Great Expectations By Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) the most popular British novelist of the Victorian era; responsible for some of English literature's most iconic characters; His writing style is florid and poetic, with a strong comic touch; famed for his depiction of the hardships of the working class, his intricate plots, his sense of humour; Operas:Great expectations, David Copperfield Oliver Twist Nicholas Nickleby

Great Expectations -details about the book- first published in serial form in the publication All the Year Round; has been adapted for stage and screen over 250 times; the novel can be considered semi-autobiographical of Dickens, like much of his work, drawing on his experiences of life and people;

Characters Philip Pirrip, nicknamed Pip, an orphan and the protagonist of Great Expectations Joe Gargery, Pip's brother-in-law, and his first father figure Mrs. Joe Gargery, Pip's hot-tempered adult sister Mr. Pumblechook, Joe Gargery's uncle

Characters Miss Havisham, wealthy spinster who takes Pip on as a companion Estella (Havisham), Miss Havisham's adopted daughter The Convict, an escapee from a prison ship, whom Pip treats kindly Mr. Wopsle, the clerk of the church in Pip's town

Characters Mr. Jaggers, prominent London lawyer John Wemmick, Jaggers's clerk Biddy, Mr. Wopsle's second cousin Herbert,Pip’s best friend

A few details about the plot…

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…how the story ends

Style and themes Great Expectations is a bildungsroman, a novel depicting growth and personal development, in this case, of Pip. The main themes of Great Expectations are those of crime, social class, empire and ambition .

Symbolism 2. Mist on the Marshes Light/Darkness Dickens creates a universe of darkness, such that whenever there is any light (whether from the sun or from some other artificial source), we sit up right away and pay attention. The constant contrast between the two also emphasizes the Gothic quality of the novel and helps create a visual imprint on our brains. 2. Mist on the Marshes They reveal truths rather than obscure them. They can obstruct, and they can reveal. No matter what, they are everywhere in the novel.

3.Miss Havisham’s garden Everything in it is either dead or deformed. The trees, vegetables, flowers, and pathways are all decaying. Miss Havisham’s garden and mansion are both symbols of the wealth and privilege of high society. But if they are decaying and rotten, what does that say about high society? 4. Statues They are representations of humans, animals, or events, and they are usually made out of stone or other cold materials. Estella, though human, tells Pip that she doesn’t have a heart, and in this way, her statue-ness is emphasized.

5.Weather The weather in Great Expectations does wonders in the realm of creating a certain mood, mainly a gloomy one. We rarely see the sun, and when we do, we don’t quite know what to do with ourselves. 6. Shadows Shadows always abound when Estella is around. They remind us of the truths that are hidden and of the incredibly complex nature of humans.

The Title The title refers to Pip’s "great expectations" which are many dimensional and ever-evolving. His great expectations arrive in the form of his fortune and are embodied in his dream of becoming a gentleman.

The Ending There are TWO different endings to Great Expectations. The original is simple. The second one is Hollywood-ified. The first ending, the original ending, sees Pip and Estella reuniting after many years. The second ending comes replete with all but fireworks and we are led to believe that Pip and Estella live happily ever after.

Quotes -and their interpretations- Quote: Miss Havisham's house, which was of old brick and dismal, and had a great many iron bars to it. Some of the windows had been walled up; of those that remained, all the lower were rustily barred. Analysis: Satis house resembles a prison. It's made of brick and is dismal and dark, has few windows, and many bars (Chapter 8). Quote: I thought I heard Miss Havisham answer--only it seemed so unlikely, "Well? You can break his heart." (Chapter 8). Analysis: Pip learns early on what Estella and Miss Havisham's plans are, yet he continues to pursue her. This introduction to the two shows the reader immediately what Estella and Miss Havisham are like.

Why do I think that the book should be read? Iuliana: “Great Expectations” tells the sad story of a boy who,little by little,is able to understand the meaning of life.He first believed that it all came down to love and even money.In the end,he becomes the prisoner of his own thoughts and realizes that whatever he ever wanted was not going to bring him happiness… Roxana: “It is a book that doesn’t have one particular theme,talking about real experiences and also making the reader feeling very sensitive”