“You are in every line I have ever read.”
The Exam for this text…
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English Literature
Paper 1
Section B: The 19th-century novel
Marks = 30
20% of your overall Literature grade (40% from the whole of paper 1)
Paper 1 = 1 hour 45 minutes
Recommended time for both sections = 50 minutes, which leaves 5 minutes to
check everything.
Closed book = no copy in the exam.
You will be given an extract from the text, with a question relating to the extract.
The question will then have two bullet points, one of which will direct you to write in
detail about the extract; the other will then ask you to relate to the novel as a
whole.
The best way to revise for this exam: make sure you know this text very well. It is a
rather challenging text, so you must read it again. You can also create mind-maps
about the characters and their relationships, as well as locate key quotes to
remember.
Completing this booklet, with a copy of the text alongside you, will really help you
to focus on what you need to know.
If you struggle with this text, perhaps listening to the audio version will help you.
Assessment Objectives
AO1: Read, understand and respond to texts. You should be able to:
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maintain a critical style and develop an informed personal response
use textual references, including quotations, to support and illustrate interpretations.
AO2: Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and
effects, using relevant subject terminology where appropriate.
AO3: Show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which
they were written.
Great Expectations: The Chapters
Find at least one key quote for every chapter.
Part 1
1. Pip, a young orphan, is visiting the graves of his family on Christmas Eve. He
encounters a convict whose legs are shackled in irons.
Quote:
2. Pip thinks about stealing some food and drink from his sister, Mrs Joe Gargery – with
whom he lives – for the convict.
Quote:
3. The following morning he returns to the marshes with brandy, a pie and a file for the
convict.
Quote:
4. At Christmas dinner, Uncle Pumblechook drinks the brandy that Pip has diluted with
tar water. Pip is afraid that they will also discover the missing pie and accuse him.
Quote:
5. Pip and his sister’s kindly husband, Joe, accompany the soldiers in their search for
the convict. He is caught and says he stole the pie.
Quote:
6. Pip feels guilty.
Quote:
7. Pip reads to Joe.
Quote:
8. Pip is taken to Satis House to visit Miss Havisham.
Quote:
9. Pip ‘explains’ what happened at Satis House; he decides he does not want to be
common.
Quote:
10. Pip is given money by a stranger.
Quote:
11. Pip returns to Satis House. He meets the ‘Pockets’ and finds out more about Miss
Havisham.
Quote:
12. Miss Havisham requests a meeting with Joe.
Quote:
13. Miss Havisham pays for Pip to be apprenticed to Joe as a blacksmith.
Quote:
14. Pip hates his apprenticeship.
Quote:
15. The character of Orlick is introduced; Mrs Joe is attacked and found unconscious.
Quote:
16. Biddy is paid to take care of Mrs Joe.
Quote:
17. Pip tells Biddy he loves Estella and he wants to be a gentleman.
Quote:
18. The lawyer Mr Jaggers informs Pip that he is to be educated as a gentleman and
will inherit a large sum of money from a mysterious benefactor.
Quote:
19. Pip prepares himself for his new life and says his good-byes to all, including Miss
Havisham.
Quote:
Part 2
20. Pip meets with Mr Jaggers in London. He finds the office of Mr Jaggers to be very
unusual! He also finds out about his living arrangements at Barnard Inn.
Quote:
21. Mr Wemmick takes Pip to meet Herbert Pocket. Pip realises he knows Herbert from
Satis House.
Quote:
22. Pip and Herbert get to know one another. Herbert tells Pip Miss Havisham’s past.
Quote:
23. Pip meets the other Pockets, including Mr Pocket who is to be his tutor. He also
meets his other ‘classmates’, Drummle and Startop.
Quote:
24. Wemmick invites Pip to his house for dinner; he also mentions Mr Jaggers’
housekeeper as someone of interest.
Quote:
25. More information about Drummle and Startop is divulged. Pip visits Wemmick’s
home, the castle, and meets his father, the Aged.
Quote:
26. Pip goes to dinner at Mr Jaggers’ home. Drummle and Startop are also there;
Jaggers takes a particular interest in Drummle. Pip also sees Mr Jaggers’
housekeeper for the first time.
