CHAPTER 1
1.
What is Pip doing when the story opens?
2.
How does the author hook readers immediately?
3.
Where does Pip meet the convict? What is Pip doing there?
4.
What does the convict order Pip to do? Why does Pip obey?
5.
From whose point of view is the story told? What is unusual about the way the author has used this point of view?
CHAPTER 2
1.
What is Pip’s home life like? How is he treated?
2.
Why is Pip living with Joe Gargery? What is their relationship?
3.
What is “Tickler”? And what does using the name “Tickler” reveal about Mrs. Joe?
4.
Why does Joe think that Pip has been “bolting his food”? What does that bother
Joe?
5.
What sort of “elixir” does Mrs. Joe give Pip?
6.
What does Pip steal from his sister’s house? Why?
7.
What does the author do at the end of Chapter 2 to keep readers interested?
CHAPTER 3
1.
Pip meets someone on the marsh when he sets out to make his delivery and thinks
“It’s the young man.” What young man?
2.
How does the convict act when Pip brings the food? Is Pip surprised?
3.
Does Pip feel any sympathy for the convict at this point?
CHAPTER 4
1.
What is the Christmas celebration at Pip’s house like? Does he enjoy it?
2.
Whom does Pip’s sister invite for Christmas dinner? How do these guests treat
Pip?
3.
What is ironic about Mrs. Joe not attending church? Why doesn’t she go?

4.
What is funny about the dinner scene?
5.
Why does Joe keep offering Pip more gravy?
6.
What is funny about the scene when Joe and Pip go to church?
7.
How does Dickens characterize Mr. Wopsle? Uncle Pumblechook?
8.
How does the author build suspense at the end of Chapter 4?
CHAPTER 5
1.
How does the suspense of the previous chapter get resolved? What do the soldiers want?
2.
What are the two convicts doing when they are discovered?
3.
Why is one of the convicts yelling “Murder” when the searchers discover him?
4.
What seems to explain the anger existing between the two convicts?
5.
What does the convict lie about and why? What does that show you about him?
6.
How does Joe react the convict’s admission? What does this reveal about Joe as a person?
CHAPTERS 6
1.
At the beginning of Chapter 6, why does Pip feel bad?
2.
Pip experiences internal conflict after stealing the food and file. How is he “torn”?
Why doesn’t he tell Joe the truth?
3.
Based on what you know of Joe so far, how do you think he would respond to Pip’s admission of truth?
4.
Why doesn’t Pip feel ashamed for stealing Mrs. Joe’s food when he does feel guilty for not telling the truth to Joe?
5.
What does Mr. Pumblechook make of the news that a convict had stolen the food?
What does his explanation reveal about him?
CHAPTER 7
1.
Pip says he was to be apprenticed to Joe. What is an apprenticeship?
2.
Where does Pip get his education?

3.
How does Pip learn to read and write?
4.
From whom does Pip learn the most?
5.
In what ways does the author satirize public education?
6.
What do readers learn about Joe’s childhood? Why didn’t he finish school?
7.
What motivates Joe to stay with his wife?
8.
What news does Uncle Pumblechook bring to Pip at the end of the chapter? (This is marks the beginning of the rising action of the story)
9.
Who is Miss Havisham and why does she want to see Pip?
10.
Why is Pip’s sister so anxious that he should go?
11.
How does Pip feel about going?
CHAPTER 8
1.
How does Pumblechook treat Pip before his visit to Satis House? Why?
2.
Describe Satis House. Though it is a mansion, what other type of building does it seem to resemble?
3.
How does the girl who lets Pip in at the gate of Miss Havisham’s treat Pip?
4.
What does Pip conclude about why Miss Havisham and the room look as they do?
5.
How do Pip and Estella entertain Miss Havisham?
6.
How do Pip and Estella interact? What do their interactions reveal about each of them?
7.
What is strange about Miss Havisham and her surroundings?
8.
Why does Pip cry?
9.
After visiting Satis House, why does Pip feel ashamed?
10.
What does Pip imagine he sees in the garden (hanging from a beam..)?
CHAPTERS 9
1.
Why doesn’t Pip describe to his sister what he saw at Miss Havisham’s?
2.
What details of the “story” did you find funny?
3.
Why do Mrs. Joe and Pumblechook believe his tale?
4.
How does Joe react when Pip tells him the truth? What does this reveal about Joe?

