Charles Dickens & Great Expectations

Bio 1812 – 1870 Born in Portsmouth, England, which is on the southern coast. Forced to leave school to work in a factory when his father sent to prison for debt. Had little formal education, and his early impoverishment drove him to succeed. Wrote fifteen novels, five novellas and hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles. Campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.

Starting at the age of twelve, Dickens’s first job was pasting labels on bottles like these. Working conditions were so traumatic that Dickens didn’t speak of his experience until the very end of his life.

This was the desk upon which Dickens wrote Great Expectations and other works.

“English class is not my favorite. I have struggled with it all my life. But Great Expectations was so good; it competes with modern TV shows.” “Honestly, I loved that all the characters are messed up in their own way. I think that all the characters’ backstories and how they connect with one another is great. It was definitely my favorite book.” “Great Expectations was by far the most enjoyable literature piece we read. Aside from any language or vocabulary setbacks, this novel did a fantastic job at not only capturing adolescence as a whole but also being relatable.” “It was hard to get through, don’t get me wrong…but in the end, I wrote some pretty bomb essays from it. To enjoy the book, you actually have to pay attention and understand what’s happening. Reading it is also helpful.”

Great Expectations The story follows the young life of a boy named Pip as he pursues his two dreams in life: marrying his first love and becoming wealthy. Great Expectations was serialized from December 1, 1860 until August 3, Dickens published two chapters a week. Serial novels like this were the closest Victorian England got to TV shows. Just think of the book as an eight-week Netflix binge.

Great Expectations Every chapter is more or less a self-contained story that contributes to the overall arc of the novel, similar to a TV drama. There are plenty of twists and moments of suspense, but the payoff is only valuable if you’re paying attention to the details. People went crazy for Dickens’s work in his day. They would line up at newsstands, desperate for the next chapter.

Context Great Expectations takes place in Victorian England: mainly in the marshlands of Kent and the dense metropolis of London. Pip is born in the early 1800s; he is telling his story in During this time, the Industrial Revolution is in full swing, bringing about the light bulb, the steam engine, and the assembly line.

Context London is a thriving, dense, busy metropolis, and England is the most powerful nation in the world with colonies all over the globe. The marshes that Pip grows up in are essentially swampy backwoods. London is a cultural epicenter of the modern world.

Social Criticism Dickens used his work to focus on social justice and inequality. While England was growing more rich and powerful, Dickens brought attention to the struggles of the poor and the lower class. The contrast of incredible wealth and devastating poverty was troubling to Dickens, and he wrote about it from experience.

Two Pips Pip the Protagonist… Is a young boy at the start of the book and a young man at the end. Learns things the hard way. Has big dreams. Is pretty much a jerk half the time. Pip the Narrator… Is telling the reader the story at a much older age. Regrets many of his decisions. Has better insight and awareness. Seems like a nicer guy than he was as a young man.

Pay Attention to... Symbols/motifs, such as fog, hands, prisons, shadows, and light. How money/class effects people (it’s not always bad). “Everyone in Dickens is either a jailer or a prisoner...” Humor. It’s frequently there, but you have to read closely. Crime, justice, and punishment. Clues, twists, and revelations. There will be many. Old, difficult words. Look stuff up! Character quotes of significant length and meaning that only that character would say. Those are the stuff of quizzes!

Clips BBC Miniseries Old School New School