Great Expectations Notebook Questions

Transcription

1 Great Expectations Notebook Questions Chapters What is Pip s situation at the beginning of the novel? 2. Describe Pip s encounter in the cemetery? 3. Why is the meeting with the convict more effective in a first-person narrative than it would be if it were told by the author (third person)? 4. In what two ways does Pip help the convict? Why do you think he does this? 5. Describe how Pip is treated by his sister. Give examples from the story.

2 6. Describe Pip s feelings of guilt. How do the people at the dinner party contribute to these feelings? What is ironic about what day it is? 7. Explain who or what the following are: Joe Gargery: Mrs. Joe: Uncle Pumblechook: Tickler: Hulks: Mr. Wopsle:

3 Chapters Explain why the convict claims to have taken the items that Pip actually took? 2. What does Joe tell Pip about his own childhood and his lack of schooling? 3. What does he tell Pip about Mrs. Joe and his reasons for marrying her? 3. After Joe and Pip s conversation about school and Mrs. Joe, what new feelings does Pip have about Joe? What do you think of Joe? 4. Describe Miss Havisham and her house. How is she dressed? Speculate as to what might have happened to her.

4 5. How would you characterize Estella s behavior towards Pip? What does her behavior indicate about her? 6. What conclusion does Pip draw about himself after his visit with Miss Havisham? Chapters Why does Pip lie to Mrs. Joe and Pumblechook about Miss Havisham? 2. How does Pip plan to make himself uncommon? 3. Explain how Pip changes after his visit to Miss Havisham. What do you predict about his future based on this change? 4. What is Pip s motivation for changing after his visit to Satis House?

5 5. What does the visitor to the Three Jolly Bargemen want to communicate to Pip and how does he communicate with Pip? 6. What important events occur during Pip s second visit with Miss Havisham? 7. Describe Miss Havisham s meeting with Joe. What is its purpose? 8. How does Pip feel about working as a blacksmith after his visits with Miss Havisham? 9. What does Joe s meeting with Miss Havisham reveal about his feelings for Pip? 10. Based on what you know of Miss Havisham, what role do you think she will play in Pip s achieving his expectations? Chapters Why is Biddy a good nurse and housekeeper? 2. What changes does Pip notice in Biddy? How do his feelings toward her begin to change?

6 3. What does Pip learn from Mr. Jaggers about his great expectations? What conditions are attached? 4. On what basis does Pip believe that Miss Havisham is his benefactor? 5. What important facts does Pip learn about Miss Havisham? 6. What are Pip s conflicting feelings about his good fortune? How do Pip s expectations affect his relationship with Joe and Biddy? 7. Pip experiences conflict between the importance of money and success and the importance of love and devotion. Which feelings (at this point in the novel) seem to be gaining in the conflict Pip is experiencing? Why? 8. How do you think Pip will resolve his inner conflict? Support your answer with details from the novel 9. Summarize the roles that Jaggers, Wemmick, and Herbert each play in Pip s new life?

7 Chapters What is remarkable about Mr. Jaggers housekeeper? 2. Describe the mixed feelings that Joe s visit calls up in Pip. 3. How do Pip s mixed feelings about Joe s visit reveal an inner conflict? 4. Why does Joe tell Pip that he will not come back to visit Pip in London? 5. Compare and contrast Wemmick s home life with that of Jaggers. 6. How does Wemmick behave while he is at work? How does he behave when he is at home? Explain the difference between the two.

8 Chapters What does Pip plan to do about the riches Provis/Magwitch has offered him? Why does he plan to do this? (Chap 40) 2. What plans do Pip and Herbert make to extricate Pip from his dilemma concerning Provis? (Chap 40) 3. Summarize what Provis tells Pip about his life history (Chap 41) 4. What kind of man in Compeyson, and what is Provis relationship with him like? What connection does Compeyson have with another character? (Chap 41) 5. Who does Pip see when he goes to visit Estella at Satis House? Why do you think that person is there? (Chap 42)

9 6. What does Pip ask Miss Havisham to do for Herbert? Why does she agree? (Chap 43) 7. What news does Estella tell Pip? How does he respond to it? (Chap 43) 8. What message does Pip receive when he returns home? Why has Wemmick warned Pip? (Chap 43-44) 9. Where does Herbert plan to hide Provis until Pip can help him escape London? (Chap 44) 10. How are Provis and Joe similar in their roles in Pip s life? What is similar about the way Pip relates to Provis and Joe? Chapters Describe Clara and her father. (Chap 45)

10 2. Why does Herbert suggest that Pip keep a boat and row it frequently? (Chap 45) 3. What strange incident does Mr. Wopsle tell Pip about? What is the importance of this? (Chap 46) 4. When Pip goes to dinner at Mr. Jaggers, what action of Molly s does he notice? Who does Pip think Molly is? (Chap 47) 5. What crime was Molly charged with? How did Mr. Jaggers get her acquitted? (Chap 47) 6. How has Miss Havisham changed when Pip goes to see her? Why has this change occurred? (Chap 48) 7. What happens to Miss Havisham while Pip is visiting? What action does Pip take? (Chap 48)

11 8. What story does Provis tell Herbert? What other story does Provis story connect with? (Chap 49) 9. Why did Mr. Jaggers give Estella to Miss Havisham? Why does he think that she should not be told who her real parents are? (Chap 50) 10. How have Pip and Herbert s plans about Provis been changed due to Pip s injury? (Chap 51) 11. When Pip receives the mysterious letter, why does he decide to do what it says? (Chap 51) 12. Who was the mysterious person who summoned Pip? Why does he consider himself Pip s enemy? (Chap 52) 13. What thoughts pass through Pip s mind when he realizes Orlick wants to kill him? What is he most concerned about? What theme does this relate to? (Chap 52)

12 14. How has Orlick found out about Provis/Magwitch? (Chap 52) 15. How is Herbert able to come to Pip s rescue? (Chap 52) Chapters What are the details of the plan of escape? (Chap 53) 2. What incident does Pip hear of in the inn that disturbs him? (Chap 53) 3. Describe what happens when Pip and the others reach the ship? (Chap 53) 4. How has Pip s attitude towards Magwitch changed? How does this relate to the theme of loyalty and responsibility? (Chap 53) 5. How does Herbert offer to help Pip? (Chap 54)

13 6. How does Pip try to prevent a death sentence from being passed on Magwitch? (Chap 55) 7. Why do you think Pip tells Magwitch his daughter is alive just before he dies? (Chap 55) 8. What happens to Pip in the beginning of Chap 56? Who comes to care for him? (Chap 56) 9. Why does Miss Havisham leave Matthew Pocket money in her will? (Chap 56) 10. What plans does Pip have concerning Biddy? Why doesn t he succeed? (Chap 56-57) 11. What job does Pip eventually take on and why? (Chap 57) 12. What has happened to Estella during the past 11 years? How has she changed? (Chap 58)