5.
Why does Pip admit to Joe – but not to his sister and Pumblechook – that his stories about Miss Havisham’s are lies?
CHAPTER 10
1.
How have Pip’s expectations changed? What does he expect now?
2.
Reread the end of Chapter 9. What changes do you expect the visit to make?
3.
Reread the first two pages of Chapter 10. Why is Pip dissatisfied with Mrs.
Wopsle’s school? Identify at least five reasons.
4.
How does the Pip know that the stranger at the Jolly Bargeman knows the convict?
What does the stranger give Pip?
CHAPTER 11
1.
Who does Pip meet during his next visit to Satis House? (Identify and describe the characters.)
2.
What is meant by “toadies and humbugs” (p. 79)?
3.
Who are Camilla and Raymond criticizing? What are their complaints against him?
4.
What work does Miss Havisham have Pip do? Does he mind?
5.
How does Miss Havisham seem to feel about her visotrs?
6.
How does Estella treat Pip when he arrives?
7.
Who does Pip meet as he leaves the mansion? What happens with this boy? Why do you think the boy is at Satis House?
8.
Has Estella’s attitude toward Pip changed when he leaves? How do you know?
9.
Why do Pip and the “pale young gentleman” fight? What is the outcome? Why isn’t
Pip happier about the outcome?
10.
What does Estella ask Pip to do, why? Why doesn’t Pip enjoy it?
CHAPTERS 12
1.
Whom does Miss Havisham tell Pip to bring along on his next visit? Why does
Pip’s sister “go on the rampage” about this?

2.
What does Pip expect to be the outcome of his fight with the “pale young gentleman”?
3.
Why does Pip feel uncomfortable visiting Satis House with Joe?
4.
Whom does Pip trust enough to tell everything – even the story of the fight with the pale gentleman?
CHAPTER 13
1.
What do Joe and Miss Havisham talk about?
2.
What does Miss Havisham give to Pip?
3.
Who takes most of the credit for Miss Havisham’s gift? Who takes the money?
4.
What does Pip mean when he says, “I should never like Joe’s trade. I had liked it once, but once was not now” (p. 105)?
5.
How has Pip’s attitude toward his home and toward blacksmithing changed?
Why?
CHAPTER 14
1.
Why doesn’t Pip run away if he is so ashamed of his home and the forge?
CHAPTER 15
1.
Why doesn’t Joe think it is a good idea for Pip to continue to visit Miss Havisham?
2.
Why does Pip go back to Satis House despite Joe’s advice that he shouldn’t?
3.
Who is Orlick and why does Pip compare him to Cain (140)?
4.
Why do Orlick and Joe have a fist fight?
5.
Why did the author make Joe such a “big” man? What might his size symbolize?
6.
Estella is away when Pip visits Miss Havisham. Where is Estella?
7.
What happens to Pip’s sister? How does she get injured? Who does Pip suspect?
8.
Why does Pip, with his head “full of George Barnwell,” believe that he is a suspect in the crime? Why does he worry that he unwittingly provided the instrument for the attack?

CHAPTER 16
1.
How does Pip’s sister change after the attack? How does the household change?
2.
Explain why Biddy believes Orlick may have hurt Mrs. Joe. What does this tell you about Biddy?
3.
How does Pip’s sister change in her attitude toward Orlick after the attack?
4.
How does the author characterize the police?
CHAPTER 17
1.
What is Biddy like? What does she think about Pip’s plan to become a
“gentleman”?
2.
In Pip’s mind, how are Biddy and Estella different? Who does he value the most?
What does this tell you about Pip?
3.
Why doesn’t Biddy like Orlick? Why doesn’t Pip try to have Orlick dismissed?
4.
Why does Pip tell Biddy about his attraction to Estella?
5.
Summarize the reasons why Pip does not like Orlick. Does his anger seem justified?
6.
In what ways does Pip seem immature?
CHAPTER 18
1.
Who is the “strange gentleman” and why does he request a private conference with
Pip and Joe?
2.
What news does Jaggers bring to Pip?
3.
What conditions are set for Pip to realize his new, great expectations?
4.
Where has Pip heard the name of his tutor before?
5.
Why does Pip assume that Miss Havisham is his secret benefactor? What reasons do you suppose she might have for wanting to remain anonymous? How does Pip feel about leaving home?
CHAPTER 19

