As you accompany Pip on his journey to become a gentleman,you may experience some challenges. I will post several discussion questions to help you reflect and interact with others on your reading of Great Expectations.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Chapters 1-7
What kind of narrator is Pip? Why do you think Dickens chooses Pip,a child, as narrator?
What questions or reactions do you have to the first seven chapters?
Pip brings a childish point of view into the novel which -although it's nowhere near the same times we live in today- is relatable to some degree. Although it's a slightly childish take on Pip's story, he seems (to me, at least) to bring in an unsurmountable depth and sophistication to the novel. It shows his maturity. Perhaps it's to stress the point that Pip didn't have much of a 'run-of-the-mill' childhood (based on his bringing-up-by-hand from his sister). Although I am interested in the novel and i enjoy it, I find it hard to get through at some points. Some times the language and -in my opinion- dragging out of the events gets me really confused and it's hard to follow... I'm sure it'll get easier in time.
The narrator in the novel Great Expectations is named Pip, and throughout the novel he shares stories of himself when he was a young boy living under his older sister’s rules. While Pip is telling these stories he tells them to the reader by using mature language. However, the narrator Pip tells his stories from the eyes of when he was a young boy. I feel that Charles Dickens wanted the narrator to be a child because it shows a sense of innocence and how Pip is very naïve. If it was an adult there wouldn’t be as much curiosity and questioning of certain events and the way life is. So far I have been enjoying this novel very much! While reading Great Expectations it makes me think of the novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. This is because Twain uses similar language throughout and has the story be told from the point of view of a child/ young boy. -Dayna Weintraub
I think the main reason he chose Pip for a narrator was that he can't get the same image of innocence you get with a child narrator, while still being able to make wise remarks and pointed observations. "By Hand" for instance. I like the book primarily because of Pip's narration, but I really want Mrs. Joe to get strong comeuppance, but I have the feeling Dickens will just make her a better person, which is also acceptable. I just hope those jerks at the Christmas meal don't just fade into the woodwork. But yeah, the book is shaping up after the first couple chapters. ~Oliver Stein
Due to Pip having a naive, childish personality creating him as a narator caused a new way of thinking come into the book. The readers now read though a immature mind and are constantly seeing Pip analyze things. For instance, if it was and adult narrator the cross examinations and immaturity wouldnt take place. By allowing the immiturity and questioning it helps the readers get Pip's point of view without having to search much for it. The first seven chapters showed me that it would be hard for me to understand the book unless I took it page by page and think about what I read after I read each page. The seven chapters allowed me to warm up to the book and understand the charecters before the climax took place. At first, I didn't really understand what the "file" was and it confused me for why he needed it but later on in the book, I figured it out. - Kerry Schwartz
-Great Expectations is written through the perspective of Pip, a young credulous boy. Being that the main events revolve around Pip and his actions, Dickens may have chosen him to be the narrator in hope the reader will have a better understanding of the events and Pips feelings toward them. It also unique in a way that we can experience the book through a young mind like Pips. -Although the form in which the book is written is some what challenging and involves more processing I can still comprehend what is happening. Also, being that it was written in an earlier time period some of the vocabulary is challenging towards my comprehension . I found the relationship between the family members to be quiet unique and odd.
In Great Expectations the way Pip narrates the novel is very mature and detailed, but in a chid's perspective. Charles Dickens has the narrator as child because he wants the reader to see the progression that Pip makes from a child to a gentleman.
Dickens chooses Pip as the narrator because he is a child and doesn't know everything. He is innocent and limited in his life experiences. He continues to learn throughout the book and as he does, so does the reader. They are both experiencing what is happening in the novel at the exact same time. I was suprised that Pip did not admit to know the convict while they were chasing him. If the police knew they could have protected Pip and it would have help them find him.
The author uses first person narration through the main character, Pip. Dickens chose Pip as the narrator to show the troubles of the time period in a juveile point of view. Pip's actions show the pressure and fear the excaped convicts put on the youth.
The first couple of chapters were very slow to read because the language is tricky. It forced me to focus on the things I do understand and figure the rest of the details out from there. At first I was confused that the man the Pip's convict said would eat his kidneys if he didnt get him the food and the file was never revealed again after the first meeting. However, I eventually figured out that he didnt exist, and he was just a way to scare Pip into doing what the convict wanted.
Dickens chose Pip because he brings an innocent and naive perspective to the story. As spencer said above, he is somewhat related to us today with his actions and thought process that we can see with the fact that Pip is the narrator.
I felt the first few chapters were difficult to get trough because im not used to this kind of wording in books, but i hope when i continue it'll get easier to comprehend.
The narration is done in first person through the main character Pip. The author chooses Pip as the narrator to set a tone for the reader. The reader gets to experience things as a child and understands the feelings that people experience as children and what crazy things that they do.
While reading the first seven chapters I automatically thought to myself that this book would be hard to get through. The language is a little hard for me to understand and I had to really thing about what I was reading. I thought it was weird how Pip didn't tell anyone about the convict threatening him in the beginning of the book. I also think that the convict covered up for Pip so he could use it to his advantage in the future.
