Charles Dickens - A Study Guide
Charles Dickens - A Study Guide
Charles Dickens - A Study Guide
Study Guide
for
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens
If Columbus found a new world, Dickens created oneand peopled it with men and women.
Arthur Quiller-Couch, Dickenss Fellowship Dinner, 1931
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Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
harles Dickens is known as one of the most successful and inventive English novelists of all time. During the course of his career as a writer, Dickens wrote over 5 million words and created over 2,000 characters. His writing is distinctrich with humor, drama, and satire and his characters are some of the most well known in the history of literature. Dickens was drawn to creating strikingly eccentric, or odd, characters, often from the lower economic classes of nineteenth-century England. These characters and their worlds delighted and moved readers and helped to make Dickens the most popular writer of his time. According to critic G.K. Chesterton: His books are full of baffled villains stalking out or cowardly bullies kicked downstairs. But the villains and the cowards are such delightful people that the reader always hopes the villain will put his head through a side window and make a last remark; or that the bully will say one more thing, even from the bottom of the stairs.
Great Expectations Study Guide
These words reveal the thoughts of one of Dickenss most famous characters as he starts a new life with great expectations as well as doubts. Great Expectations was Dickenss thirteenth novel, and he wrote it when he was at the height of his success as a novelist. It traces the life and experiences of Philip Pirrip, or Pip, as he comes of age in the early- to mid-nineteenth century. In Great Expectations, Pip tells his own story as an adult looking back on his younger years. When the novel begins, Pip is a poor orphan who seems destined to become a blacksmith like his brotherin-law and live out his life in the marsh area of Kent, England. An unexpected chain of events, however, thrusts him into a completely different world and way of life. Over time, Pips new life becomes much more complicated than he imagined it would be, and he is forced to reevaluate his values and the values of the society in which he finds himself. Critic Harold Bloom says: Great Expectations is carefully organized so that at each new turn of events the main character and narrator, Philip Pirrip (Pip), learns more about himself by learning more about the complex social web in which he is enmeshed. Pips society is a complicated one indeed. The Industrial Revolution of the late 1700s and early 1800s helped England to become an especially powerful and prosperous country. During the Victorian Age (named after Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1832 to 1901), the British Empire included countries on every continent. English society as a whole benefited from advances and innovations in technology and science. Not everyone shared in the
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nations wealth, however, and British society, which had always been class conscious, became even more sharply divided along class lines. In Great Expectations, as in his other novels, Dickens dramatizes the moral struggles and faults of the age. Bert Hornback, the author of a book about this Dickens classic, has called it a brilliantly conceived attack on the vices that most threaten human society: selfishness and greed. Dickens implies that a society fascinated by wealth and power is too far removed from basic moral values. The characters that he holds up as examples of moral behavior are hardworking, simple, and compassionate. While reading Dickens, it is useful to keep in mind that all his novels were published serially, or in weekly or monthly installments in magazines. To keep the reader coming back for more, Dickens ended each installment with a cliffhanger. The chapters were then published in book form after the serial was completed. Although some novels had been published in installments before Dickenss time, he set the standard for serials in nineteenth-century Britain with his first novel, The Pickwick Papers (1837). The serial form allowed Dickens to introduce a large number of characters and develop the readers familiarity with them. It also allowed the author to respond to the likes and dislikes of his readers as he was writing the novel. People would write to Dickens or to the magazine in which the installments were published and give him their opinions. Although his novel David Copperfield, published in 1850, was more autobiographical, Dickens drew on some of his own childhood perceptions of the world in his portrayal of Pip. The character of Pip was shaped by many of the personal details of Dickenss youth and young-adulthood, and Great Expectations reflects Dickenss world view. According to writer Paul Pickrel, the plot: holds the readers interest; it is full of surprises and odd turns; its complexities all come out neatly in the end. But more than that, it is a symbolic representation of Dickenss vision of the
Great Expectations Study Guide
moral universe . . . that good and evil, what we most desire and what we most loathe, are . . . intertwined. . . .
this area, because he lived there as a child. Later in the novel, when Pip enters young adulthood, the scene shifts to busy, industrial London. The novel shifts back and forth between these two locations as events unfold. As you read the novel, think about the values that the people in each setting hold.
long hours under dangerous conditions in factories and mines. Reform acts addressing the concerns of working people were not passed until the early 1800s. Although the acts provided workers with some protections, working conditions were still, by todays standards, very poor. Through his writings, Dickens drew attention to social and political problems in his country. Critic Bert Hornback writes that although the wealthy: seemed to care absolutely nothing for the lives of the hands whom they employed, the nation still had a conscienceand it responded to voices like Dickenss.
