World Literature II Summer Work Great Expectations

Part 5: Journal Directions You must have a spiral or marble notebook for this assignment. Each page of this journal guide incorporates three (3) to four (4) chapters. You must choose only one (1) question for each page. This will come out to 16 entries by the end of the book. (E.g. Page 1 has questions for Chapters 1, 2, and 4. You will choose only one of these prompts to complete). You must complete the wrap-up question at the end of the journal prompts. As you begin an assignment, make sure that you have clearly labeled the chapter question. Keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers to these prompts, and there is no one direction in which you must go.

C h a p t e r 1

In the opening of Great Expectations, the main character, Pip, visits the graveyard where his parents and siblings are buried. A very frightening man approaches Pip and makes demands of him. List at least five reasons why Pip is extremely afraid of him.

C h a p t e r 2

We are introduced to Pip’s sister, Mrs. Joe, and her husband, Joe, and quickly realize that Pip’s sister treats Pip badly, whereas Joe looks out for Pip. Think of a person in your life who has been a menace to you or a person that has always helped you. Describe that person in one paragraph. In one or more paragraphs, describe at least one example where the person either treated you poorly or treated you well. In another paragraph, explain why you believe your relationship with this person was the way it was.

C h a p t e r 4

At Christmas dinner, all of the adults except Joe pick on Pip. At one point, Pip’s sister gives a list of ways that Pip has been “trouble.” List three or more of the reasons that she mentions.

C h a p t e r 5

At the end of the chapter, two characters act differently than we might expect. First, the convict lies and says he stole food from the blacksmith’s house. Second, Joe tells the convict he was welcome to it, since he would not have wanted him to starve. Imagine that you get to interview Charles Dickens and ask him about these two things. Write the interview. If you prefer, you can ask him other questions about the book.

C h a p t e r 6

Pip says he thought about letting Joe in on all of his secrets, but was too cowardly to do so because he could not face losing Joe’s confidence. Imagine that you are Joe and that you suspect Pip has secrets. Write a note to Pip letting him know this and suggesting that he talk to you. Your note might begin as follows:

Dear Pip,

I have noticed your behavior has been a little unusual as of late. I would like to talk to you…

C h a p t e r 7

Joe explains to Pip that Mrs. Joe should not find out that Pip is teaching him, since she will be concerned that Joe will rebel against her. Write a speech that you would deliver to a group of adults who never graduated from high school. In the speech, explain the benefits of education and how it brings empowerment.

C h a p t e r 8

Pip observes that Mr. Pumblechook seems to work while watching the saddler across the street, and that the watchmaker is the only one in town who seems completely focused on his work. Interview one or more people about their jobs, and talk about their productivity and that of the others they have contact with. Ask the interviewee(s) for ideas on how to improve diligence at work.

C h a p t e r 9

At the end of chapter nine, Pip says the day of his trip to Miss Havisham’s was a memorable one, “for it made great changes in me.” Think of a memorable day in your life that brought about great change. Write a letter to Pip describing what happened to you that day, what made it outstanding, and how your life would be different if it had never happened.

C h a p t e r 1 0

Authors frequently provide clues to their readers. In this chapter, there are various clues about “the strange man” that provide an uneasy feeling. Write a list of those clues.

C h a p t e r 1 1

When Pip repeatedly knocks down the boy at Miss Havisham’s, he thinks: “He seemed so brave and innocent, that although I had not proposed the contest I felt but a gloomy satisfaction in my victory.” Think of a time when you had a victory, but it did not make you happy. Describe this to a younger brother. Explain why the experience was not positive.

C h a p t e r 1 2

Mrs. Joe and Pumblechook would often discuss Pip’s prospects and what might be gotten out of his visits to Miss Havisham’s. Again, Pip is not a part of the conversations. Pumblechook rumples Pip’s hair and grabs his sleeve. The boy seems to be hardly treated like a person and says he would like to burst into tears and pummel the man. Make a list of at least five characters in the book and next to each explain whether Pip has a positive or negative impression of that character and why.