Like my fellow peers said above, Pip narrates the story in a childs point of view. This benefits the reader because it allows them to see these harsh situations through the eyes of a young boy, giving the reader and inside look on why it was like to be a child during that time period, and a unique way of hearing about them through, as Lauren said, an innocent and naive, as well as immature, perspective. Also, Dickens was wise to choose Pip as the narrator because as the story is about him, the reader witnesses his inner thoughts an emotions, explaining more why he does things.
Regarding to questions about the book, along with Sarah and Lauren I as well found the language hard to understand and very wordy. After five chapters it still has only been two days, due to the fact how much time Dickens spends illustrating every detail. Also, how come, if Mrs. Joe is so famous for scolding her husband and Pip and likes everything her way, why doesn't she scold Joe and Pip for teaming up on her? Does she not notice or not care? Other than that I have n questions.
Charles Dickens chose Pip to narrate the story because he tells the story through a way that is more relate able since he is a child and hasn't had many experiences, giving the story an innocent feel. Choosing Pip makes the story more interesting because he doesn't always know what to do in certain situations and he does struggle with finding who he is and trying to better himself. If an adult were to narrate the story, there wouldn't really be that interesting because they've already been through a lot and have their lives figured out. Even though Pip has mature thoughts, the story still shows that he's a kid and it still afraid of things like getting in trouble with his sister.You can see what Pip thinks about each character in his life and how he reacts to the world around him as a child. He does add a very naive and innocent feel to Great Expectations. When I was starting the book it was hard to get into because of how wordy it was. Some parts I didn't understand what was going on until I went back and reread it or did the summary questions in the packet
The language of this book is hard to comprehend,how the wording is. Also, the narration of Great expectations is very detailed. Pip gives a sense of naive, and narrates great expectations as a child-like point of view.
Pip's childishness coupled with his naive outlook on life create a believably human voice, masterfully written from a viewpoint far in the future (memoir), based on his advanced use of language and continual use of past tense. Dickens chose Pip as the narrator for there is no other viewpoint from any character which can be constant in the story. Although writing from multiple perspectives is one way to 'run' a story, that style of writing was mostly reserved for mystery novels, where you do not know much, if any real details about the most interesting character.
I am fond of this book even just perusing through the first few pages, as the language is a breath of fresh air compared to some of the children's books I am ordered to read to my youngest sibling. I have no questions on the book, though I expect if I read through it again I would have scores and scores of questions.
Pip brings a childish point of view into the novel which -although it's nowhere near the same times we live in today- is relatable to some degree. Although it's a slightly childish take on Pip's story, he seems (to me, at least) to bring in an unsurmountable depth and sophistication to the novel. It shows his maturity. Perhaps it's to stress the point that Pip didn't have much of a 'run-of-the-mill' childhood (based on his bringing-up-by-hand from his sister).
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am interested in the novel and i enjoy it, I find it hard to get through at some points. Some times the language and -in my opinion- dragging out of the events gets me really confused and it's hard to follow... I'm sure it'll get easier in time.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe narrator in the novel Great Expectations is named Pip, and throughout the novel he shares stories of himself when he was a young boy living under his older sister’s rules. While Pip is telling these stories he tells them to the reader by using mature language. However, the narrator Pip tells his stories from the eyes of when he was a young boy. I feel that Charles Dickens wanted the narrator to be a child because it shows a sense of innocence and how Pip is very naïve. If it was an adult there wouldn’t be as much curiosity and questioning of certain events and the way life is. So far I have been enjoying this novel very much! While reading Great Expectations it makes me think of the novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. This is because Twain uses similar language throughout and has the story be told from the point of view of a child/ young boy.
ReplyDelete-Dayna Weintraub
I think the main reason he chose Pip for a narrator was that he can't get the same image of innocence you get with a child narrator, while still being able to make wise remarks and pointed observations. "By Hand" for instance. I like the book primarily because of Pip's narration, but I really want Mrs. Joe to get strong comeuppance, but I have the feeling Dickens will just make her a better person, which is also acceptable. I just hope those jerks at the Christmas meal don't just fade into the woodwork. But yeah, the book is shaping up after the first couple chapters.
ReplyDelete~Oliver Stein
Due to Pip having a naive, childish personality creating him as a narator caused a new way of thinking come into the book. The readers now read though a immature mind and are constantly seeing Pip analyze things. For instance, if it was and adult narrator the cross examinations and immaturity wouldnt take place. By allowing the immiturity and questioning it helps the readers get Pip's point of view without having to search much for it. The first seven chapters showed me that it would be hard for me to understand the book unless I took it page by page and think about what I read after I read each page. The seven chapters allowed me to warm up to the book and understand the charecters before the climax took place. At first, I didn't really understand what the "file" was and it confused me for why he needed it but later on in the book, I figured it out.
