Great Expectations Questions and Answers
Great Expectations
Fairy tale elements in Great Expectations
Fairy tale elements in Great Expectations include Pip's rise from a poor boy to a gentleman, reminiscent of a rags-to-riches story. The mysterious benefactor, Miss Havisham's decaying mansion, and...
Great Expectations
Who is the Avenger in chapters 24-34 of Great Expectations?
The Avenger in chapters 24-34 of Great Expectations is Pip's servant, whom he hires to maintain his status as a gentleman in London. Ironically named, the Avenger becomes a burden to Pip, symbolizing...
Great Expectations
Charles Dickens' use of humor, pathos, and satire in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens employs humor, pathos, and satire to create a rich, multi-dimensional narrative. Humor is evident in the quirky characters and their interactions, while pathos...
Great Expectations
What is the significance of "what larks" in Great Expectations?
The phrase "what larks" in Great Expectations signifies the innocent and joyful times Pip shared with Joe. Joe uses this expression to reminisce about their past happiness. It highlights Joe's...
Great Expectations
Main events, setting, problem, climax, falling action, and resolution in Great Expectations
Great Expectations is set in early 19th-century England. The main events follow Pip's growth from a poor orphan to a gentleman. The central problem is Pip's desire to improve his social status. The...
Great Expectations
Great Expectations as a Bildungsroman and Entwicklungsroman
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is a quintessential bildungsroman, or coming-of-age novel, focusing on Pip's journey from a naive orphan to a mature adult. The story chronicles Pip's...
Great Expectations
Why is Pip's manservant named the Avenger in Great Expectations?
Pip's manservant is named the Avenger because he symbolizes Pip's pretentiousness and insecurity. Pip hires him to appear more aristocratic but is burdened by the expense and inconvenience. The...
Great Expectations
Literary Devices in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens uses a range of literary devices to enhance the narrative. Imagery is prominent, vividly depicting settings and characters, particularly in the opening chapter...
Great Expectations
Figurative Language and Diction in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens utilizes figurative language, including similes, metaphors, and personification, to enhance visualization and humor. For instance, Pip describes Bentley...
Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, what are the two one-pound notes?
In Great Expectations, the two one-pound notes symbolize Pip's inescapable connection to his criminal past. They first appear in Chapter 10 when a stranger, associated with Magwitch, gives them to...
Great Expectations
Humor and Irony in Characterization in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens employs humor and irony to create memorable characterizations. Characters like Uncle Pumblechook and Mr. Wopsle are exaggerated for comedic effect, while the...
Great Expectations
Pip and Biddy's Relationship and Influence in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Pip's relationship with Biddy is complex, marked by tension and missed opportunities. Biddy, a kind and intelligent orphan and Pip's childhood friend, represents the qualities...
Great Expectations
What differences exist between the Great Expectations book and movie?
The differences between the Great Expectations book and its movie adaptations vary by version. The 1946 film cuts material like Biddy's subplot and alters the ending to show Pip and Estella as a...
Great Expectations
Irony in Great Expectations
In Charles Dickens's Great Expectations, irony is a prominent theme, particularly in Pip's journey and the novel's title. Pip's "great expectations" of wealth and social status lead him astray,...
Great Expectations
The endings of Dickens' Great Expectations
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens has two endings. In the original ending, Pip and Estella part ways, with Estella remarrying and Pip remaining single. In the revised ending, they meet again...
Great Expectations
Who is responsible for the death of Pip's sister in Great Expectations?
The person who kills Pip's sister in Great Expectations is Dolge Orlick. He attacks her, and she later dies from the injuries she sustained when he struck her head.
Great Expectations
Mrs. Joe Gargery's Role, Fate, and Last Words in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Mrs. Joe Gargery is Pip's abusive older sister who raises him after their parents' death. Her bitter demeanor stems from personal losses and a life of hardship, which she takes...
