Great Expectations Chapters 8-12

Great Expectations Chapters 8-12


Describe Miss Havisham’s house. Page 53





What is the significance of this quote – “No brewing was going on it, and none seemed to have gone on for a long time”(53). “Better not try to brew beer now or it will turn out sour.” (54).




“Ah!” said the girl; “but you see she don’t.” Page 54. What can you tell about the girl who let Pip in? What kind of attitude does she have?



What do you think about the name Havisham? Sham (slang): originated in warrenpoint where it is used to describe someone who's a mess.



What do you think about the name of the house (Satis)? What does it mean to you?



How does Estella adress Pip? Is this demeaning? How do you think Pip feels?




Page 56- What is Miss Havisham wearing? What color was it, and what color is it now?



What is broken? Page 57



Is Miss Havisham sane? What has caused her to be the way she is? Take a guess?




If Miss Havisham has a broken heart – a heart that stopped beating a long time ago – do you think that she makes a good mother to Estella? What might Estella be lacking?




What do you think about the name Estella? It sort of sounds like “stellar”. Are stars attainable?




“With this boy; he is a common labouring boy!” (58) Why did Miss Havisham pick a boy like Pip for Estella to play cards with? What is Miss Havisham’s “sick fancy”?



Do you think that Miss Havisham has suffered in the past? Why? If so, do you think that watching Estella and Pip play – watching Estella inflict pain onto Pip – is a kind of medicien for Miss Havisham’s grief?







What was different about the watch and the clock? How does Dickens describe the way Miss Havisham sat (bottom of page 58)?



Explain the siginificance of this quote on page 59 – “ I had never thought of being ashamed of my hands before, but I began to consider them a very indifferent pair. Her contempt for me was so strong that it became infectious and I caught it.”



How did Estella feed Pip (bottom of page 60)? What was Pip’s reaction?



Why doesn’t Pip describe to his sister what he saw at Miss Havisham’s?




Page 68 – Who does Pip tell the truth too? Why?



What advice does Joe give to Pip?



What is Pip’s new goal? Who does he see to help him with this goal? Page 71




How does Pip know that the stranger at the Jolly Bargeman knows the convict? What does the stranger give Pip?



Page 87 – Is this a special day for Miss Havisham? How does she describe how she feels about this day?



When does Estella let Pip kiss her? Why doesn’t he enjoy the victory over the pale gentleman - or the kiss?




Who did Pip tell everything to? (page 95).

Whom does Miss Havisham tell Pip to bring along on his next visit? Why does Pip’s sister “go on the rampage” about this?