ReplyDelete- Kerry Schwartz
-Great Expectations is written through the perspective of Pip, a young credulous boy. Being that the main events revolve around Pip and his actions, Dickens may have chosen him to be the narrator in hope the reader will have a better understanding of the events and Pips feelings toward them. It also unique in a way that we can experience the book through a young mind like Pips.
ReplyDelete-Although the form in which the book is written is some what challenging and involves more processing I can still comprehend what is happening. Also, being that it was written in an earlier time period some of the vocabulary is challenging towards my comprehension . I found the relationship between the family members to be quiet unique and odd.
-Monica Palucci ^^
ReplyDeleteIn Great Expectations the way Pip narrates the novel is very mature and detailed, but in a chid's perspective. Charles Dickens has the narrator as child because he wants the reader to see the progression that Pip makes from a child to a gentleman.
ReplyDeleteDickens chooses Pip as the narrator because he is a child and doesn't know everything. He is innocent and limited in his life experiences. He continues to learn throughout the book and as he does, so does the reader. They are both experiencing what is happening in the novel at the exact same time.
ReplyDeleteI was suprised that Pip did not admit to know the convict while they were chasing him. If the police knew they could have protected Pip and it would have help them find him.
The author uses first person narration through the main character, Pip. Dickens chose Pip as the narrator to show the troubles of the time period in a juveile point of view. Pip's actions show the pressure and fear the excaped convicts put on the youth.
ReplyDeleteThe first couple of chapters were very slow to read because the language is tricky. It forced me to focus on the things I do understand and figure the rest of the details out from there. At first I was confused that the man the Pip's convict said would eat his kidneys if he didnt get him the food and the file was never revealed again after the first meeting. However, I eventually figured out that he didnt exist, and he was just a way to scare Pip into doing what the convict wanted.
Dickens chose Pip because he brings an innocent and naive perspective to the story. As spencer said above, he is somewhat related to us today with his actions and thought process that we can see with the fact that Pip is the narrator.
ReplyDeleteI felt the first few chapters were difficult to get trough because im not used to this kind of wording in books, but i hope when i continue it'll get easier to comprehend.
The narration is done in first person through the main character Pip. The author chooses Pip as the narrator to set a tone for the reader. The reader gets to experience things as a child and understands the feelings that people experience as children and what crazy things that they do.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading the first seven chapters I automatically thought to myself that this book would be hard to get through. The language is a little hard for me to understand and I had to really thing about what I was reading. I thought it was weird how Pip didn't tell anyone about the convict threatening him in the beginning of the book. I also think that the convict covered up for Pip so he could use it to his advantage in the future.
Like my fellow peers said above, Pip narrates the story in a childs point of view. This benefits the reader because it allows them to see these harsh situations through the eyes of a young boy, giving the reader and inside look on why it was like to be a child during that time period, and a unique way of hearing about them through, as Lauren said, an innocent and naive, as well as immature, perspective. Also, Dickens was wise to choose Pip as the narrator because as the story is about him, the reader witnesses his inner thoughts an emotions, explaining more why he does things.
ReplyDeleteRegarding to questions about the book, along with Sarah and Lauren I as well found the language hard to understand and very wordy. After five chapters it still has only been two days, due to the fact how much time Dickens spends illustrating every detail. Also, how come, if Mrs. Joe is so famous for scolding her husband and Pip and likes everything her way, why doesn't she scold Joe and Pip for teaming up on her? Does she not notice or not care? Other than that I have n questions.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCharles Dickens chose Pip to narrate the story because he tells the story through a way that is more relate able since he is a child and hasn't had many experiences, giving the story an innocent feel. Choosing Pip makes the story more interesting because he doesn't always know what to do in certain situations and he does struggle with finding who he is and trying to better himself. If an adult were to narrate the story, there wouldn't really be that interesting because they've already been through a lot and have their lives figured out. Even though Pip has mature thoughts, the story still shows that he's a kid and it still afraid of things like getting in trouble with his sister.You can see what Pip thinks about each character in his life and how he reacts to the world around him as a child. He does add a very naive and innocent feel to Great Expectations.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was starting the book it was hard to get into because of how wordy it was. Some parts I didn't understand what was going on until I went back and reread it or did the summary questions in the packet
The language of this book is hard to comprehend,how the wording is. Also, the narration of Great expectations is very detailed. Pip gives a sense of naive, and narrates great expectations as a child-like point of view.
ReplyDeletePip's childishness coupled with his naive outlook on life create a believably human voice, masterfully written from a viewpoint far in the future (memoir), based on his advanced use of language and continual use of past tense. Dickens chose Pip as the narrator for there is no other viewpoint from any character which can be constant in the story. Although writing from multiple perspectives is one way to 'run' a story, that style of writing was mostly reserved for mystery novels, where you do not know much, if any real details about the most interesting character.
ReplyDeleteI am fond of this book even just perusing through the first few pages, as the language is a breath of fresh air compared to some of the children's books I am ordered to read to my youngest sibling. I have no questions on the book, though I expect if I read through it again I would have scores and scores of questions.
--Benjamin Davis-Lorton, Le Paresseux