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BACKGROUND
Did You Know? Dickens described Great Expectations as a combination of comedy and tragedy, and many critics agree with his assessment. Pip, the narrator of the novel, encounters many characters who are humorous and often cartoon-like in their quirks and foibles. At the same time, they are tragic in their unhappiness or their lack of moral vision. There is also tragedy in the characters who live quietly moral lives, but who cannot earn respect and make their way in the world. Descriptions of Pips childhood show the comic and tragic nature of the novel particularly well. Dickens, who himself was affected deeply by the difficult turn of events in his own childhood, tries to help readers understand the sensitive, thoughtful world of a child living under difficult circumstances. Pips childish reactions to certain people and situations are humorous and endearing. As you read, however, look for the underlying tragic aspects of Pips childhood. Social Satire Satire is literature that uses humor or sarcasm to ridicule human vices or follies. Dickens was interested in social reform, and passages of the novel often reflect his feelings toward people and institutions in nineteenth-century English society. Dickenss satire emerges in his colorful descriptions of characters, places, and events. Sometimes even the names of Dickenss characters are satirical. In this section and in the rest of the novel, you will encounter names that sound foolish, contain puns or plays on words, or suggest sounds.
VOCABULARY PREVIEW
capricious [ k prish s] adj. unpredictable; inconsistent conciliatory [kn sil e tore ] adj. intended to restore harmony or goodwill felicitous [fi lis ts] adj. happy imprecations [ impri ka shns] n. curses incomprehensible [ inkom pri hen s bl] adj. incapable of being understood penitent [pen tnt ] n. person who repents sin under the direction of a religious confessor perspicuity [pursp ku te ] n. clearness remonstrance [ri mon strns] n. criticism trifle [tr fl] n. small amount
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Active Reading
Great Expectations Chapters 110
The first ten chapters of the novel introduce you to a variety of characters who affect Pips life. As you read, think about Pips relationships with these people and their effect on him. Make notes in the cluster diagram below. On the lines, explain the relationship between Pip and each character. In the circles, describe how Pip is affected by each. Joe Mrs. Joe
Convict
Pip
Uncle Pumblechook
Estella
Miss Havisham
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Responding
Great Expectations Chapters 110
Personal Response
With which character do you most identify? Why? Do you have something in common with that character? Have you shared similar thoughts or reactions?
Analyzing Literature
Recall and Interpret 1. Where and how does Pip first encounter a convict? Why does Pip help him?
2. Describe Mrs. Joes treatment of Pip. In what ways is Pips relationship with Joe different from his relationship with his sister?
3. After the convict is caught, what does he say to protect Pip? How does Pip feel about his actions toward the convict? What do these feelings tell you about Pip?
4. Why is Pip sent to the home of Miss Havisham? How does Pip feel after he leaves, and why does he decide to lie about his experiences there?
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Responding
Great Expectations Chapters 110
Analyzing Literature (continued)
Evaluate and Connect 5. Evaluate Dickenss portrayal of Pip. In your opinion, is Pip a believable character? Does he behave in ways that a real child in similar circumstances might behave? Support your opinion with evidence from the novel.
6. Recalling your response to the Focus Activity on page 12, how do you think the people and incidents in this selection would have affected you when you were a child? Do you identify with Pips reactions? Why or why not?
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BACKGROUND
Did You Know? Pip is to be an apprentice to Joe, which means he will work under his supervision for a specified amount of time in order to learn Joes trade. In doing this, Pip will sign an indenture, which is a type of binding contract. In this period in history, it was common for someone as young as Pip, who is approaching fourteen, to be indentured as an apprentice. In fact, many poor families were forced to indenture their children as a means of support for the family. In Pips case, the working relationship is an extension of the close partnership he and Joe have already been enjoying. Dickenss Style In his fiction, Dickens combines humor, sentimentality, and elements of the grotesquea type of literature in which characters outstanding physical or personality traits are exaggerated for comic or dramatic effect. This style has come to be known as Dickensian, and this term is today used to refer to any work that has characteristics of Dickenss writing. As Pip learns more and more about the Havisham household in this section, look for elements of Dickensian style in descriptions of Miss Havisham and the strange features of her home.
