The best annotations are those which mark/highlight but then interpret. For example, on the first
annotation for Ch. 25, you would annotate the choices and then “name” the family or type of diction used.
You might even jot down the purpose of that diction. ( Diction- derogatory-shows that Pip sees jerk).
On the second one, highlight, but then out to the side, evaluate his financial behavior. Use these to
THINK about what is going on. Use these to PRACTICE literary analysis. That is the point.
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Ch. 25.
Annotate 10 diction choices used for Drummle—focus on the first TWO paragraphs.
Highlight the sentence where Pip says what his financial behavior is.
Annotate his academic behavior. Why is he this way?
Why does Jaggers never lock his doors and windows?
Wemmick's house-- annotate the peculiar little spot and its details. Draw a picture for your group.
KEEP DOING YOUR SUMMARY and your TITLE
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Ch. 26- Look at Dickens's topic sentence.
Highlight the sentence that begins, "I embrace this opportunity...." and keep going as he
describes Jaggers in his bathroom...all the way down to what he does with his nails.
Find "He conducted" and note the sentence or two describing the house. How is it
appropriate?
Find the sentence including "bring the office home..." and highlight.
Which one of the three boys is Jaggers most interested in? Why? What does Jaggers call this
person?
It's the housekeeper! Take notes about her! - characterization
Whoa! Read where all of a sudden he grabs her! What is that all about? What's the deal with
her wrists?
Drummle "laughed outright" at what Pip said. Highlight "and the he despised us as asses all."
Explain why?
Look at Jaggers’s final comments about Drummle and the concluding sentence of the chapter.
What is significant?
KEEP DOING YOUR SUMMARY and your TITLE.
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Ch. 27
VERY important chapter. Look at what Pip says about how he feels when he reads the letter.
Does he want Joe to come? Look up incongruity and mortification. Highlight "If I could have kept
him......money." Explain the significance of this.
Highlight the awkwardness of Joe and the snobby snootiness of Pip throughout this chapter.
How could Pip have made Joe more comfortable? Why didn't he? What is Joe's message?
Why does Joe say he and Pip are not two people who should be seen in London together?
Where does Joe think it's best for them to meet, and why?
Carefully read and annotate the last paragraph.
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Ch. 28
Look at the first paragraph and how Pip talks himself out of staying where he should stay...at
Joe's. In retrospect, he calls himself a swindler. Why?
Who is on the coach?
Read the conversation about the money Pip was given way back then...WOW! It says Pip's
convict "got made a ____er." What is that?
Annotate Pip's feelings after this.
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The news article obliquely says that Pumblechook is the man who helped Pip in his early days
and is partly responsible for his rise. What is the significance of this?
KEEP DOING YOUR SUMMARY and your TITLE
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Ch. 29
As the chapter opens, note the first sentence. Why does Dickens use the dash in the two spots
he does? What is he saying about that particular thought? What does it say about Pip?
Notice the topic sentence of paragraph two. Read the next sentence and mark the parallelism.
Now annotate whether or not you are as sure as Pip is.
Annotate the metaphor or analogy he makes in that sentence.
Mark the personification of the ivy, the metaphors that follow, ending with the labyrinth of his life.
Label the labyrinth as both metaphor and foreshadowing.
Find the parallel structure/anaphora about how Pip loves Estella.
Who is the gatekeeper this time?
Note how Dickens makes Orlick’s room like Orlick. Why was Orlick brought here? Note the gun.
What shock does Pip receive as he greets Miss Havisham? What is the immediate effect on his
self-esteem?
Highlight Estella.... "lured me on." Does she?
As they speak, notice what Pip says of his plans to see Joe. Why?
Do you see how Pip remembers Estella's every move from their childhood, and she does not?
Why?
She makes a shocking statement about herself. Mark it loud and clear. Pip says he doesn't
believe it. Note her reply.
Look at the two paragraphs starting "It was like pushing..." down to "dreadful." Note the
contrasts.
Mark Miss Havisham’s creepy words in this section. Note also Dickens's diction in her actions
and manner.
Jaggers's behavior of interrogating Pip with numbers (like Pumblechook did in the old days)
recurs. Note his treatment of Estella, Miss Havisham...and how he tortures Miss Pocket!
Note the paragraph starting "Of the nature..." and how it characterizes Jaggers and contrasts
Estella. Note the parallelism.
Note the lovesickness of the next-to-last paragraph, followed by the confession in the last. How
does adult "looking-back" see his behavior at this point?
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Ch. 30
What is going to happen to Orlick, and why? What cynical thought does Jaggers express?
It's the Trabb's boy episode! This kid is hilarious! Note his mocking of Pip and what it says about
them both.
Pip confides in Herbert. Note Herbert's great under reaction. I love that sentence where Herbert
says, "You brought your adoration and your portmanteau here together." (What is portmanteau?)
Pip is feeling insecure. Note why, and Herbert's response.
Herbert takes the risk of making Pip mad and asks if Pip can detach from Estella. Can he?
What secret does Herbert confess? Do you agree with Herbert that children of unhappy
marriages are the first to want to marry?
Please note the details and conditions of Clara and her father.
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Ch. 31
Annotate the audiences reactions to Wopsle’s performance.
Annotate how Trabb’s boy mimics Pip.
In what ways are the two incidents similar?
Why do you think Dickens incorporated this part of the story?
