Characters
Who raises Pip after his parents die?
His sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery.
Where does Pip first meet the convict?
In the churchyard (the graveyard near the marshes).
In what century was Dickens born?
The 19th century (he was born in 1812).
What does Miss Havisham's wedding dress symbolize?
Her broken heart, obsession with the past, and inability to move on from betrayal.
What is Joe’s profession?
Blacksmith
What is Miss Havisham always wearing?
A wedding dress.
What does Pip expect Miss Havisham to do for him?
He expects her to make him wealthy and arrange a marriage with Estella.
What job did Dickens have before becoming a famous writer?
He worked in a factory and later as a journalist.
What theme is shown in Pip’s changing view of wealth?
The theme of ambition and the false belief that wealth equals happiness.
In Victorian England, what does it mean to be a “gentleman”?
A man of wealth, education, and social position (not just good manners).
Who becomes Pip’s best friend in London?
Herbert Pocket.
Why does Pip go to London?
To become a gentleman with his “great expectations.”
Which novel by Dickens is set during the French Revolution?
A Tale of Two Cities.
Why is Miss Havisham’s stopped clock symbolic?
It represents Miss Havisham’s life stopping at the moment of her betrayal.
What is an “apprenticeship”?
A period of learning a trade or skill under a master.
Who is Estella’s real mother?
Molly (Jaggers’s servant).
What is the name of Miss Havisham's home?
Satis House
What inspired Dickens to write about poverty and injustice?
His childhood experience of poverty and child labor.
How does Dickens criticize social class in the novel?
By showing that wealth and status do not necessarily make people better or happier.
What is Newgate Prison, and why is it important?
A famous London prison; Pip visits it with Wemmick, and it’s where Magwitch is sentenced.
How is Magwitch connected to Estella?
Magwitch is Estella’s father.
What happened to Pip after Magwitch’s trial?
He lost his fortune, he left England and worked for Herbert's company in India
Besides novels, what other type of writing did Dickens do (hint: newspapers)?
Journalism / articles for newspapers and magazines.
What is ironic about Pip’s “Great Expectations”?
That Pip’s “great expectations” bring him suffering, not happiness.
How does Dickens connect crime and society in the novel?
By showing how poverty and inequality can push people into crime, and how the justice system is harsh.