Penguin Readers Factsheets
T e a c h e r’s n o t e s
Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens
S U M M A R Y
reat Expectations, published in 1860–1861 in
G weekly episodes, is the most popular of the great
novels of Dickens’ maturity.
Pip is an orphan. He lives with his sister, who is married
to a blacksmith, Joe Gargery. One day Pip helps a convict
who has escaped from a prison ship. The convict is then
recaptured after fighting with another convict, who was
his deadly enemy. When Pip is older, he is sent to play at
the house of a rich woman, Miss Havisham, who was
deserted on her wedding day and is bringing up a
beautiful little girl, Estella, to revenge herself on men. A
few years later, a mysterious benefactor enables Pip to
leave the blacksmith’s forge and to be educated as a
gentleman in London. As a young man with ‘great
expectations’ he is now ashamed of his humble
background and hopes to acquire an education so that he
will be worthy of marriage to Estella. He believes that Miss
Havisham is his benefactor and this is what she has
planned, but there are surprises in store for him. Pip
gradually discovers how all the characters he has met are
connected, and this causes him to review his own life and
feel ashamed at the way he behaved as a result of coming
into ‘great expectations’.
ABOUT CHARLES DICKENS
Charles Dickens, the best-known English novelist, was
born in 1812, the son of a Royal Navy clerk, and grew up
in ports Portsmouth and Chatham before the family
moved to London when he was 10. His father was
imprisoned for debt in 1824 and Charles was sent out to
work until a legacy freed his father and enabled him to
complete his education. He became a shorthand writer
and journalist, reporting debates in the House of
Commons, and with the publication of Pickwick Papers
(1836–7) achieved immediate fame. He was the first writer
to reach a mass audience in Britain and the United States,
publishing his novels in weekly episodes, and he
subsequently edited magazines in which his work and
that of other well-known writers first appeared.
Following his autobiographical novel David Copperfield
(1849–50), Dickens took more care in planning the great
novels of his maturity, which analyse the nature of
Victorian society. Dickens married Kate Hogarth in 1836
and they had ten children, but two years before writing
Great Expectations, he had separated from her and begun
a secret relationship with a young actress, Ellen Ternan,
which lasted until his death in 1870.
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ADVANCED
BACKGROUND AND THEMES
The early Victorian era, lasting from about 1830 to 1860
and covering most of Dickens’ career, was a period of
immense social change. The enormous expansion of
trade as a result of the Industrial Revolution and the
invention of the railways was accompanied by political
reform, giving power to the middle classes, and setting up
numerous social reforms aimed at improving sanitation
and working conditions. Dickens played an active part in
promoting reforms by awakening the conscience of the
middle classes through his novels, although in many
cases the abuses Dickens referred to had already been
removed. For example, the practice of confining prisoners
to hulks in the Thames belonged to his childhood and had
ceased by 1860.
It was also during this period that the novel first reached
all classes of society, and also became respectable as an
art form. Until the 1830s novels were expensive and only
read by the middle classes, who generally preferred to
read poetry or essays, but when penny magazines were
established, appearing weekly, novels could be serialized
and read by everyone. Dickens, first as author and then as
magazine editor, was the foremost exponent of this kind
of production and soon became the best-known novelist
in the English-speaking world. Perhaps his greatest
contribution to society was in making it possible for
ordinary people to read novels at prices they could afford,
which led to literacy rising in the population from 50% to
97% by the end of the century.
The technique of publishing in weekly episodes, with
the need for an exciting climax to keep readers interested
and appeal to the widest possible audience, explains the
melodramatic features of Dickens’ novels and their
reliance on coincidence. Though in his mature novels like
Great Expectations he planned more thoroughly than
before, it is hard for us nowadays to accept as realistic the
links between the past lives of Magwitch, Compeyson,
Miss Havisham and Estella, but these were the twists in
the plot that his original audience loved. His popularity
endures today for different reasons, because of the power
of his imagination, which fills the novels with so many
memorable characters and scenes.
Great Expectations belongs to the sequence of great
novels anatomizing Victorian society that Dickens began
with Bleak House (1853). In particular, it contrasts the
materialistic aspirations of the middle classes with the
simple but honest lives of ‘the deserving poor’. Dickens

