Dr. Gresham Notes

-came up with the main idea of this story while acting with children and friends in drama of The Frozen Deep
 - novel has personal significance to Dickens
- novel was written with pieces not put together, since this is how his memory is
- claimed London was disconnected and unorganized, unlike Paris
- events in the novel coincided with present turmoil in the cities
- Dickens made series of visits to London that spanned a period of political change
-  A Tale of Two Cities  moves between England and France, during a crucial period of French history
- A Tale of Two Cities was published in weekly parts

Dickens' Purpose for Writing Great Expectations

In the quote by Keith Richards, he stated, "It becomes almost an obsession to touch other people. To write a song that is remembered and taken to heart is a connection, a touching of bases. A thread that runs through all of us."  I believe Dickens wrote Great Expectations because he wanted to reflect on his own life, and at the same time provide a piece that others could relate to.  Many people have the feeling that Pip did in the novel.  They want to do something great with their life, and not lead a common life.  Most likely, this is how Dickens felt when he was young and went away from home in hopes of becoming a writer.

One of the literary techniques included in Dickens' writing that led me to this conclusion was characterization.  He portrayed the young boy Pip as eager to do something extraordinary with his life.  He showed how he increasingly became less content with being a blacksmith, and his ideas of education burgeoned.  Another technique was the use of allusion.  Dickens made a reference to Hercules when regarding Joe.  I believe Joe represents Dickens' own father.  His own father was in prison for much of Dickens' life, but he got out and never looked back.  Lastly, setting led me to this this novel was a representation of Dickens' own life.  Dickens grew up in England, which was where to story was set in.

Discussion Notes

1. Characters
- Miss Havisham: wealthy woman, was going to educate Pip, encourages Pip to seek greater objectives in his future than a blacksmith, pays for Pip to become a blacksmith apprentice
- Estella: Miss Havisham's daughter, is forced by mother to get close to guys, then break their heart.  Tries to harden Estella's heart towards men so that she won't be hurt by a man the way she was
- Mrs. Joe- cranky, discouraging toward Pip, negative figure in Pip's life
- Joe: Pip's father figure, blacksmith, has great relationship with Pip, Pip shows him admiration
- Convict: threatening, has a good side (didn't get Pip in trouble when he could've)

2.Family
- lives with his sister Mrs. Joe
- Joe is his father figure, married to his sister

 3.Time Period
- early 1800's

4. Literary Techniques
- Foreshadowing: Graveyard is dark, and eery
- Allusion: Hercules- to describe Joe
- Syntax: low-class diction
- Irony: Mrs. Joe uses "tickler" to beat Pip

Great Expectations Q and A

Questions:
1.  Who does Pip meet in the village churchyard on Christmas Eve?
2.  Being an orphan, who does Pip live with? How do they treat him?
3. What does Pip feel guilty about? What does this reveal about him?
4. What thoughtful thing does the convict do when he is caught by a search party?
5. Why does Pip want to confess to Joe about his interactions with the convict?
6. How does Pip react from discouragement from others?
7. What causes Pip to want to get serious about his education?
8. What does "the file" represent?
9. Why is Miss Havisham obsessed with weddings?
10. What are Pip's thoughts about being a blacksmith?

Answers:
1. Pip meets an escaped convict, whom threatens him into bringing him food and cutting him free from his chains the following morning.
2. Pip lives with his older sister and Joe.  His sister treats him horribly; constantly putting him down or getting angry at him.  Joe and Pip have a great relationship, he often finds comfort in Joe when his sister is treating him bad.
3. Pip feels guilty about stealing from his pantry and a file for the convict. This reveals Pip has great morals and is innocent.
4. The convict does not reveal how Pip helped him out previously. This shows he may have a good side.
5. Pip wishes to tell Joe about how he helped the convict and stole things.  He can't stand lieing to Joe.
6. Pip does not take criticism from others well.
7. When Estella tells Pip he is going to lead a common life, Pip wants to become serious about his education and make something out of himself.
8. "The file" represents Pip's guiltiness.
9. She is obsessed with weddings because is appears she has been wronged by a man, and is still bitter about it.
10. Pip does not want to be a blacksmith. It is too common of a life.