Quote:
27. Joe visits Pip with a request from Miss Havisham.
Quote:
28. Pip travels home by coach with some convicts, including one he recognises. He
then decides to stay at The Blue Boar instead of at home.
Quote:
29. Pip visits Satis House. He finds Orlick working on the gates. Inside he finds Mr Jaggers
and Estella with Miss Havisham. Estella warns she has no heart; Miss Havisham
encourages Pip to love Estella.
Quote:
30. Pip warns Mr Jaggers about Orlick, with a view to his dismissal. Pip then returns to
London and tells Herbert about his love for Estella.
Quote:
31. Pip watches Mr Wopsle in Hamlet, a Shakespearean tragedy.
Quote:
32. Wemmick takes Pip on a tour of Newgate prison. Pip feels like he has been
followed by someone.
Quote:
33. Pip meets with Estella and escorts her to Richmond. Pip believes ever more in an
arrangement for the two of them.
Quote:
34. Herbert and Pip address the problem of their debts, very unsuccessfully. Pip is sent
word that his sister has died.
Quote:
35. Mrs Joe is buried. Pip learns that Orlick has been making Biddy feel uncomfortable;
Pip vows to return home more often.
Quote:
36. Pip ‘comes of age’ (turns 21) and finds out that he shall receive an annual income
of £500. Pip then talks to Wemmick about helping Herbert.
Quote:
37. Pip visits Wemmick at his ‘castle’ and finds him with Miss Skiffins. With the help of
Wemmick, Pip plans how to help Herbert set up his business.
Quote:
38. Pip takes Estella to visit Miss Havisham. Miss Havisham berates Estella for her cold
indifference. Pip finds out that Estella is being courted by Bentley Drummle.
Quote:
39. Pip is visited by his benefactor – the convict!
Quote:
Part 3
40. Pip trips over a lurker on the stairwell, who promptly disappears. Abel Magwitch –
the convict – tells Pip a little about his life since he met him. Pip decides to call him
‘Mr Provis’ to hide his identity.
Quote:
41. Herbert helps and advises Pip. Pip decides to not take any of Magwitch’s money.
Quote:
42. Magwitch tells his life story to Pip and Herbert, including his encounters with
Compeyson and how that man linked to Miss Havisham.
Quote:
43. Pip stays at The Blue Boar again, where he has an encounter with Drummle.
Quote:
44. Pip meets with Estella and Miss Havisham. He finds out that Miss Havisham did lead
him on in believing she was his benefactor; he also learns that Estella is to marry
Drummle.
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45. Pip returns and meets with Wemmick. Wemmick has discovered that Compeyson is
pursuing Magwitch, and has had him moved.
Quote:
46. Pip makes plans for Magwitch’s escape.
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47. Pip refuses to spend Magwitch’s money, so his debts pile up. Pip also goes to see
Mr Wopsle again and finds that he is ‘being watched’, perhaps by Compeyson.
Quote:
48. Pip and Wemmick dine with Mr Jaggers. Pip notices how much Molly, the
housekeeper, looks like Estella.
Quote:
49. Pip visits with Miss Havisham again. He finds out Estella and Drummle are married
and that Miss Havisham is sorry for how she treated both Estella and Pip. Miss
Havisham’s dress catches fire; Pip saves her life, for the time being.
Quote:
50. Pip deduces that Molly and Magwitch are Estella’s natural parents.
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51. Jaggers admits to Pip that Molly is Estella’s mother – he did what he thought was
the right thing to do for the child.
Quote:
52. Pip receives a note about ‘Uncle Provis’. The note says to meet him in secret in the
marshes.
Quote:
53. Pip finds himself in danger, at the hands of Orlick. Orlick admits to the attack on Mrs
Joe and that he is linked with Compeyson. He also reveals a hatred for Pip.
Quote:
54. The plan to ship Magwitch out of the country is thwarted by Compeyson, and a
very injured Magwitch is taken prisoner. But not before he has killed Compeyson.
Quote:
55. Herbert offers Pip the opportunity to be his clerk. Wemmick and Miss Skiffins get
married.