1.
What preparations does Pip make for his journey?
2.
What does Pip argue with Biddy about, before he leaves?
3.
Why does Pumblechook tell Pip that his fortune is “well-deserved”? Is he being sincere?
4.
Who is Trabb?
5.
How does Mr. Trabb’s attitude toward Pip change?
6.
How does Trabb’s boy feel about Pip?
7.
How does Mr. Pumblechook’s attitude change? Why?
8.
Why doesn’t Joe walk with Pip to the coach?
9.
What does Miss Havisham say and do that makes Pip more certain that she is the source of his new wealth?
10.
How does Pip feel about leaving home? What is the tone of the last two pages in the chapter?
11.
How many of Pip’s earlier expectations have been realized?
12.
How have Pip’s expectations changed? What does he expect now?
CHAPTER 20
1.
What is Mr. Jaggers’ office in London is like? When you read the description, how does it make you feel?
2.
How does Mr. Jaggers treat his clients? How do they act toward him?
3.
What are your impressions of Mr. Wemmick? Do you like him? Does Pip?
CHAPTER 21
1.
What sort of place is Barnard’s Inn?
2.
What is the contrast between what the Barnard inn turns out to be like – and what
Pip had hoped his new living situation would be?
3.
Why is Mr. Pocket, Junior (Herbert), out when Pip arrives?
4.
Why are Pip and Herbert surprised to see each other? Where did they know each other from?
5.
What effect does the appearance of the “young gentleman” have on Pip’s belief that Miss Havisham is his benefactor?
CHAPTER 22
1.
What does Herbert reveal to Pip about Miss Havisham’s past?
2.
Why have Herbert’s father and Miss Havisham been at odds?
3.
What does Pip ask Herbert to teach him at dinner?
4.
What does Herbert choose to call Pip and why?
5.
What does this show you about Herbert?
6.
What is Herbert’s profession? What does he aspire to do?
6.
How would you describe the Pockets’ household?

7.
How is Mrs. Pocket characterized?
CHAPTER 23
1.
Besides Pip, who else rooms in Herbert’s house?
2.
What is Herbert’s family like? Describe the situation.
3.
What is funny about the dinner scene with the children?
CHAPTER 24
1.
What kind of lessons is Mr. Pocket supposed to give Pip?
2.
Does Pip have a high opinion of his tutor?
3.
What are the “horrible heads” in Mr. Jaggers’ office? Why do you suppose he keeps them?
4.
What does Wemmick advise Pip to pay attention to when he eventually goes to dine with Jaggers?
5.
Why does Pip like Startop more than Drummle? What is the contrast between the two men?
6.
Why do the Pockets – except for Herbert’s family – hate Pip?
CHAPTER 25
1.
What happens to Wemmick’s mood and personality as he and Pip walk home?
2.
What’s Wemmick’s home like? What does it say about him?
3.
Why is Pip surprised by Wemmick’s home? What did he expect?
CHAPTER 26
1.
Why does Jaggers’ housekeeper remind Pip of something from Macbeth? How does she act?
2.
What is Jaggers’ house like?
3.
What is the connotation of Jaggers referring to Drummle as “the spider”?
4.
How does Jaggers show his interest in Drummle?
5.
Why do you think Jaggers is so interested in Drummle?
6.
Why does Drummle almost come to blows with Startop at Jaggers’ house?
7.
Why do you think Jaggers says that he likes Drummle, nevertheless?
CHAPTER 27
1.
Why does Biddy write to Pip?
2.
Why does Joe come to visit Pip?
3.
Why does Joe call Pip “Sir”?
5.
What is Pip embarrassed for Joe to see?
1.
Why doesn’t Joe stay longer?
6.
What news does Joe bring regarding Wopsle?
7.
How do you think Wopsole will do in his new profession?
8.
The second to the last paragraph in Chapter 27 is one of the most important in the entire novel. Reread the paragraph. What feelings does it create?
9.
Explain Joe’s metaphor, “Life is made of ever so many partings welded together...Diwisions amongst such must come, and must be met as such.” Do you agree with his philosophy?
10.
Why is Pip unable to recognize Joe’s intelligence?

