Great Expectations Group

Question:

charlotteee
charlotteee
Student
High School - 11th Grade

How does dickens use first person narrative to immediatly create tension in the opening chapter?

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Posted by charlotteee on Sunday August 30, 2009 at 10:08 AM and tagged with great expectations, pip.

Answers:

  1. dalepowell1962
    dalepowell1962 Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    When we read Great Expectations, we get the feeling immediately that is is Pip and not Dickens telling us the story.  In the first two paragraphs, the youngster earns our sympathy and the tension is with us immediately when the fourth paragraph opens as it does, with the convict placing the knife to the throat of poor Pip.

    We can feel pity for the character as he pleads for his life while trying to satisfy the man's requests and answer his questions.  Dickens makes it easy for the reader to hear the desperation in young Pip's voice.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/great-expectations

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    Posted by dalepowell1962 on Sunday August 30, 2009 at 11:42 AM