About the Author
Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, at Portsmouth, England, the eldest son of a navy clerk. Although he received little formal education, he […]
Great Expectations
Setting
The story begins in England during the first quarter of the nineteenth century. The setting in the early part of the story is the Chaptham […]
Themes and Characters
Philip Pirrip, known as Pip, is the story’s central figure whose experiences symbolize the problems of growing up. Pip is reared by his unkind sister […]
Literary Qualities
Dickens is a master of plot, characterization, humor, setting, and atmosphere. The blend of these elements in Great Expectations raises the novel to lofty narrative […]
Social Sensitivity
Dickens treats a variety of social issues in Great Expectations-prejudice, materialism, social status, and class-in a sensible manner that the teacher, librarian, and parent will […]
Topics for Discussion
1. Pip is an orphan boy, a blacksmith’s assistant living with his sister and her husband in a small English village. How does Pip visualize […]
Ideas for Reports and Papers
1. Dickens has been called the “novelist of childhood.” How well does he portray the child’s mind and imagination in the figure of Pip? 2. […]
Related Titles and Adaptations
Great Expectations was first made into a motion picture in 1934 by Universal Pictures. Directed by Stuart Walker and starring Jane Wyatt, Phillips Holmes, and […]