century England. 










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- Respect others
- Constructively criticize ideas and not people
- Use appropriate language
- Do not identify yourself or others by name
- Comment and expand on previous posts you find interesting
- Ensure your posts are relatively short (under 150 words)
- Keep in mind that the teacher must approve comments before they are posted for others to read