Quote:
56. Pip tells Magwitch that his daughter is alive, and that he loves her. Magwitch then
passes away from his injuries.
Quote:
57. Pip becomes ill, but is nursed back to health by Joe. Joe can now write! Pip finds
that Joe has paid off his debts.
Quote:
58. Pip returns home to find that Joe and Biddy have just got married. He then
decided to join Herbert in Cairo.
Quote:
59. Eleven years later, Pip returns to meet Joe and Biddy’s son. He goes to the grounds
of Satis House and meets Estella there, now a widow. The novel ends with them
walking away together, hand in hand.
Quote:
Main Characters
All of the characters of a novel are important as they are used by the writer as a
device for him or her – perhaps to comment on something in society, perhaps to
move the story forward, perhaps to antagonise the storyline and cause problems
for the protagonist. However, Dickens always wrote into his novels a great deal of
characters, so we will focus on the ‘main’ ones listed below.
When looking at this list, you should think about the meaning/use of their name, as
well as their use in the novel.
Philip Pirrip – Pip (nickname, palindrome); an orphan; the protagonist
Joe Gargery – brother-in-law to Pip; working class, uneducated
Mrs Joe Gargery – sister to Pip; violent nature
Abel Magwitch – convict; discriminated against for his poverty; interesting name
when pulled apart; also an orphan
Uncle Pumblechook – Pip’s Uncle; user; like a chicken, pecking away at others for
money
Dolge Orlick – works for people; dishonest, not trusted; described and swarthy and
slouchy; name sounds slimy
Miss Havisham – is her life a sham?; jilted, forever seeking revenge
Estella – name means ‘star’, is she unobtainable?; Pip loves her; adopted and used
by Miss Havisham
Herbert Pocket – friend to Pip; friendly, like his name; helps others; wants adventure
Mr Jaggers – lawyer; Pip’s guardian in London; name sounds like he has a jagged
edge; he certainly isn’t trustworthy
Biddy – an old biddy, or biddable?; always teaching or looking after others;
maternal, contrast to Mrs Joe; later marries Joe
Molly – maid to Jaggers; Estella’s natural mother
Compeyson – Magwitch’s ex-partner; jilted Miss Havisham; tracks Magwitch down
Wemmick – clerk to Jaggers; friend to Pip
Bentley Drummle – name sounds violent, like pummel; nasty character, rival to Pip;
marries Estella
Philip Pirrip
What nicknames is this character given?
What’s his ‘story’?
What is he like at the start of the novel?
What is he like at the end of the novel?
Who does he have a good relationship with?
Who does he have a bad relationship with?
What does he show us about Victorian England?
Key Quotes for Pip:
Joe Gargery
What is his occupation?
What’s his ‘story’?
What is he like at the start of the novel?
What is he like at the end of the novel?
Who does he have a good relationship with?
Who does he have a bad relationship with?
What does he show us about Victorian England?
Key Quotes for Joe:
Mrs Joe Gargery
What is very unusual about her name?
What’s her ‘story’?
What is she like at the start of the novel?
What is she like at the end of the novel?
Who does she have a good relationship with?
Who does she have a bad relationship with?
What does she show us about Victorian England?
Key Quotes for Mrs Joe:
Abel Magwitch
Why is this character so important to the story?
What’s his ‘story’?
What is he like at the start of the novel?
What is he like at the end of the novel?
Who does he have a good relationship with?
Who does he have a bad relationship with?
What does he show us about Victorian England?
Key Quotes for Magwitch:
Dolge Orlick
Why is this character so important to the story?
What’s his ‘story’?
What is he like at the start of the novel?
What is he like at the end of the novel?
Who does he have a good relationship with?
Who does he have a bad relationship with?
What does he show us about Victorian England?
Key Quotes for Orlick
Miss Havisham
Why is this character so important to the story?
What’s her ‘story’?
What is she like at the start of the novel?
What is she like at the end of the novel?
Who does she have a good relationship with?
Who does she have a bad relationship with?
What does she show us about Victorian England?
Key Quotes for Miss Havisham
Estella
Why is this character so important to the story?
