Great Expectations

By Charles Dickens

A novel by

February 7, 1812

By: Cheyenne Noda

Period 5

“I used to stand about the church yard comparing my own perspective with the windy marsh view…”

“… two fat sweltering one-pound notes…”

“I used to stand about the churchyard… comparing my own perspective with the windy marsh view.”

“were out on the marshes…”

“… might I like to take a walk about London.”

“He advised my attending certain places in London…”

“I am going up to my guardian in London.”

“Ours was the marsh country, down by the river as the river wound…”

“…and began to see the sails of the ships…”

“… the dark flat wilderness beyond the churchyard…”

Victorian Era Five-Pound Coin (1887)

Farthing= ¼ penny ½ Penny= ½ penny Penny= 1/240th pound=1/12

shilling Sixpence/tanner= 1/40th

pound= ½ shilling= 6 pennies• Note:”pence” is plural for

pennies Shilling/bob= 1/20th pound=

12 pence Half Crown= 1/8th pound= 2

shillings & 6 pence Crown= ¼ pound= 5 shillings

farthing½ Penny

Penny Sixpence

Shilling Crown Half Crown

Half Sovereign= ½ pound= 10 shillings

Sovereign= 1 pound= 20 shillings

1 guinea= 1 pound= 20 shillings

2£ coin= two pounds= 40 shillings

5£ coin= five pounds= 100 shillings

Half Sovereign

Sovereign

Two Pound

Five Pound

“’Pip has earned a premium here,’ she said, ‘and here it is. There are five-and-twenty guineas in this bag. Give it to your master, Pip.’” (p. 93)

“’You’ll want some money. Shall I leave you twenty guineas?’” (p.130)

“’I suppose you make it twenty pounds,’ said I, smiling. “ (p.182)

“ I was afraid of stating it, for it sounded a large sum. ‘Nine hundred pounds.’” (p.364)

“‘BIDDY,” SAID I, AFTER BINDING HER TO SECRECY,

‘I WANT TO BE A GENTLEMAN.’” (P.117)

Victorian Social Classes

Victorian Social Classes

Upper ClassMiddle ClassWorking/Lower Class

Upper Class

Wealth came from inheritance “’But he [Miss Havisham’s father] softened when he

was dying, and left him well off, though not nearly so well off as Miss Havisham.’” (p.165)

Completed education signified availability for marriage “’Abroad,” said Miss Havisham; “educating for a lady,

far out of reach; prettier than ever; admired by all who see her.’” (p.107)

Either called a “gentleman” or a “lady”

Being a Gentleman

Usually joined various social groups and societies “At Startop’s suggestion, we put ourselves down for election

into a club called the Finches of the Grove…” (p.251)Chivalric moral codeRespectable occupation

“‘I don't know why it should be a crack thing to be a brewer; but it is indisputable that while you cannot possibly be genteel and bake, you may be as genteel as never was and brew.’”

Must be educated “‘It is considered that you must be better educated, in

accordance with your altered position, and that you will be alive to the importance and necessity of at once entering on that advantage.’” (p.128)

Middle Class

Only men provided the incomeMade up of the gentry

“It further appeared that the book I had seen Mrs. Pocket reading in the garden was all about titles, and that she knew the exalt date at which her grandpapa would have come into the book.” (p.176)

Consisted of bankers, shopkeepers, merchants, and other professionals

Newest social class in the Victorian Era

“I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY OF BEING ALONE IN THE COURT-YARD TO LOOK AT MY COARSE HANDS AND MY COMMON BOOTS. MY OPINION OF THOSE

ACCESSORIES WERE NOT FAVORABLE.” (P.56)

Working Class

Most lived in villages secluded from cities “The journey from our town to the metropolis was a journey of about five

hours. It was a little past midday when the four-horse stage-coach by which I was a passenger got into the ravel of traffic frayed out about the Cross Keys, Wood Street, Cheapside, London.” (p.148)

Had very little chance for education, and if they had the privilege, very poor quality “Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt kept an evening school in the village’ that is to

say, she was a ridiculous old woman of limited means and unlimited infirmity who used to go to sleep from six to seven every evening in the society of youth who paid twopence per week each for it…” (p.39)

Poor living and working conditionsHeavily segregated from upper classes

“’two persons.. One, the younger, well brought up, who will be spoken to as such; one, the elder, ill brought up, who will be spoken to as such…’” (p.321)

Prison HulkA prison hulk was a hulk

used as a floating prison. They were used in Great Britain, the Royal Navy producing a steady supply of ships too worn-out to use in combat, but still can float.

“… “… Hulks are prison-ships right’ Hulks are prison-ships right’ cross th’ meshes.”cross th’ meshes.”

“The Queen of Denmark, a very buxom lady, though no doubt historically braze…” (234)

“… her waist being encircled by another, and each or her arms by another, so that she was openly, mentioned as ‘the kettle drum’.”(234)

Kettle Drum

Queen of DenmarkLouise of Hesse was born in September 7, 1817 and died on September 29, 1989 of age 81. She was a German Princess and the queen of Denmark. Louise was married to her cousin Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg and had two daughters. She ruled through November 5, 1863 to September 29, 1898.

Kettle DrumA type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet.

'Industrial Revolution' A period of major industrialization that took place during the late 1700s and early

1800s. The Industrial Revolution, beginning in Great Britain, quickly spread throughout the world. This time period saw the mechanization of agriculture and textile manufacturing and a revolution in power and had a massive effect on social, cultural and economic conditions. Also it had child labor, which the children whose family needed more help in money to feed their families.

Pip had the choice to go to London and study from the help of Mrs. Havisham. But

the other children who had to work didn’t have the same luck as Pip. Pip is very lucky.

“…my sister leading the way in a very large beaver bonnet, and carrying a basket like the Great Seal of England in planted straw...”(91)

Cathedrals

“… I have seen hanging up cathedrals.”(283)

CathedralsIs a Christian church

that contains the seat of a bishop.

Bonnets

BonnetsBonnets are a variety of headgear.

Pip lives in the country side with his sister and Joe.

But then he has the chance to move to London to go study.

“Finally, I remember that when I got into my little bedroom I was truly wretched, and had a strong conviction on me that I should never like Joe’s trade. I had liked it once, but once was not now”(97).

‘“You may be sure, dear Joe,’ I went on, after we had shaken hands, ‘that I shall never forget you’”(136).

‘“Estella,’ said I turning to her now, and trying to command my trembling voice, ‘you know I love you. You know that I have loved you long and dearly’”(331).

“My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Phillip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip. So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip”(3).

‘“You must know,’ said Estella, condescending to me as a beautiful woman might, ‘that I have no heart…(235).

“Well, I thought I overheard Miss Havisham answer-only it seemed so unlikely- ‘Well, you can break his heart”(59).

ABEL MAGWITCH

“‘Yes, Pip, dear boy, I’ve made a gentleman on you!’”(315)

Conflicts“‘You made your own snares. I never made them’”(330).

“I wished Joe had been rather more genteelly brought up, and that I should have been so too”(57).

Themes

“He says, no varnish can hide the grain of the wood; and that the more varnish you put on, the more the grain will express itself”(165).