Greater Expectations

(IZAMAR) 1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read according to the elements of plot you've learned in past courses (exposition, inciting incident, etc.). Explain how the narrative fulfills the author's purpose (based on your well-informed interpretation of same).

(IZAMAR) 2. Succinctly describe the theme of the novel. Avoid cliches.

(ERICA) 3. Describe the author's tone. Include a minimum of three excerpts that illustrate your point(s).

Dickens’ tone of voice throughout the novel is mysterious, reflective, and hurtful.

Ex1) Pg.1 “My first most vivid and broad impression of the identity of things, seems to me to have been gained on a memorable raw afternoon towards evening. At such a time I found out for certain, that this bleak place overgrown with nettles was the churchyard…”

In this excerpt in the novel Pip is reminiscing his childhood memories of the cemetery. He goes on to talk about his parents buried there.

Ex2) Pg.65 “He had stirred his rum-and-water pointedly at me, and he tasted it: not with a spoon that was brought to him, but with a file. It was not a verbal remark, but I saw the file; and when he had done it he wiped the file and put it in a breast-pocket. I knew it to be Joe’s file, and I knew that he knew my convict, the moment I saw the instrument."

Mystery creeps into the reader because we know not who the person with the file is. We can assume that he is a convict himself or someone who is planning to take revenge of Pip.

Ex3) pg.127 “He presently stood at the door immediately beneath me, smoking his pipe, and Biddy stood there too, and I knew they talked of me, for I heard my name mentioned in an endearing tone by both of them. I drew away from the window, and sat down in my one chair by the bedside, feeling it very sorrowful and strange that this first night of my bright fortunes should be the loneliest I had ever known.”

Pip feels bad that he is going to leave Joe and Biddy. He is so thankful for them, but he wants to become a gentleman so much that he decides to go off with his new master.

(NAKEESHA) 4. Describe a minimum of ten literary elements/techniques you observed that strengthened your understanding of the author's purpose, the text's theme and/or your sense of the tone. For each, please include textual support to help illustrate the point for your readers. (Please include edition and page numbers for easy reference.)

CHARACTERIZATION

(ERICA) 1. Describe two examples of direct characterization and two examples of indirect characterization. Why does the author use both approaches, and to what end (i.e., what is your lasting impression of the character as a result)?

Direct:

Ex1) Pg.1 “A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin.”

Pip’s description of the convict.

Ex2) Pg.47 “She was dressed in rich material-satins, and lace,and silks-all of white. Her shoes were white. And she had a long white veil dependent from her hair, and she had bridal flowers in her hair, but her hair was white. Some bright jewels sparkled on her neck and on her hands, and some other jewels lay sparkling on the table.”

Pip’s description of Miss Havisham.

Indirect:

Ex1) Pg. 4 “You bring me, tomorrow morning early, that file and them wittles. You do it and never dare to say a word or dare to make a sign concerning your having seen such a person as me and you shall be let to live. You fail, or you go from my words in any partickler, and your heart and your liver shall be tore out, roasted and ate.”

The convict is very desperate. He is controlling and intimidating towards Pip because Pip is his only chance at the moment. Pip is gullible and young, such an easy target for the convict to get what he wants.

Ex2) Pg. 50 “Well? You can break his heart.”
Pg.51 “I think she is very proud.” I replied, in a whisper.
“Anything else?”
“I think she is very pretty.”
“Anything else?”
“I think she is very insulting.”
“Anything else?”
“I think I should like to go home.”
“You shall go soon,” said Miss Havisham, aloud.
“Play the game out.”

We know that Miss Havisham hates men and that she want to make all of them suffer. She wants Estella to break Pip’s heart and he wants Pip to proclaim that he likes Estella out loud. She want to embarrass him and make him suffer.

Dickens’ uses both approaches to these characters so that the reader may know the character in more than one way. With seeing two ways the character is described or seen as it is much easier for the reader to pick a side. I know it always personally helps me to see the direct characterization first because I can picture the character in my head and come up with an image and then indirect characterization helps me put my thoughts together with the character’s actions. I believe that Miss Havisham is an evil and bitter old women and that the convict is not necessarily bad he is just very desperate and is trying to survive.

(ERICA) 2. Does the author's syntax and/or diction change when s/he focuses on character? How? Example(s)?

In this novel there is social classes existing. In the upper class characters there is better structure and punctuation in their speech than in the lower class characters.

Low –Class Speakers:

Ex1) The Convict: Pg.4 “There is a young men hid with me, who has a secret way pecooliar to himself, of getting at a boy, and at his heart, and at his liver. It is in wain for a boy to attempt to hide himself from that young man.”

Ex2) Mrs. Joe: Pg.17 “And where the deuce ha’ you been?”
”Ah well!”
“You might ha’ done worse.”

High Class Speakers:

Ex1) Uncle Pumblechook: Pg. 19 “ a large hard-breathing middle-aged slow man, with a mouth like a fish, dull starring eyes, and sandy hair standing upright on his head, “I have brought you, mum, a bottle of sherry wine-and I have brought you, Mum, a bottle of port wine.”

Ex2) Jaggers: Pg.119 “From ainformation I have received,’said he, looking round at us as we all quailed before him, I have reason to believe there is a blacksmith among you, by name Joseph-or Joe-Gargery. Which is the man?”

(MIRANDA) 3. Is the protagonist static or dynamic? Flat or round? Explain.

(MIRANDA) 4. After reading the book did you come away feeling like you'd met a person or read a character? Analyze one textual example that illustrates your reaction.

Here you go girls. Hope this helps. Feel free to add anything!
-Erica Marquez

1. Pip was visiting his mom and dad at the cemetery.

2. A homeless creep convict came to him took his bread and threatened to eat his kidneys and heart if he did not bring him food every day.

3. Pip lives with his abusive sister and her nice husband the blacksmith.

4. Joe is very nice to Pip. Pip considers him his only friend.

5. Pip stops eating and put his bread in his pocket in order to feed the convict.

6. On Christmas dinner some family comes over and they all gather to eat.

7. Everyone bags on Pip and discuss how young boys are up to no good.

8. Soldiers come to the house and ask for pip and Joe’s help to find some convicts.

9. They end up finding to convicts. One tries to act as the victim and says the other convict wanted to murder him. The convict recognizes Pip.

10. The convict tells Joe how he has been eating his food. Joe does not make too much out of it. They head back home. Joe tells the family and they all come up with thoughts on how he could have got in their home. They conclude through the chimney.

Greater Expectations

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Dickens' Class Notes

VOCABULARY

Literature Analysis (in progress)

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Pg.1-40 summary REMIX