C h a p t e r 1 3

When Joe visits Miss Havisham’s house, he is so overwhelmed that he cannot speak to her directly, although Pip tries to get him to do so. Think of a time when you were stronger than an adult and handled a situation better than the adult did. Imagine that a person writing a book on parenting wants you to describe that experience. Write at least three paragraphs describing what the situation was, how the adult reacted, how you reacted, and why you think this occurred.

C h a p t e r 1 5

In this chapter, Pip says that his sister, like other violent women, would “consciously and deliberately” force herself into an uproar and become “blindly furious by regular stages.” Think of a time when you saw a person become excessively angry. Write a letter to that person, describing how you perceived them, how their reactions affected others, and what could have happened if they had reacted differently.

C h a p t e r 1 6

Because of the attack on Pip’s sister, she can no longer communicate except by writing, and Biddy moves in to help take care of her. Much has changed in the house as the result of the attack. Think of a situation where someone has become seriously sick or injured. Explain what happened to cause the change in the person, how the person must now live differently, and how the change has altered the lives of others who have contact with this person. If you do not know someone that this has happened to, do some research and write about a famous person like Michael J. Fox, Christopher Reeves, or Stephen King.

C h a p t e r 1 7

Pip starts to see Biddy differently now that she is living in their home. At times, he realizes that she is even better than Estella. Make a list showing at least five things that Biddy has done or said that show her to be a good person.

C h a p t e r 1 8

In this chapter, Pip finds out from Mr. Jaggers that he will now be brought up as a gentleman. Imagine that his happened to you. Write a conversation between yourself and a classmate where you discuss the pros and cons of this. Your conversation might begin as follows:

Classmate: Aren’t you excited about the new opportunities you’ll have as a gentleman? You’ll go to a better school and have privileges that we don’t.

You: True, but I…

C h a p t e r 1 9

Heading off to his new life in London, Pip leaves Joe and Biddy rather easily, whistling as he walks away. Down the road, though, he sobs and breaks into tears. Imagine that you are writing your own book about your life, years from now. Write the section that describes a time when you were embarking on something new. Be sure to explain your conflicting perspectives and reactions to the upcoming change.

C h a p t e r 2 0

When Pip arrives in London, it is not exactly what he expected. Make a list of at least six items or descriptions that show why it’s disappointing.

C h a p t e r 2 3

Pip makes it to the Pocket family house, where he meets the parents, servants, and the Pocket children. For someone who has lived a life as an only child, it can be quite an adjustment to be in a home with many people. Imagine you are Pip and are keeping a journal about your new life in London. Write an entry describing what it was like to meet the Pocket household. Your entry might begin as follows:

Date:______

Today, I went to dinner at the Pocket home. It was quite an experience. Accustomed to being alone, the atmosphere was…

C h a p t e r 2 5

Pip takes up Wemmick’s offer of having dinner with him at his home. The castle he lives in is quite unique, and Pip asks him what Jaggers thinks of it. Wemmick says Jaggers has never been there because he keeps his home and work completely separate from each other. Do you agree with this concept? Write an opinion piece that could be printed in a newspaper explaining your perspective. Be sure to back it up with examples.

C h a p t e r 2 6

Jaggers invites Pip and three of his acquaintances to dinner at his home. Pip is surprised to see that Jaggers is so intrigued by Drummle. Think of a time when a variety of people you knew mixed with someone else you knew, but who has just been introduced to the rest of the group. Describe the interaction between the new person and the others. How do they get along? Who gets along best and why? Are you surprised?

C h a p t e r 2 7

When Joe comes to see Pip in London, both men are uncomfortable, and Joe remarks, “I’m wrong in these clothes,” speaking of the good clothes he has put on for the occasion. Choose two people you know, and for each explain whether the person is comfortable being in varied situations and how you know this. Provide a description of the person in that person’s usual setting and then in a most unusual setting. Explain how the person acts in each instance and how others respond.