Great Expectations
The Pockets in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Dickens uses the Pocket household to satirize the incompetence and pretensions of the aristocracy. Mrs. Pocket, obsessed with noble titles, is neglectful and oblivious, leaving...
Great Expectations
Magwitch and Compeyson: Sentences, Fate, and Comparison in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Magwitch and Compeyson's contrasting fates and characters highlight Dickens' critique of Victorian society. Magwitch dies from injuries sustained during an escape attempt,...
Great Expectations
Pip and Herbert's Relationship and Interactions in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Pip and Herbert form a close friendship characterized by mutual support and understanding. Initially, Herbert is Pip's guide to London life, helping him settle as a gentleman....
Great Expectations
What is the "tickler" in Great Expectations?
The tickler in Great Expectations is Mrs. Joe's cane. The name is ironic, as she uses the cane to abuse Pip.
Great Expectations
Herbert Pocket's Role, Relationships, and Aspirations in Great Expectations
Herbert Pocket in Great Expectations is a young gentleman and Pip's best friend and roommate in London. He is the son of Matthew Pocket, Pip's tutor, and a distant relative of Miss Havisham....
Great Expectations
Significance of the Title "Great Expectations"
The title Great Expectations reflects the overarching theme of ambition and desire in Charles Dickens's novel. It signifies the grand, often unrealistic hopes of the protagonist Pip and other...
Great Expectations
How is the Forge depicted in Great Expectations and what does it reveal about Joe?
The Forge in Great Expectations is depicted as a warm, welcoming place that mirrors Joe's kind and steady nature. It symbolizes Joe's true home and identity, contrasting with his awkwardness in...
Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, what does Wemmick mean by "portable property"?
In Great Expectations, Wemmick's "portable property" refers to small, valuable items like jewelry, watches, and snuff boxes that can be easily converted to cash. Wemmick collects these items from...
Great Expectations
The symbolism of fire in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, fire symbolizes both destruction and transformation. It represents Miss Havisham's tragic past and her emotional devastation, as well as Pip's moral and personal growth. The...
Great Expectations
Pumblechook's Role and Influence on Pip in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Uncle Pumblechook is a pompous, self-important cornchandler who facilitates Pip's introduction to Satis House by suggesting him to Miss Havisham. Despite having little real...
Great Expectations
Why does Mrs. Joe start liking Orlick after he attacks her?
Mrs. Joe starts liking Orlick after he attacks her due to a combination of brain damage and his unique behavior toward her. Her injury makes it hard to interpret her reactions, and her "liking" may...
Great Expectations
Which grade level is best suited for teaching Great Expectations?
Great Expectations is suitable for various high school levels, commonly taught in ninth grade but also appropriate for twelfth grade British Literature. The grade level depends on the teaching...
Great Expectations
What is remarkable about Mr. Jagger's housekeeper, Molly, in Great Expectations?
What is remarkable about Molly, Mr. Jaggers's housekeeper in Great Expectations, is her complex backstory and strength. She is revealed to be Magwitch's wife and Estella's mother, with a past...
Great Expectations
Pip's visits to Satis House and Miss Havisham's motivations
Pip's visits to Satis House are orchestrated by Miss Havisham to fulfill her desire for revenge against men by using Estella to break Pip's heart. She aims to make Pip fall in love with Estella, only...
Great Expectations
What happened to Magwitch's money after his death?
After Magwitch's death, his money is forfeited to the government because he dies as a convicted criminal. Initially, Pip is repulsed by the fact that his gentleman status is funded by a convict,...
Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, how does Wemmick's house differ from his work office?
How do the houses of Jaggers and Wemmick differ in Great Expectations? Jaggers' house is very dark, cold and impersonal, while Wemmicks' is bright and homely. The the two homes are at opposite ends...
Great Expectations
Who is Clarriker in Great Expectations?
Clarriker is a shipping merchant in Great Expectations who helps Pip secure a clerk job for Herbert Pocket without Herbert knowing Pip is paying his wages. Clarriker employs Herbert, who later proves...