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VOCABULARY PREVIEW
clemency [klem n se ] n. mercy; forgiveness disconcerted [diskn surt d] adj. confused latent [la t nt] adj. hidden; undeveloped malignant [m li nnt] adj. evil; bitter manifest [man fest] v. to display ostentatiously [ostn ta shs le ] adv. in a showy or gaudy manner pervade [pr va d ] v. to spread throughout retributive [ri trib y tiv] adj. done as a penalty or punishment stipulations [stipy la shns] n. terms or conditions of an agreement trepidation [trep da shn] n. uneasiness
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Active Reading
Great Expectations Chapters 1119
In Chapters 11 through 19, Pip lives in two different worlds: the world of the working class and the world of the gentleman. As you read, record the names of people and other details that, in Pips mind, represent each station in life.
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Responding
Great Expectations Chapters 1119
Personal Response
How do you feel about what happens to Pip at the end of this section? Do you think he will regret making this life change? Why or why not?
Analyzing Literature
Recall and Interpret 1. Briefly describe Camilla. Why is she so attentive to Miss Havisham? What aspects of upper-class society might Dickens be satirizing in his portrayal of Camilla?
2. Describe the incident involving Pip and the young gentleman in Miss Havishams garden. What prompts Pips actions, and how does he feel about himself later?
3. Why does Miss Havishan command Joe and Pip to meet with her? What does Pips attitude toward her offer reveal about his changing sense of values?
4. Who is the mysterious stranger that visits Pip at the pub? What are Pips expectations on learning about the reason for the mans visit?
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Responding
Great Expectations Chapters 1119
Analyzing Literature (continued)
Evaluate and Connect 5. What conflicting feelings does Pip have as he moves toward a new life? Why does he have such mixed feelings?
6. Recall your response to the Focus Activity. Do you think Pips actions and feelings toward Joe are selfish, or understandable?
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BACKGROUND
Did You Know? Dickens was an avid theatergoer who once had ambitions of becoming an actor. In a letter to a friend, Dickens described his boyhood rehearsals for the stage: I practised immensely (even such things as walking in and out, and sitting down in a chair) often four, five, six hours a day, shut up in my room or walking about in the fields. As an adult, Dickens took every opportunity to return to his first love. He acted in several amateur productions, including a production of Ben Jonsons popular play Everyman in His Humor, in which he played the role of Bobadil, a character given to shouting oaths. Dickens drew on his acting experience in his portrayal of Mr. Wopsle and the production of Hamlet.
Hamlet Hamlet, William Shakespeares most popular tragedy, is set in Denmark. As the play opens, Prince Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his father, King Hamlet, who was recently murdered and seeks revenge. Prince Hamlet agrees to carry out the ghosts wishes and kill the murderer, but when the opportunity presents itself the prince stops short of the act. Wracked by guilt, Prince Hamlet finally avenges his fathers death but is himself killed in the process. As you read the scene in which Pip dreams about Hamlet, think about his own feelings of guilt and his descriptions of the ghostly Miss Havisham.
VOCABULARY PREVIEW
depreciation [di pre she a shn] n. ridicule; belittlement dexterously [deks trs le ] adv. skillfully diffidence [dif dns] n. shyness impetuosity [im pechoo os te ] n. reckless enthusiasm judicious [ joo dish s] adj. wise; discreet pernicious [pr nish s] adj. harmful; deadly prodigious [pr dij s] adj. gigantic supplicant [sup l knt] n. someone who begs zealous [zel s] adj. eager
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Active Reading
Great Expectations Chapters 2031
In Chapters 20 through 31, Pip finds himself with new people in a variety of new settings. Dickens uses carefully chosen details to characterize Pips new surroundings. In the chart below, describe each setting. Then explain the atmosphere, or mood, that the details create.
Place
Details
Atmosphere
London
Jaggerss office
Bernards Inn
Pocket household
Wemmicks home
Jaggerss home
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Responding
Great Expectations Chapters 2031
Personal Response
What feelings toward Pip did you experience while reading? In what ways do you think he has changed?
Analyzing Literature
Recall and Interpret 1. Describe Jaggerss work and home life. What is Pip implying about Jaggerss personality when he says that he seemed to bully his very sandwich as he ate it?
2. Briefly describe the incident that caused Miss Havisham to stop her clocks and become a recluse. What part might this incident have played in her desire to bring Estella and Pip together?
3. How does Pip feel when he hears that Joe is coming to visit? Why does Pip feel this way?
4. What plans does Pip believe Miss Havisham has for him? Why does he believe this?
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Responding
Great Expectations Chapters 2031
Analyzing Literature (continued)
Evaluate and Connect 5. When Pip returns to Satis House to visit Estella and Miss Havisham, he feels some guilt for not visiting Joe. Do you think Dickens wants readers to believe Pip is selfish, or that Pip is hopelessly distracted by his love for Estella? Explain your response.
