Study Guide for Great Expectations
I. Point of View
A. First Person Point of View
B. Narrator: Pip (Phillip Pirrip)
C. This point of view adds to the drama of the plot when:
1. Pip encounters the convict on the marsh
2. Pip meets the convict again years later
3. Pip meets with Miss Havisham for the last time
II. Characterization (how we learn about a character)
With Pip as the narrator, all characterization is indirect.
A. Round Characters – well-developed characters who change as
a result of the novel
1. Pip
a. innocent young boy
b. dissatisfied with his life after meeting Estella
c. moves to London to become ‘gentleman’ and acts
like a snob
d. tries to be a better friend to Herbert, Magwitch, and Joe
2. Miss Havisham
a. crazy woman destroyed by a broken heart
b. wants revenge on all men by using Estella
c. manipulates Pip with Estella and his “benefactor”
d. realizes her mistake and tries to help Pip and Herbert
3. Estella
a. cold and rude to Pip
b. warned Pip not to love her
c. marries Drummel so it won’t matter if she hurts him
d. becomes kinder and shows that she is at least tying to
have a “friendship” with Pip
4. Abel Magwitch
a. dangerous convict
b. generous secret benefactor to Pip
c. dies a loyal friend to Pip
B. Flat Characters – characters with only one characteristic who do
not change as a result of the novel
1. Uncle Pumblechook
2. Sarah Pocket (and relatives)
3. Mrs. Joe
4. Bentley Drummel
5. Biddy
6. Joe
C. Pip transforms from a selfish snob to a caring young man.
1.moves to London and forgets Joe and Biddy & gets in debt
2.learns of his benefactor and rejects Magwitch at first then is
loyal to him
3.helps Miss Havisham “fix” the things in life she tries to
destroy and gets her to help others
4.tries to impress Estella, falls in love with Estells, and
eventually becomes her friend
5.loses his wealth in the end but realizes friendship more
important than money
III. Setting
A. Part I begins in a small town on the marshes.
B. Part II moves to the crowded city of London.
C. The various locations in the settings add mood and
atmosphere to the novel.
1. the marshes – gloomy and spooky
2. Satis House – haunted and decaying
3. Jaggers’ Office – cold and business-like
4. Wemmick’s House – like a charming little castle
5. Pip’s apartment – overly decorated
6. prison – cold and bare
7. lime kiln – creepy and mysterious
D. The settings also reveal much about the characters.
1. Satis House = Miss Havisham
a. both are old and decaying
b. both are closed off from the world; time has stopped for
both of them
2. Jagger’s Office and Home = Mr. Jaggers
a. both are cold and impersonal
b. both are business-like
3. Wemmick’s “castle” = Mr. Wemmick
a. pleasant personal side that is different from work
b. see his devotion to his father
IV. Plot and Subplots
A. plot – the events in a novel
B. subplot – secondary plots that complicate the main plot
C. main plot – Pip struggles between his desire for
money/success/status and love/true friendship
D. Subplots
1.Herbert Pocket
2. Miss Havisham
3. Magwitch and Molly
4. Estella
5. Biddy and Joe
6. Orlick and Compeyson
V. Conflict and Theme
A. Conflict – a struggle between two forces
Pip struggles between his desire for money & status and
being a true friend.
B. Theme – the main idea in a work of literature
1. Love and loyalty are worth more than money and status.
2. True happiness comes from helping others and not
receiving things from others.
3. You can learn from difficult experiences.
VI. Symbolism
A. mist – creepy mood; hints that something bad is about to
happen
B. wedding cake – old and decayed like Miss Havisham’s attitude
toward men
C. clocks – time has stopped form Miss Havisham
D. spiders –evil and disgusting; usually hint at deception