C h a p t e r 3 0

When Pip tells Herbert how strongly he feels about Estella, Herbert asks him if he has noticed that the children of parents who have not had good marriages often rush into marriage. From your experience, explain why you agree or disagree with this. Support your opinion with good examples. Write your explanation as if you are writing an opinion piece that will be printed in a teen magazine.

C h a p t e r 3 1

Mr. Wopsle has left his job at the church to become an actor. When Herbert and Pip watch his performance, they, like others in the audience laugh. Many in the audience yell out at Wopsle, trying to embarrass him. Afterwards, the boys do not let on to Wopsle that he needs to improve. Do you agree that sometimes it is best to lie? Write your answer as if it will appear on the editorial/opinion page of your school newspaper. Provide support for your opinions.

C h a p t e r 3 2

In this chapter, and others, Pip gets a taste of the people Jaggers works with, and Wemmick, once again, praises Jaggers. Pip, however, says, “To confess the truth, I very heartily wished, and not for the first time, that I had had some other guardian of minor abilities.” In about two paragraphs or more, explain why Pip would say this.

C h a p t e r 3 3

When Pip leaves Estella at her new home, he thinks, “…how happy I should be if I lived there with her, and knowing that I never was happy with her, but always miserable.” Think of a person that you had some strong mixed feelings about, but that you continued to have contact with (perhaps you were not given a choice). Write a letter to Pip telling him of your own experience, your conflicting perspectives about it, why the contact persisted, and how you might have seen it differently after the contact stopped.

C h a p t e r 3 5

When Pip goes home for his sister’s funeral, he is angry that Biddy questions his remark that he will now frequently come and visit. Yet at the end of the chapter, we read that, in fact, Biddy was right and that Pip does not come back. Write a letter to someone who did not live up to a promise made to you. Let the person know how this affected you at the time and how you see the situation and the person now.

C h a p t e r 3 7

Pip tells Wemmick a number of reasons why he wants to help Herbert financially. List at least four of these reasons and explain why Pip also says that Herbert might have been better off without him.

C h a p t e r 3 8

Pip still has strongly conflicted feelings about Estella; even though he is never happy with her, he still imagines spending the rest of his life with her. Make a list of at least five of Estella’s negative characteristics shown in this chapter. Then, in at least one paragraph, make a prediction about Estella’s future. Describe what you think the rest of her life will be like.

C h a p t e r 3 9

Pip finds out that Miss Havisham is not the one who has left the money for him and that she, therefore, has not planned for him to become a gentleman so he can marry Estella. The convict is happy to have created a gentleman, but he does not realize how he has badly affected Pip’s life by having kept his identity a secret. Do some research to find out how secrets can seriously affect people’s lives. For example, you might want to do research about adopted children looking for their real parents, or about criminals who finally admit their crimes. In a few paragraphs explain why the people feel the need to get to the bottom of the secret and how they feel before and after the secret becomes known.

C h a p t e r 4 1

Herbert tells Pip that the only way to disentangle himself from the convict is to first take him out of England, where he is in danger of being put to death. Sometimes circumstances require people to make difficult decisions. Create a list showing the pros and cons of this decision, and then write a short explanation of what you would do if you were Pip and why.

C h a p t e r 4 2

When Pip asks Magwitch about his life, Magwitch explains that he has constantly been in and out of jail and punished in many other ways. He never knew who his parents were and had to learn to take care of himself. Research organizations that exist today and offer help to children or adults with these backgrounds. Choose at least two and describe what kind of help they offer.

C h a p t e r 4 3

When Pip, on his way to Miss Havisham’s house, accidentally meets Drummle, the two get into a confrontation. One of the things that happens is that each of them refuses to yield any space in front of the fireplace to the other. Think of a time when you saw people almost get into a fight. Describe in a few paragraphs what they did. Looking back on the situation, describe whether there was anything that they did that seemed foolish or maybe even funny. What was it that kept the fight from happening?