6. As his visit with Pip is ending, Joe says, Pip, dear old chap, life is made of ever so many partings welded together . . . Diwisions among such must come, and must be met as they come. What does he mean in terms of his and Pips relationship? In your opinion, whose behavior during the visit was more admirable, Joes or Pips? Explain.
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BACKGROUND
Did You Know? In the early 1800s in England, many convicts were still placed on boats and sent out of the country. In 1597 Parliament passed An Act for the Punishment of Rogues, Vagabonds, and Sturdy Beggars. This act called for beggars to be sent to their birthplaces and jailed until they could be put to work. The act called for more serious criminals to be conveyed unto such parts beyond the sea as shall at any time hereafter for that purpose be assigned . . . This allowed the transportation of criminals to British colonies in what are now the United States and Australia. A penal colony for British convicts was established in 1788 in Australia. Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is the use of clues by the author to prepare readers for events that will happen later in the story. Dickens uses this technique throughout Great Expectations. For example, when Pip first sees Jaggers, he is a mysterious stranger who brushes by Pip at Miss Havishams home. Jaggers raises questions in Pips mind and the minds of readers, and his presence hints that something is about to happen to Pip. As the novel progresses, pay special attention to clues introduced by characters that indicate how mysteries in the novel will be resolved.
Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
VOCABULARY PREVIEW
fidelity [fi del te ] n. loyalty; faithfulness larceny [lar s ne ] n. theft melancholy [mel n kol e ] adj. depressed; sad meritorious [mer tor e s] adj. noble; worthy predecessors [pred sesrs] n. someone or something that came before spasmodic [spaz mod ik] adj. irregular subordinate [s bor d nit] n. assistant; of lower rank superfluous [soo pur floo s] adj. extra; excessive
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Active Reading
Great Expectations Chapters 3245
This section of the novel represents a turning point, when Pips expectations are forced to change because of a series of devastating disappointments. In the graphic organizer below, list three expectations Pip held when he first learned about his anonymous benefactor. In the corresponding boxes, describe how each expectation was met or not met and why. Outcome
Pip spends money foolishly; when he learns Magwitch is benefactor, refuses to touch the money , and debt builds
Pips expectations
wealth
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Responding
Great Expectations Chapters 3245
Personal Response
Which passages from this section did you find most moving and most effective in illustrating Pips situation?
Analyzing Literature
Recall and Interpret 1. How does Pip react to driving by the prison with Estella? What does Pips reaction indicate about his image of Estella as a person?
2. What news does Magwitch bring to Pip? How does Magwitchs information affect Pip?
3. What one financial request does Pip make of Miss Havisham? What does this request indicate about his character?
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Responding
Great Expectations Chapters 3245
Analyzing Literature (continued)
Evaluate and Connect 4. How does Pip feel about himself as a gentleman when he no longer has his money? What values of Pips society is Dickens criticizing by calling attention to Pips feelings?
5. Do you agree that Pip should no longer benefit from Magwitchs money? Why or why not?
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BACKGROUND
Did You Know? A coming-of-age tale is a bildungsroman, a German word that refers to a class of novel in German literature that follows the life of a main character. This theme was popularized by German writers Wolfram von Eschenbach and Hans Grimmelshausen, who wrote literary works based on a folktale about a foolish person who goes out into the world to find adventure and suffers mistakes and disappointments before gaining sense and understanding. The first novel based on this theme was written by J.W. von Goethe in the late 1700s. In a bildungsroman, the action usually ends positively, after one of the characters learns valuable lessons the hard way. Read to find out if Great Expectations is a true bildungsroman. Abel Magwitch In this section of the novel, the character of Abel Magwitch plays a central role. Magwitch has already changed Pips life once with his anonymous donation of money. In the chapters that follow, his character begins to affect Pips life in a different way. Significantly, Dickens gave Magwitch the name Abel, which refers to the second son of Adam and Eve in the Old Testament of the Bible. According to the biblical account, Abel was a shepherd who was killed in a jealous rage by his brother Cain. Abels innocent blood put a curse on Cain, and he became a fugitive. As you read, think about why Dickens wanted readers to associate Magwitch with the innocent, slain brother, even though Magwitch is a convict. You might also think about which characters in the novel represent Cain, the evil, murdering brother.