Great Expectations
Significant Quotations and Character Development in Great Expectations
In Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, memorable quotations highlight key themes and character developments. Pip's reflections on shame and social class reveal his internal struggles and growth, as...
Great Expectations
Loneliness in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens explores the theme of loneliness through Pip's experiences and the settings. From the beginning, Pip is depicted as isolated, with deceased parents and...
Great Expectations
What does "born on their backs with their hands in their pockets" mean in Great Expectations?
In Great Expectations, "born on their backs with their hands in their pockets" reflects Pip's imaginative notion that his deceased baby brothers, represented by their headstones, never actively...
Great Expectations
What are the gothic elements in Great Expectations?
Great Expectations incorporates Gothic elements through its dark tone, mysterious plot twists, and sinister settings. Notably, Miss Havisham and Satis House embody Gothic features, with the decaying...
Great Expectations
The falling of the "heavy slab" in Great Expectations
The falling of the "heavy slab" in Great Expectations symbolizes the collapse of Pip's expectations and illusions. It represents a moment of awakening for Pip, as he realizes the true nature of his...
Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, what technique does the quote "Hold your noise!" refer to?
The quote "Hold your noise!" in Great Expectations exemplifies dialect and characterization techniques. It reflects Magwitch's rough, threatening demeanor and hints at his fear of being discovered....
Great Expectations
What are key quotes for Orlick in Great Expectations?
Key quotes for Orlick in Great Expectations highlight his sullen and violent nature. He complains about unfair treatment, threatening Pip with a red-hot bar: "Orlick plunged at the furnace...as if it...
Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, why did Wemmick leave a note for Pip saying "Don't go home"?
Wemmick left a note for Pip saying "Don't go home" because Compeyson was spying on Pip's apartment, posing a danger to Magwitch, who was staying there. Wemmick advised Pip to stay in the city, move...
Great Expectations
Foreshadowing in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
In Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, foreshadowing plays a significant role in shaping the narrative. Early on, Pip's interactions with Estella and Miss Havisham hint at future heartbreak and Miss...
Great Expectations
How can one analyze the given quote from Dickens' Great Expectations?
The quote from Dickens highlights Miss Havisham's decay, both physically and emotionally, after being jilted on her wedding day. Pip's initial perception of her as beautiful is shattered as he...
Great Expectations
Symbolism of Social Class and Dreams in Great Expectations
In Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, symbols such as Satis House, Miss Havisham's wedding dress, and the mists on the marshes highlight themes of social class and unfulfilled dreams. Satis House...
Great Expectations
The relationship and hostility between the two convicts in Great Expectations
The relationship between the two convicts in Great Expectations is marked by deep hostility. Magwitch and Compeyson are enemies due to their shared criminal past and betrayal. Magwitch harbors...
Great Expectations
Mr. Jaggers' Role and Influence on Pip's Understanding of His Great Expectations
Mr. Jaggers plays a crucial role in shaping Pip's understanding of his "great expectations." As the intermediary between Pip and his benefactor, Jaggers initially presents Pip with the opportunity...
Great Expectations
Jaggers' Interest and Nickname for Bentley Drummle in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Mr. Jaggers shows interest in Bentley Drummle due to his fascination with morally ambiguous characters, similar to his criminal clients. Drummle, despite...
Great Expectations
Dickens' Techniques for Eliciting Sympathy in Great Expectations
In Great Expectations, Dickens elicits sympathy for Pip, Joe, Miss Havisham, and Magwitch through various techniques. Pip and Joe are portrayed as gentle victims of Mrs. Joe's tyranny, evoking reader...
Great Expectations
What is Molly's past in Great Expectations?
Molly's past in Great Expectations includes being Mr. Jaggers' housekeeper and having a history of being accused of murder. Jaggers defended her, arguing she was too small to overpower the victim,...