C h a p t e r 4 4

There were times in the book when Pip did not stand up for himself (for example, when his sister treated him poorly). In this chapter, though, Pip confronts Estella and Miss Havisham and tells them what he truly thinks. Describe the situation to a fellow classmate who has not yet read this chapter. Explain how you felt when reading it and how you perceived Pip.

C h a p t e r 4 5

Pip has another sleepless night when he abides by Wemmick’s note and does not go home to his own bed to sleep. All night he wonders what has happened and if Magwitch and Herbert are unharmed. Recall a time when you couldn’t wait to get some news (whether good or bad). Write a journal entry about what you did to pass the time, how you felt, what you imagined would happen once you had the news.

C h a p t e r 4 6

In this chapter, Pip finally meets Herbert’s girlfriend and is very impressed by her. Make a list of at least five of her traits. For each trait, try to list an example of it. For example, you might write the following: Clara is patient; she immediately runs to her demanding father when he calls for her.

C h a p t e r 4 9

Miss Havisham now looks at Pip with fear, compassion, pity, and affection, having changed as a result of the things he said at their last meeting. She continually asks for forgiveness. Focus solely on her dialogue, in this chapter and others, and make a list of at least four negative things she has said and at least four positive things she has said.

C h a p t e r 5 0

We learn that Pip has been rather seriously burned from saving Miss Havisham. If, instead of Pip, another character had been present when Miss Havisham was in trouble, would that person have also saved her? Choose any three characters and provide your reasoning.

C h a p t e r 5 1

Jaggers explains his belief that the knowledge of who Estella’s parents are would not benefit Estella. He also says that it would not help the parents to know that they are actually very physically near each other; nor would it help to let the father know that Estella is alive. Explain in a few paragraphs whether you agree or disagree with his assumptions about each of these three people gaining anything from the information.

C h a p t e r 5 4

As Pip, Startop, Herbert, and Provis ride in the boat that hopefully will get Provis to safety, Pip notices that the man who can be killed if he is found out is the least anxious of the group. Pip thinks that Provis does not worry so much now since he has been through so many other awful things. Explain in a few paragraphs whether you believe that people who have lived a tough life become stronger or weaker, and whether they worry less or more than they did when their lives were easier.

C h a p t e r 5 6

Only moments before Magwitch dies, Pip tells him that his daughter is actually still alive, is beautiful, and that he loves her. Write a conversation between you and a classmate, where you discuss why you think Pip waited until this moment to tell Magwitch, and what would have happened if Magwitch had begged to see her.

C h a p t e r 5 7

Joe comes back to take care of Pip because he is very sick. It is only after Joe has left that Pip finds out that Joe has paid off his debt and kept him from being arrested. Write a description of Joe, addressing, among other traits, whether you think he is a push-over or a kind person (remember how his wife had treated him as well) and what the reason might be that he has learned to write.

C h a p t e r 5 8

Pip has been thinking about asking Biddy to marry him, and finally sets off to do so. As he walks around the land of his old home, he thinks how readily his life will improve with Biddy at his side. Yet, when Pip finally finds Biddy and Joe, it turns out that it is their wedding day. Pip has suffered a number of disappointments throughout the book. Imagine that you can change at least one thing in his life; rewrite that part of his life.

C h a p t e r 5 9

At the end of the book, Pip tells Estella, “You have always held your place in my heart.” Describe the pros and cons of loving someone forever. (You do not have to talk only about the romantic love between a man and woman.) Be sure to bring up the issue of loving someone who treats you badly.

W r a p - u p

A great twist in Great Expectations is the fact that Estella looks down on Pip because he is “common” and that she is repulsed by jailed prisoners. It is ironic that she herself is the daughter of a poor woman accused of murder and a poor man who has been in and out of jail his whole life. Throughout the book, people aside from Estella also make judgments about others based on their social standing. Write a few paragraphs explaining what you think Dickens wants us to think about this. In his book, for example, think about the characteristics of the various people. Are those in the upper classes better, more generous, or happier than those with less money?