VOCABULARY PREVIEW
acquiescence [akwe es ns] n. agreement; consent beguile [bi l ] v. to trick; to deceive demeanor [di me nr] n. behavior despondent [di spon dnt] adj. depressed eloquence [el kwns] n. expressiveness entreat [en tre t ] v. to beg obdurate [ob dr it] adj. firm repugnance [ri pu nns] n. distaste tremulous [trem y ls] adj. timid; cowardly truculent [truk y lnt ] adj. fierce
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Active Reading
Great Expectations Chapters 4659
The last chapters of the novel solve many of the novels mysteries and lead readers to a resolution. Use the ovals to record the events leading to the resolution of the novel. Use as many ovals as you need. Resolution:
Event:
Event:
Event:
Copyright by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Event:
Event:
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Responding
Great Expectations Chapters 4659
Personal Response
Were you satisfied with the ending of the novel? Explain.
Although Pip eagerly entered his new life, he always experienced periods in which he questioned himself. Recalling your response to the Focus Activity on page 28, do you think Pip can finally stop questioning his life?
Analyzing Literature
Recall and Interpret 1. Describe Miss Havishams behavior when Pip visits her. How has their relationship changed?
2. What happens to Magwitch? How does Pip begin to feel toward Magwitch?
3. What does Joe do for Pip? How does Pip feel about himself and his actions after Joe leaves?
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Responding
Great Expectations Chapters 4659
Analyzing Literature (continued)
Evaluate and Connect 4. Why does Dickens return Pip to the countryside of his youth? What theme does this turn of events emphasize?
5. What is your interpretation of the last line of the book, where Pip states I saw no shadow of another parting from her.
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Responding
Great Expectations
Personal Response
What hopes did you harbor for Pip while reading about his life?
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Working Life
Before You Read
Sally Mitchell
Focus Question How would you define the term work ethic? Do you think the definition is the same today as it was a hundred years ago? Background Sally Mitchell is a professor of English and womens studies. This passage from Mitchells book gives insight into the world in which Dickenss characters liveVictorian England.
3. What protection for child workers did the Factory Acts provide?
4. Making Connections Pick a character from Great Expectations and describe how he or she is influenced by the economy of Victorian England.
Learning for Life Do research to find out what laws protect young people in the work force in the United States. Create a pamphlet with useful information for young people who want to start looking for a job. Your pamphlet should include information about limits on hours worked, wages, age, and safety requirements. Share your pamphlet with the class.
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Background
As a boy, Charles Dickens had to work in a shoe-blacking warehouse after his father was imprisoned for debt. Dickens conveys the misery of his experience in this excerpt from David Copperfield, in which David recounts his experiences working in a wine warehouse. David Copperfield is often called the most autobiographical of Dickenss books. Before he wrote Great Expectations, Dickens reread David Copperfield to ensure that the two books would not be too similar.
2. Briefly describe Davids experiences at work. What social problems is Dickens trying to expose?
3. Making Connections Compare David to Pip. In what ways are they similar?
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Learning for Life Imagine that you are a social worker living in Victorian times. Write a brief report outlining the working conditions at Murdstone and Grinbys and describing the changes that you think should be made.
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Freedoms Plow
Before You Read
Focus Question Background
Langston Hughes
What expectations do you have for your adult life? Do you think they are realistic? What can you do to make sure your expectations are fulfilled? A well-known author of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes is often called the poet laureate of Harlem. His writing was not limited to poetry, but also included short stories, song lyrics, essays, and plays. In much of his writing, Hughes focuses on what it is like to be black in a nation dominated by whites.
2. After reading this poem, are you left with feelings of hope and strength, or of despair and weakness? Give examples of lines and words from the poem that make you feel this way.
3. Making Connections Some expectations about life are realistic, while others are not. Do you think the expectations expressed in Hughess poem are more realistic than Pips expectations? Why or why not?
Math Connection
As a class, create a questionnaire to distribute to all students. The questionnaire should include at least ten questions that ask students about their expectations for the future. Divide the questionnaire into three sections. One section should ask questions about expectations for the student when she or he is 21, the second section should ask questions about expectations at the age of 40, and the third should ask questions about expectations at the age of 70. The questionnaires can be completed anonymously. Compile the responses in a chart, and then discuss the results.
Great Expectations Study Guide
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2. Making Connections How does the London described by Sala compare to the London of Great Expectations?
Creative Writing Write a poem describing your town or city. Include details of your daily routine and of what you observe at different times of day.
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Great Expectations
book review in Atlantic Monthly, September 1861 Before You Read
Focus Question
Would you recommend Great Expectations to other students? Why or why not?
Background
During his lifetime, Dickens had many avid readers both in England and the United States. This review of Great Expectations appeared in the American magazine Atlantic Monthly, which is still popular today.
2. Making Connections How might the character of Magwitch illustrate the reviewers opinion that Dickens follows the maxim of the great master of characterization, and seeks the soul of goodness in things evil?
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