What’s her ‘story’?
What is she like at the start of the novel?
What is she like at the end of the novel?
Who does she have a good relationship with?
Who does she have a bad relationship with?
What does she show us about Victorian England?
Key Quotes for Estella
Mr Jaggers
Why is this character so important to the story?
What’s his ‘story’?
What is he like at the start of the novel?
What is he like at the end of the novel?
Who does he have a good relationship with?
Who does he have a bad relationship with?
What does he show us about Victorian England?
Key Quotes for Jaggers
Bentley Drummle
Why is this character so important to the story?
What’s his ‘story’?
What is he like at the start of the novel?
What is he like at the end of the novel?
Who does he have a good relationship with?
Who does he have a bad relationship with?
What does he show us about Victorian England?
Key Quotes for Drummle
Language, Form and Structure
Language: Dickens wrote beautiful descriptions of places and people. His attention
to detail was amazing! And that detail was important. When you analyse quotes you
need to remember to keep within your thoughts the word why. Why did he include that
detail? Why that word and not another?
Look back to a description of Miss Havisham – look at the details – analyse why.
Quote:
Analysis:
Dialogue is another crucial feature that you should analyse carefully. When you
quote a character, consider the way they speak – what are you shown and how? Why?
For example, what do you notice about the way Joe speaks?
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You should also wonder about character interactions – in this case, who is Joe in
deep contrast to? How do you know this? Why?
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Form: the novel is called a bildungsroman novel – this means that it focuses on the
development or education of a main character.
In your opinion, how does Pip develop across the novel? What is his true education?
Remember that Dickens would have done this for a reason – consider Dickens’
intention and message to the Victorian readers.
The novel is written in first person narrative, in the past tense – and in an
autobiographical style. How does this affect your reading of the novel?
Structure: The novel was actually originally published in a magazine across 36
weekly instalments. Therefore Dickens had to work on keeping his readers interested, to
keep selling his magazine! The plot and sub-plots had their own climax and resolution, as
well as cliff hangers.
Sometimes a next instalment followed straight on from the last – such as the first few
chapters in the novel – but sometimes Dickens changed the setting, introduced a new
character or new sub-plot. This variation kept the readers interested and curious.
The novel is also separated into 3 volumes:
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Volume One: up to the end of chapter 19; Pip’s childhood.
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Volume Two: covers 20 chapters; the bulk of Pip’s time in London.
Volume Three: covers the last 20 chapters; reunions, resolutions and majority.
At different points in the novel, the reader feels differently about Pip – these feelings are
created by the change in his character throughout the three volumes.
When did you feel sympathy for Pip?
When did you dislike Pip?
When did you feel worried for Pip?
Contextual Background
How are the following facts about Dickens relevant to the novel?
1. His father was imprisoned for debt.
2. Dickens had to work in a factory while his father was in prison.
3. Dickens never forgave his mother for making him continue his work at the
factory.
4. Dickens was rejected in love as a young man.
5. Dickens’ weekly magazine relied on people enjoying his stories (chapters that
became novels) and wanting to buy the next editions.
Look for these features in the novel:
 Dickens had an eye for detail as he was a journalist.
 Dickens loved words so he used a lot of powerful adjectives; he was also
famous for his figurative language.
 His work was often rhythmic, as well we humorous, as he enjoyed reading
his stories aloud to a public audience.
 Dickens enjoyed acting, as well as writing plays.
 He was very perceptive when it came to different accents and dialects.
Britain – the 19th century saw a lot of change in terms of population, cities, laws and the
countryside. Write out four changes below:
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Dickens was particularly concerned with social justice. He was concerned about the
treatment of children, the treatment of the poor and the effects of social change. Under
the following headings, write down what you notice in the novel:
Education
Quote:
Child cruelty
Quote:
Poverty
Quote:
The class system
Quote:
Crime and punishment
Quote:
Themes and Ideas
Country and city: A contrast is presented between the estuary marshland and the
city of London. The countryside/marshland is presented as cold, flat, threatening – yet
‘peaceful and quiet’ when Pip leaves it. Upon arrival, Pip finds London disgusting (when
he sees fat and blood at Smithfield), horrific (when he sees the criminals) and alarming
(when he sees buildings like St Paul’s).