Penguin Readers Factsheets
T e a c h e r’s n o t e s
focuses on the way in which Pip is corrupted by his ‘great
expectations’. He becomes ashamed of his relationship
with the kind blacksmith, Joe Gargery (see p. 53) and is
horrified to discover that his benefactor is not the rich but
bitterly revengeful Miss Havisham but the ex-convict,
Magwitch. He only achieves regeneration when he admits
his faults and returns to poverty (see p. 102).
The novel reflects much of Dickens’ personal
experience. It begins on the marshes in the Thames
estuary where he had spent five years of his childhood
and he was once more living nearby in the fine house he
had dreamed of owning when he was young. While Pip is
not so clearly an autobiographical figure as David
Copperfield, the legacy that had enabled Dickens to
resume his own education had been a stroke of luck like
Pip’s great expectations, even if Dickens had afterwards
made better use of it by hard work.
Communicative activities
The following teacher-led activities cover the same
sections of text as the exercises at the back of the
reader and supplement those exercises. For
supplementary exercises covering shorter sections of
the book, see the photocopiable Student’s Activities
pages of the Factsheet. These are primarily for use with
class readers but with the exception of pair/group work
questions, can also be used by students working alone
in a self-access centre.
ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK
Put students into small groups. Ask them to discuss:
What do you know of English society during the period
when this novel takes place (about 1820-40)? What
system of crime and punishment existed? What was the
usual punishment, for instance, for stealing?
ACTIVITIES AFTER READING A SECTION
Chapters 1–7
Students work in pairs. Imagine the convict did not say he
had stolen from Joe Gargery’s house (p. 13). Pip tells Joe
the truth. Act out the conversation.
Chapters 8–13
Put students into small groups and ask them to discuss:
What difference, if any, will Pip’s great expectations make
to the way in which he is regarded by (a) Joe; (b) Biddy;
(c) Mr Pumblechook; (d) Estella?
Chapters 14–18
Students work in pairs. They are Herbert and Pip. They
act out a conversation:
Herbert wants to give Pip sensible advice about Estella.
Will she ever love him as he loves her? Will he ever be
able to marry her? Does Pip accept Herbert’s advice? Act
out the conversation.
Chapters 19–22
Put students into small groups. Ask them to discuss these
questions. Make a note of the guesses the groups make;
they will discover the answers later in the book!
1 Did you guess that the convict was Pip’s benefactor?
What made you think so?
2 Dickens liked to connect characters together in
surprising ways. Decide which of the characters you
© Pearson Education 2000
level
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have already met
(a) was going to marry Miss Havisham;
(b) took Estella to Miss Havisham when she was very
small;
(c) is Estella’s father?
Give reasons for your guesses.
Chapters 23–27
Put students into small groups. Now that they know the
answers to the previous exercise, ask them to discuss
these questions:
(a) Are the connections between the characters in Great
Expectations believable?
(b) Are any of the connections more or less believable
than the rest?
Chapters 28–32
Put students into small groups and ask them to discuss
this question.
The success of novels told in the first person generally
depends on how we respond to the character telling the
story. How do you respond to Pip? How do you react to
the changes in his personality in the course of the novel?
ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK
Put students into small groups to discuss this question:
What were Pip’s ‘great expectations’? What effect did
they have on his life? Was it good or bad? What do you
think, from Dickens’ point of view, is the moral of his
story?
Glossary
It will be useful for your students to know the following new words.
They are practised in the ‘Before You Read’sections of exercises at
the back of the book. (Definitions are based on those in the Longman
Active Study Dictionary.)
Chapters 1–7
blacksmith (n) someone who makes and repairs things made of iron
brewery (n) a place where beer is made
contempt (n) a feeling that someone does not deserve respect
convict (n) someone who has been found guilty of a crime and sent
to prison
dismissive (adj) refusing to take a person or idea seriously
forge (n) a place where metal objects are made by heating and
shaping them
gin (n) a strong alcoholic drink
gravy (n) sauce made with the juices of meat while it is cooking
handcuffs (n) metal rings joined by a chain to hold a prisoner’s wrists
together
hulk (n) an old ship used in the early nineteenth century as a prison
marsh (n) an area of soft, low wet land
pantry (n) a room near the kitchen where food is kept
tar (n) a black sticky substance used for making roads
veil (n) a thin piece of material for covering a woman’s face
Chapters 8–13
benefactor (n) someone who gives money or help to someone else
cobweb (n) a structure made by spiders to catch insects
guardian (n) someone who is legally responsible for someone else’s
child
Chapters 14–18
lure (v) to persuade someone to do something by a trick
Chapters 28–32
cloak (n) warm clothing like a coat without sleeves
lime-kiln (n) an oven where lime, a white powdery substance, is
heated to make cement
Publis hed and d is tribut ed by Pearson Ed ucation
F act s heet wri tte n by W S Fowler
Factsheet series developed by Louise James
 Penguin Readers Factsheets level

