1. A quick and dirty overview Charles Dickens

2. Important Historical Background 48 years old when he wrote Great Expectations. 48 years old when he wrote Great Expectations. At 46, he separated from his wife, and was rumored to have been infatuated with an 18-year-old actress named Ellen Ternan. At 46, he separated from his wife, and was rumored to have been infatuated with an 18-year-old actress named Ellen Ternan. Charles and Ellen maintained a secret relationship until he died in 1870, ten years after Great Expectations was written. Charles and Ellen maintained a secret relationship until he died in 1870, ten years after Great Expectations was written. Dickens provides his readers with characters from the full social spectrum: the criminal class, the working class, the middle class, and the upper class. Dickens provides his readers with characters from the full social spectrum: the criminal class, the working class, the middle class, and the upper class.

3. Dickens and the Late 18 th Century Novel Dickens and the late 18th century Gothic Novel Dickens and the late 18th century Gothic Novel 1. an eerie setting 1. an eerie setting 2. a child or young woman in danger 2. a child or young woman in danger 3. an evil or deformed monster 3. an evil or deformed monster 4. a reclusive and villainous aristocrat 4. a reclusive and villainous aristocrat 5. a poor orphan moved from place to place 5. a poor orphan moved from place to place 6. a mysterious benefactor 6. a mysterious benefactor

4. Dickens and the Late 18 th Century Novel 7. unrequited love 7. unrequited love 8. the country symbolizing morality & happiness 8. the country symbolizing morality & happiness 9. the city symbolizing corruption & despair 9. the city symbolizing corruption & despair 10. clarity coming from sickness and madness 10. clarity coming from sickness and madness 11. a noble savage; a kind criminal; a lovable louse 11. a noble savage; a kind criminal; a lovable louse 12. mists, moonlight, and ruins 12. mists, moonlight, and ruins

5. The Serialization of the Novel Dickens originally published Great Expectations as a series in his magazine called All the Year Round. Dickens originally published Great Expectations as a series in his magazine called All the Year Round. The first weekly installment appeared on December 1st 1860, and the 36th and final installment appeared on August 3rd 1861. The first weekly installment appeared on December 1st 1860, and the 36th and final installment appeared on August 3rd 1861.

6. The Serialization of the Novel The installments were similar in length and overall effect. Each installment needed its own dramatic effect: a mini-climax, a point of rest, an element of suspense, to maintain interest in reading to the next installment. Characters needed to be easily memorable and identifiable.

7. An easy way to spot where each installment ends is to look for a note of suspense at the end of the chapter. If the chapter ends suspenseful, it is the end of a weekly installment. An easy way to spot where each installment ends is to look for a note of suspense at the end of the chapter. If the chapter ends suspenseful, it is the end of a weekly installment.

8. $ By the Word $ Remember, Dickens was writing these weekly installments for money, he was being paid by the length, and he was focused on getting readers to buy the next installment. Remember, Dickens was writing these weekly installments for money, he was being paid by the length, and he was focused on getting readers to buy the next installment.

9. The Novel in the 19th century Because of the Industrial Revolution in Europe, more wealthy people emerged—factory owners and investors. Because of the Industrial Revolution in Europe, more wealthy people emerged—factory owners and investors. Wealthy wives could hire servants to do house chores. Wealthy wives could hire servants to do house chores. Something was needed to fill their leisure hours. Something was needed to fill their leisure hours. The cost of printing reading materials decreased, and the speed of production increased. The cost of printing reading materials decreased, and the speed of production increased.

10. The Novel in the 19th century The novel was created for those who had time to read, who lacked formal education, and who longed for entertainment. The novel was created for those who had time to read, who lacked formal education, and who longed for entertainment. Weekly installments in magazines were no longer necessary, and Great Expectations became a novel. Weekly installments in magazines were no longer necessary, and Great Expectations became a novel.

11. The First-Person Protagonist Narrator Great Expectations and David Copperfield are Dickens’s only novels told from this first- person point of view. Great Expectations and David Copperfield are Dickens’s only novels told from this first- person point of view. The reader is given details only as the narrator experienced and remembered them. The reader is given details only as the narrator experienced and remembered them.

12. The First-Person Protagonist Narrator Don’t confuse the first-person protagonist narrator with the author. The protagonist in Great Expectations is a boy by the name of Pip, not Charles Dickens. Don’t confuse the first-person protagonist narrator with the author. The protagonist in Great Expectations is a boy by the name of Pip, not Charles Dickens.

13. The Timing of the Novel Dickens frequently gives clues that the events of the novel take place prior to 1826 and lasting no later that 1846. Dickens frequently gives clues that the events of the novel take place prior to 1826 and lasting no later that 1846. The king that will be mentioned at the beginning of the novel is George III, who died in 1820, when Pip was 7 or 8 years old. The king that will be mentioned at the beginning of the novel is George III, who died in 1820, when Pip was 7 or 8 years old. Although the book was written in 1860, Dickens has planned the novel to coincide with his own childhood and early adulthood. Although the book was written in 1860, Dickens has planned the novel to coincide with his own childhood and early adulthood.

14. The Ending The current ending is NOT Dickens’s original ending. His intended ending was too close to a competing serialized novel called A Day’s Ride, so he changed it. The current ending is NOT Dickens’s original ending. His intended ending was too close to a competing serialized novel called A Day’s Ride, so he changed it.

15. The End