Annotate the comedic scenes in this chapter.
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Ch. 32
Note Pip's reactions to the note- "flutter" "appetite vanished” wanting new clothes..."no peace or
rest"
What is the status of Newgate prison?
How is Wemmick a "gardener" there..in his "greenhouse"? (Notice how Dickens makes these
comparisons to help you see the character, the situation...in a clearer way.)
The colonel is a counterfeiter--a "coiner," and a good one. He is going to be executed. Notice
how he says that if the coins he had been found with had been real, he could have given
Wemmick a mourning ring of gold. Wemmick settles for a pair of pigeons- note he manages to
get personal property!
Wemmick talks about how Jaggers keeps his "height" from all these criminals, using Wemmick as
go-between, and how smart and effective that is in creating the persona (identity) Jaggers has.
Mark the contrast Pip feels between Estella and the jail. Dickens does this again and again--Pip
contrasts Biddy to her, himself to her, the forge environment to Miss H's house...the word
disparity is a good one to use.
Note the ending.
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Ch. 33
Note Estella's words to Pip--almost robotic. Note her observation that they are not free to do as
they want.
Annotate "I am going to live...." What is the purpose of her sojourn in Richmond?
Annotate, "You silly boy..." and say what you think is true of this situation.
Estella talks of the Pockets. Annotate the comment she makes saying, "They watch you...."
What are the Pockets trying to do to Pip? (except Matthew, of course)
Keep reading about how Estella feels about the Pockets. She loves to see them "thwarted."
Great word to know, if you don't. Notice how she feels she was affected by them when she was
just a little girl....
Mark the paragraph, "Two things I can tell you..."
Pip gets to kiss her again. Highlight the simile. What gives him pain in the next paragraph?
Highlight "I went on against trust and against hope."
As they go through London, which Estella has never seen, she tells him that going to
Hammersmith to be introduced into society is "part of Miis H's plans for [Estella]."
She has to regularly report, wear the jewels, etc.
Highlight "And still I stood...thinking how happy...miserable."
In the last paragraph, knowing how wise Mr. Pocket is, Pip considers whether he should confide
his love troubles to him...but he does not because he sees what?
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Ch. 34
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Very revealing first paragraph. Annotate content.
Second paragraph- annotate what he says about his effect on Herbert. Include "My lavish
habits...." Annotate also the last sentence of the paragraph.
Ouch. Look at paragraphs 3-5. Important to understand Pip's "progress"?
Skip down to "We spent as much money...." paragraph and annotate it.
Skip down to "At certain times..." and annotate about the farcical attention they pay to dealing
with their debts. It's pretty hilarious. It goes on for about a page and a half...and is followed at
the end of the chapter by some tragic news.
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Ch. 35
 Trabb insists that they all be wrapped up in black cloth and parade the coffin down the street.
Note what Joe says about the way he would like to have done things.
 Note Pumblechook's obsequious behavior to Pip. Look up obsequious.
 Annotate how proud of himself Pip is in the paragraph "He was very much pleased..."
 The conversation with Biddy which follows is very telling both about Pip and Biddy. Notice his
criticisms of her. Is she guilty?
 Annotate the pathos of her narrative of the death of Mrs. Joe.
 Biddy and Pip have a falling out. Does Pip know he is wrong, or not?
 Who is lurking in the dark?
 KEEP DOING YOUR SUMMARY and your TITLE
Ch. 36
 Annotate the first paragraph. To come of age is to gain the age of full inheritance.
 Herbert is of age, but only inherited "his majority" which is full civil rights. No money.
 The weird conversation between Pip and Jaggers is a must-read. Notice how much Jaggers
knows about Pip's debt. You find out Pip's new income and whether or not his benefactor will be
revealed.
 Now that Pip has his income, he wants to do something with some of it. Note what it is and
whose advice he asks. Note what that person says about bridges and loans. It's hilarious.
 But wait....Wemmick's postal mouth says this IN THE OFFICE.
 What will he say at Walworth when asked the same question?
 What theme is Dickens working on here with Wemmick's and Jaggers's homes vs. work selves?
 Highlight the sentence that says, "I could not help wishing more than once....." and the one that
follows it.
 KEEP DOING YOUR SUMMARY and your TITLE
Ch. 37
 Wemmick has a lady friend! Highlight her name and eccentric description.
 Annotate the "announcer" messages that drops out of the chimney when they arrive?
 This is a great moment when Pip goes to Wemmick about this problem. What is Wemmick's
initial reaction? How does that change? Don't you love when Wemmick thanks Pip for helping
him brush the Newgate (Jaggers/jails) cobwebs away?
 The cutest scene now occurs. The Aged reads and they all keep the candles from burning the
paper and act interested when he looks up. It is so sweet. What is sweeter is the elongation of
Wemmick's wooden mouth as he elongates his arm around.....and then she......so adorable! So
Victorian! How is this a contrast to the world of London? Of what earlier scene does it remind
you?
 Why does Pip have trouble holding back tears as the chapter ends?
 KEEP DOING YOUR SUMMARY and your TITLE
Chapter 38
annotate what is ironic about Pip’s relationship with Estella
Annotate the irony in the scene between Miss. Havisham and Estella
Annotate the relationship between Estella and Drummle. Why does she permit his attentions?
Find an allusion at the end of the chapter.
Annotate the significance of this allusion