Student’s activities 1

2
Great Expectations 3

Photocopiable 4
These activities can be done alone or with one or more
other students. Pair/group-on;y activities are marked. 5

Activities before reading the book 6

Read the last two paragraphs of the introduction in your (b) Why is the cake on the table covered with dust
book. With another student, discuss these questions: and cobwebs? ADVANCED
What do Pip’s ‘great expectations’ consist of? How (c) Why is Pip surprised when he fights the pale
would you react if you were a poor orphan but suddenly young gentleman?
became rich at the age of 16 or 17? How would you (d) Why do you think Estella allows Pip to kiss her?
spend the money? Do you think it would make a (e) What does Miss Havisham hope that Estella will
difference to your attitude to life? do?
(f) What makes Pip ashamed of being trained to
Activities while reading the book work as a blacksmith?
2 Talk with another student:
CHAPTERS 1–7
What effect is Estella having on Pip?
Chapters 1–5
Complete these sentences: Chapters 11–13
(a) Pip has gone to the churchyard where he meets the 1 Work with another student. One plays the part of a
convict because ... policeman investigating the attack on Pip’s sister and
asks Pip questions. The other plays the part of Pip.
(b) The man is interested when Pip says he lives with a The policeman suspects Pip’s convict. Why? Pip does
blacksmith because ... not believe it. Why does he suspect Orlick?
(c) Pip promises to bring him ...
2 What do the characters on the left think or feel about
(d) When Pip gets home, he hears guns fired to show those on the right? Match them to the correct choice.
that ...
(e) There is more food and drink in the kitchen than usual (a) Pip – Biddy (i) He is grateful to her,
because ... thinking she is his
benefactor.
(f) The next morning, Pip sees a man and touches him
on the shoulder because ... (b) Pip – Estella (ii) He is in love with her,
(g) Mr Pumblechook starts coughing at the dinner table although she is proud.
because ...
(c) Biddy – Pip (iii) She is afraid of him,
(h) When the soldiers come to the door, Pip thinks at first although he is attracted
that ... to her.
(i) Pip’s convict says he didn’t kill the other convict
because ... (d) Biddy – Orlick (iv) She does not think
becoming a gentleman will
(j) Nobody suspects Pip of stealing because...
make him happy and
believes he will no longer
Chapters 6–7 listen to her.
Who says these words to whom and what are they
talking about? (e) Pip – himself (v) He pretends he has always
been his friend.
(a) Your sister is given to government, and she wouldn’t
like to have clever people in the house. (f) Mr Pumblechook – (vi) He is sad to say goodbye
Pip to him.
(b) Boy, be for ever grateful to all friends, but especially
to those who brought you up by hand! (g) Pip – Miss Havisham (vii) He thinks she is pleasant
(c) Its other name was Satis, which is Greek or Latin for but common.
enough.
(h) Pip – Joe Gargery (viii)He wants to be educated
(d) Beggar him.
and become a gentleman.