What are these three places that Pip ‘sightsees’ symbols of?
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Smithfield market:
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The Old Bailey:
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St Paul’s Cathedral:
Parenting: Pip’s parents are deceased, so his sister and brother-in-law are his
guardians. Joe is gentle and kind to Pip, treating him like an equal. Mrs Joe is the opposite
in her behaviour to Pip, treating him with cruelty and like a burden.
Write down one example of Joe’s behaviour towards Pip:
Write down one example of Mrs Joe’s behaviour towards Pip:
A lack of parenting is also presented in the novel through Mrs Pocket, who relies on
a nursemaid to look after her children while she lives an idle life. What comment is Dickens
making?
Childhood: We learn a lot about childhoods in the novel – sometimes our attention
is even drawn to those with a lack of childhood.
When we first meet Pip, he is reading from the gravestone of his parents. This draws
attention to his position as an orphan. At the time, Pip is also trying to imagine what his
parents looked like from the letters on the gravestone – how is this meant to make the
reader feel? Why?
The gravestone moment is meant to have a touch of humour with it, as is the scene
in chapter two at the Christmas dinner table: throughout their overindulgence, neglect is
seen as Pip is ignored (in-between lectures about gratitude) by anyone other than Joe.
Thus the life of a ‘fortunate’ orphan is highlighted to the reader.
Pip’s childhood shows an emotional hunger – possibly why he is so taken in by Miss
Havisham – as does the childhood of Magwitch. Magwitch is an orphan, like Pip, who
cannot remember his parents. Unfortunately Magwitch does not even have a ‘Joe’ who
can protect him. What does Magwitch’s childhood tell the reader?
Justice: Does the novel suggest the justice system is just, or not? Consider by making
notes with these characters:
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Mr Jaggers represents those who can pay him.
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Wemmick and how he acquires his ‘portable property’.
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Compeyson’s punishment for his crimes.
Escape: Most of the characters escape from their circumstances, a key theme in
the novel. What do these character escape?
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Pip:
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Mr Wopsle:
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Wemmick:
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Magwitch:
Which character chooses to live her past, rather than try to escape it?
Class: This theme is explored through the contrast of characters in the novel, for
example, Joe is a blacksmith with very little money, yet appears to us to be more
gentlemanly in his nature than supposed gentleman like Bentley Drummle. What do you
think was Dickens’ point?
Pip’s great expectations were to climb the social ladder – but did this do him any
good?
Love: The novel contains a lot of disappointment in love. How is this shown through
the character of Miss Havisham?
Pip lacks a lot of love, particularly as a child, yet he does have a constant source of
love and stability – who provides this for Pip?
The end of the novel is left open to interpretation – will Pip and Estella now ‘get
together’? Do you believe they are capable of love? Why? Why not?
Wealth: This links to class – but is wealth the same as class? Pip is horrified to find out
that his benefactor is Magwitch – what do we learn from this?
Pip’s wealth makes him focus on social class – suddenly the boy from the forge is
embarrassed by Joe, his protector. Why was it then important that Miss Havisham was not
his benefactor?
The following pages are examples of how your exam will be structured – try the
questions out and see how you do!
Exam Practice
Read the following extract from chapter 8 of Great Expectations and then answer the question
that follows. In this extract, Pip meets Miss Havisham for the first time.
This was very uncomfortable, and I was half afraid. However, the only thing to be
done being to knock at the door, I knocked, and was told from within to enter. I
entered, therefore, and found myself in a pretty large room, well lighted with wax
candles. No glimpse of daylight was to be seen in it. It was a dressing-room, as I
supposed from the furniture, though much of it was of forms and uses then quite
unknown to me. But prominent in it was a draped table with a gilded looking-glass,
and that I made out at first sight to be a fine lady's dressing-table.
Whether I should have made out this object so soon if there had been no fine lady
sitting at it, I cannot say. In an arm-chair, with an elbow resting on the table and
her head leaning on that hand, sat the strangest lady I have ever seen, or shall
ever see.
