Great Expectations: Summary

Great Expectations is a classic novel by Charles Dickens. It is the story of an orphan named Pip, who struggles to find his place in the world and ultimately discovers his true identity and worth. The main themes of the book include class consciousness, social injustice, ambition, justice, and love. The novel follows Pip as he embarks on a journey to become a gentleman and prove himself worthy of the love of Estella, a woman from an upper-class family. Along his journey, Pip faces many obstacles and learns important lessons about life, society, and morality. He also learns that money does not buy happiness and that sometimes it is more important to follow one’s heart than to try to impress others with material possessions. Great Expectations is ultimately a story of hope in the face of adversity and how hard work and determination can lead to success.

1. What did you think of the main character, Pip?
2. How did the themes of wealth, poverty and ambition shape the novel?
3. What was your opinion of Miss Havisham, and what do you think motivated her behavior?
4. How did Dickens use his characters to explore the social classes in Victorian England?
5. What did you think of the ending, and how does it compare to other Victorian novels?
6. How does Dickens' writing style contribute to the atmosphere of Great Expectations?
7. What messages about love and relationships are present in the novel?
8. How has Great Expectations been adapted for film and television over the years?
9. What moral lessons can be learned from Great Expectations?
10. How does Great Expectations challenge traditional gender roles?

• Great Expectations is a classic tale of redemption and growth, demonstrating the power of self-improvement.
• The characters in Great Expectations are incredibly complex and dynamic, making the story all the more engaging.
• The themes of class distinction, morality, and social expectations in Great Expectations are timeless, providing valuable insight into Victorian England.
• The intricate web of relationships between the characters in Great Expectations offers a unique perspective into human nature and its capacity for change.
• The writing style in Great Expectations is both poetic and powerful, creating a vivid world that draws readers in.
• In Great Expectations, Dickens masterfully weaves together the various plot lines to create an unforgettable narrative arc.
• Although Great Expectations is set in a different time period, it still provides relevant commentary on the human struggle to find meaning and purpose in life.
• Through its exploration of themes such as forgiveness and justice, Great Expectations serves as an important reminder of how our choices can shape our lives.
• Great Expectations is a unique blend of comedy and tragedy, displaying Dickens’s ability to capture both the light-heartedness and darkness of life with equal skill.
• Despite its age, Great Expectations has maintained its relevance to modern audiences; its themes of ambition and striving still resonate today.

1. "I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be."
2. "Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There's no better rule."
3. "My course of study pursued in this solitude was very different from that which I had adopted in my more fortunate days."
4. "We need never be ashamed of our tears."
5. "The wound it had left was healing with a dull pain. I felt deep sympathy for myself, and wondered how I could ever have been silly enough to commit myself to such a blind fortune."

1. Great Expectations (film, 2012): A modern adaptation of the classic novel starring Jeremy Irvine, Helena Bonham Carter, and Ralph Fiennes. 2. Great Expectations (TV series, 2011): A modern adaptation of the novel for the BBC, starring Douglas Booth, Gillian Anderson and Ray Winstone. 3. Great Expectations (film, 1946): Starring John Mills and Jean Simmons in a classic adaptation of the novel directed by David Lean. 4. Great Expectations (radio drama, 2010): A three-part radio adaptation of the novel starring James McAvoy as Pip and Emilia Fox as Estella. 5. Great Expectations (play, 2009): An adaptation of the novel written by Neil Bartlett and performed at London's Lyric Hammersmith theatre. 6. Great Expectations (podcasts, 2021): A series of podcasts exploring different adaptations of the novel over the years, hosted by British actor and comedian Stephen Fry.

• Oliver Twist
• The Pickwick Papers
• David Copperfield
• A Tale of Two Cities
• Bleak House
• Hard Times
• A Christmas Carol
• Nicholas Nickleby
• The Old Curiosity Shop
• Barnaby Rudge