CHAPTERS 8–13 CHAPTERS 14 –18

Chapters 8–10 1 Answer these questions:
(a) How did Miss Havisham find out that she had a
1 Answer these questions: half-brother?
(a) What sort of work does Pip do for Miss (b) Why was he poor?
Havisham?

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Penguin Readers Factsheets
Student’s activities
(c) Why did Miss Havisham quar rel with Herbert’s
father?
(d) Why didn’t the man she loved marry her?
(e) How was this man connected to her half-
brother?
2 Who is being described in questions (a) and (b) and
who is speaking to whom in questions (c)–(g)?
(a) There was something wonderfully hopeful about
him that at the same time whispered to me that
he would never be successful or rich.
(b) If I could have kept him away by paying money I
certainly would have done so.
(c) You won’t find half so much fault in me if you
think of me in my forge dress.
(d) I’m not here for harm, young master, I suppose.
(e) You must know that I have no heart, no
sympathy, no feeling.
(f) You brought your love for her and your suitcase
here, together.
(g) I never was happy with her, but always sad.
CHAPTERS 19–22
1 Are these sentences true or false? Correct those that
are false.
(a) Pip gets into debt because Herbert’s lifestyle
makes him spend more.
(b) Biddy can no longer live with Joe now that his
wife is dead, but plans to look after him.
(c) Pip asks Mr Jaggers to express his thanks to his
benefactor, believing that it is Miss Havisham.
(d) Mr Jaggers arranges to provide an opening for
Herbert.
(e) Miss Havisham is pleased that Estella has grown
up to be proud and hard to everyone.
(f) Bentley Drummle proposes that they should drink
to Estella’s health although he does not know
her.
2 Talk with one or more other students.
What do you think of Pip’s behaviour towards the
following characters? Should he be proud or ashamed of
his actions? Then write a paragraph about one or more
of them: Joe, Herbert, Estella, the convict.
CHAPTERS 23–27
Put these pieces of information in the order in which Pip
discovers them. Who gives him the information or how
does he discover it?
(a) Compeyson was the man who was going to marry
Miss Havisham.
© Pearson Education 2000
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(b) Estella is going to mar ry Bentley Drummle.
(c) Jaggers brought Estella to Miss Havisham when she
was a little girl.
(d) Magwitch became Compeyson’s partner in crime.
(e) Estella’s mother is Mr Jaggers’ housekeeper.
(f) Magwitch is Estella’s father.
(g) The police are looking for Magwitch.
(h) Jaggers defended Estella’s mother when she was
accused of murder.
(i) The convict’s name is Abel Magwitch.
CHAPTERS 28–32
Chapters 28–30
Answer these questions:
(a) Why does Orlick want to kill Pip?
(b) Why does he say that Pip was to blame for what
happened to his sister?
(c) How were Herbert and Startop able to rescue Pip?
(d) Who told the police where to find Magwitch?
(e) In what way were Magwitch’s actions the same as
they had been many years earlier?
(f) Why is Pip poor again after Magwitch is arrested?
(g) What job does Herbert offer him, and where will he go
to take it up?
(h) What does Pip tell Magwitch before he dies?
Chapters 31–32
Write sentences explaining briefly what happens to the
following after Magwitch’s death: Pip; Joe and Biddy;
Orlick; Herbert; Estella.
Activities after reading the book
Talk with one or more other students:
Dickens originally ended the novel differently but before
correcting the final proofs from the printers he showed
the ending to his friend, the novelist, Bulwer Lytton. In
this version, Pip told Biddy that he did not dream of
Estella any more. Two years later, he met Estella, who
told him she had married again after Drummle’s death;
her second husband was kinder to her. Lytton persuaded
Dickens to change the ending to the present one,
suggesting that Pip may marry Estella.
Do you think Dickens was right to take Lytton’s advice?
Publish ed and distrib ute d by P earson E ducat ion
Factsheet written by W S Fowler
F ac tshee t s eri e s devel ope d by L ou ise J ames