She was dressed in rich materials,—satins, and lace, and silks,—all of white. Her
shoes were white. And she had a long white veil dependent from her hair, and she
had bridal flowers in her hair, but her hair was white. Some bright jewels sparkled
on her neck and on her hands, and some other jewels lay sparkling on the table.
Dresses, less splendid than the dress she wore, and half-packed trunks, were
scattered about. She had not quite finished dressing, for she had but one shoe
on,—the other was on the table near her hand,—her veil was but half arranged,
her watch and chain were not put on, and some lace for her bosom lay with those
trinkets, and with her handkerchief, and gloves, and some flowers, and a PrayerBook all confusedly heaped about the looking-glass.
It was not in the first few moments that I saw all these things, though I saw more of
them in the first moments than might be supposed. But I saw that everything within
my view which ought to be white, had been white long ago, and had lost its lustre
and was faded and yellow. I saw that the bride within the bridal dress had withered
like the dress, and like the flowers, and had no brightness left but the brightness of
her sunken eyes. I saw that the dress had been put upon the rounded figure of a
young woman, and that the figure upon which it now hung loose had shrunk to
skin and bone. Once, I had been taken to see some ghastly waxwork at the Fair,
representing I know not what impossible personage lying in state. Once, I had
been taken to one of our old marsh churches to see a skeleton in the ashes of a
rich dress that had been dug out of a vault under the church pavement. Now,
waxwork
and skeleton
seemed
to have
dark
eyes
that moved
looked
at me.
Starting with
this extract,
how does
Dickens
present
Miss
Havisham
as a and
disturbed
character?
I should have cried out, if I could.
Write about:

How Dickens presents Miss Havisham in this extract
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How Dickens presents Miss Havisham as a disturbed character in the novel as a whole
Read the following extract from chapter 2 of Great Expectations and then answer the question
that follows.
In this extract, Pip’s sister (Mrs Joe Gargery) has been trying to find him and is now in a rage.
"Well," said Joe, glancing up at the Dutch clock, "she's been on the Ram-page, this
last spell, about five minutes, Pip. She's a coming! Get behind the door, old chap,
and have the jack-towel betwixt you."
I took the advice. My sister, Mrs. Joe, throwing the door wide open, and finding an
obstruction behind it, immediately divined the cause, and applied Tickler to its
further investigation. She concluded by throwing me—I often served as a
connubial missile—at Joe, who, glad to get hold of me on any terms, passed me
on into the chimney and quietly fenced me up there with his great leg.
"Where have you been, you young monkey?" said Mrs. Joe, stamping her foot. "Tell
me directly what you've been doing to wear me away with fret and fright and
worrit, or I'd have you out of that corner if you was fifty Pips, and he was five
hundred Gargerys."
"I have only been to the churchyard," said I, from my stool, crying and rubbing
myself.
"Churchyard!" repeated my sister. "If it warn't for me you'd have been to the
churchyard long ago, and stayed there. Who brought you up by hand?"
"You did," said I.
"And why did I do it, I should like to know?" exclaimed my sister.
I whimpered, "I don't know."
"I don't!" said my sister. "I'd never do it again! I know that. I may truly say I've never
had this apron of mine off since born you were. It's bad enough to be a
blacksmith's wife (and him a Gargery) without being your mother."
My thoughts strayed from that question as I looked disconsolately at the fire. For
the fugitive out on the marshes with the ironed leg, the mysterious young man, the
file, the food, and the dreadful pledge I was under to commit a larceny on those
sheltering premises, rose before me in the avenging coals.
"Hah!" said Mrs. Joe, restoring Tickler to his station. "Churchyard, indeed! You may
well say churchyard, you two." One of us, by the by, had not said it at all. "You'll
.
drive me to the churchyard betwixt you, one of these days, and O, a pr-r-recious
Starting with
this extract,
how does
pair you'd
be without
me!" Dickens present Pip’s relationship with his sister?
Write about:

How Dickens presents the relationship between Pip and his sister in this extract

How Dickens presents Pip’s relationship with his sister in the novel as a whole
(30 marks)