Monday, December 10, 2012

Literary Analysis #4 Great Expectations


1.       A quick summary of  Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is that it is a story about a young boy named Pip. His parents are deceased and is living with his sister and her husband. At the beginning of the story his attacked by a convict; but soon after the convict is picked up. Then Pip is taken by his uncle to Lady Havisham who is quite her own character. There he meets a young girl named Estella. There Pip falls in love with her but she treats him horribly. He still continues to love her in hops that he will become a gentleman that will be able to marry her. Miss Havisham has a different plan for him to become a common laborer. Pip then works for his brother-in-law who is a blacksmith.  Then he hears great news that there is someone in London who wants to help him become a gentlemen and send him to school. In London he continues to go to school and befriends Herbert Pocket where the run up a lot of debts while in London. When he reached 21 he finally began to receive his fortune. Then his sister dies so he returns home for the funeral. Where the convict returns and tells him that he has been the supplyer of his money. Later on he finds outs that the convicts name is Magwitch and that his daughter is Estella and she has been raised to hate young men and break their hearts.  As time goes buy Pip find outs that Estella is to get married and that Miss Havisham has set herself on fire.  Then Pip tries to help Magwitch escape but he fails in the attempt and sentenced to death.  Soon after he discovers that Estella’s husband has died and when they meet and talk about the past they end up walking away hand and hand.

2.       I believe the theme of the story has to do with social class. Throughout this whole story it had always been a basis of a social class. Pip was a commoner who wanted to become a gentlemen to show that he was worth something in order to marry Estella. Miss Havishman was of a higher class. Although she despised men she still did not care about what Pip wanted but helped him stay a common laborer.

3.       The author’s tone is a bit hopeful. Though out the story Pip hopes that he can become a gentleman is order to be worthy of Estella. Miss Havishim hopes that she can raise Estella to hate men and break their hearts as she got her heart broken.  Magwitch hopes that he can finally escape.

4.       Metaphor-"... think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day."

Setting- "As I was looking out at the iron gate of Bartholomew Close into Little Britain, I saw Miss Jaggers coming across the road towards me."

Point of view-"I looked all around for the horrible young man, and could see no signs of him."

 

1.       An example  of direct characterization is “ a man in all coarse gray” and an example of indirect characterization is when Miss Havishim is describing Pip it reveals that she is a very sour lady.

2.       I think he changes his syntax when he focuses on other characters.

3.        Pip is a round and dynamic character because he changed from becoming a hard worker to a gentlemen.

4.       After reading this novel and basing it on my final presentation I think I felt connected to Pip.  Pip is genuine guy. He is very nice and caring especially when he forgives Estella.  

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