11.
Mr. Pumblechook is often seen as a comical character. What are some of his dark traits?
CHAPTER 28
1.
Who sits in the coach with Pip?
2.
Why is Pip so frightened?
3.
What coincidence happens on Pip’s way back to Kent?
CHAPTER 29
1.
What role does Pip imagine for himself as he returns to Satis House?
2.
How has Estella changed?
4.
Why does Miss Havisham seem to enjoy ridiculing Pip?
5.
Why does Pip decide not to visit Joe?
6.
To what extent do you believe Estella when she says, no heart, no softness, and
no sentiment?
7.
Explain the apparition, or ghost, that Pip sometimes sees when he looks at
Estella. Who does she remind him of?
CHAPTER 30
1.
Who is Miss Havisham’s porter?
2.
How does Pip have him fired – and why?
3.
How did you feel about Trabb’s boy mocking Pip? How justified was this?
4.
What does Pip do to relieve his guilt about not visiting Joe?
5.
What does Pip confess to Estella?
6.
Does Estella encourage Pip’s affections? Do you think she is “leading him on”?
7.
Why is Pip still so infatuated with Estella?
8.
Why does Miss Havisham want Pip to love Estella so much? Does she think they are “meant for each other?
9.
What is Herbert’s advice about the confession? Do you think that his is good advice?
10.
What is Herbert’s own love life like?
CHAPTER 31
1.
Why do Herbert and Pip go to the theater?
2.
How does he like the show?
3.
What is Mr. Wopsole’s new name?
CHAPTER 32
1.
Why does Estella write to Pip?
2.
Does he mind being ask that favor? Should he?
3.
Why does Pip meet Estella’s coach so early? What does this say about him?
4.
What is Newgate?
5.
How does Pip react to what he sees?
6.
What is Wemmick’s “green-house”? Why is this an odd metaphor?
CHPATER 33
1.
Why has Estella come to London? Where is she going now?

2.
Given the way Dickens portrays Estella, what do you think attracts Pip to her?
3.
Do you think Estella feels bitter toward Miss Havisham for the way she brought
Estella up? Should she?
4.
Though Estella treats him badly, Pip has hope. In what does his hope lie?
CHAPTER 34
1.
What are some of the negative influences that Pip’s “expectations” have on him and Herbert?
2.
Who are the “Finches of the Grove”? Why does Pip associate with them?
3.
Describe Pip’s spending habits.
4.
What do Pip and Herbert do when their spending seems out of control?
5.
Explain “leaving a margin.” How helpful is this practice?
6.
What news does Pip get at the end of the chapter?
CHAPTER 35
1.
What is the significance of Mrs. Joe’s death?
2.
What is surprising about how Pip feels about his sister now?
3.
Why doesn’t Mrs. Joe’s death bring Joe and Pip closer?
4.
Where will Biddy go now?
5.
Why does Pip get angry with Biddy after the funeral? With whom do you side?
6.
What is ironic about Pip’s claim that Biddy has done “an injustice” and “an injury” to him?
CHAPTER 36
1.
What does Pip expect will happen on his 21 st birthday?
2.
How did Pip’s life change when he turned 21?
3.
How does Pip’s relationship with Jaggers change when Pip “comes of age”?
4.
After having a birthday supper with Jaggers and Wemmick, why does Pip go to
Walworth?
CHAPTER 37
1.
Why does Wemmick give advice at Walworth that contradicts what he has said on Gerrard Street?
2.
How is Pip changing?
3.
Why does he cry after returning from Walworth?
4.
Who is Miss Skiffins?
5.
Do you think she and Wemmick are well-suited?
6.
What advice does Pip seek from Wemmick?
7.
Why does Pip want to help Herbert?
8.
How does Wemmick help Pip accomplish helping Herbert?
CHAPTER 38
1.
Why do Estella and Miss Havisham argue?
2.
Why is Miss Havisham so pleased with Estella’s behavior? How does her success teaching Estella also cause her great pain?
3.
What does Pip clearly realize about Miss Havisham?
4.
What devastating news does Pip get about Estella while visiting Satis House?

5.
Why does Pip stay devoted to Estella even when he sees how she treats him and her other suitors?
CHAPTER 39
1.
How does the “heavy slab” fall?
2.
How does the weather mirror Pip’s emotions and foreshadow events?
3.
What is Pip’s first reaction to his strange visitor?
4.
Who is Pip’s strange visitor? Where has he met him before?
5.
What is Pip’s horrible realization?
6.
Why has the man returned to England?
7.
How does Pip feel about the visitor at the end of the chapter?
8.
How have Pip’s expectations changed? What does he expect now?
9.
How does the author build suspense for the third part of the novel?
CHAPTER 40
1.
How does Abel Magwitch resemble Joe? Identify at least four characteristics they share.
2.
How did Magwitch make his fortune?
3.
Why does Magwitch say he will get pleasure watching Pip spend money?
4.
What did Magwitch say that he characterizes as “low”? What does this characterization reveal about him?
5.
Why does Pip find it so difficult to disguise Magwitch?
6.
Why does Magwitch insist that Herbert swear on a Bible? What does this reveal about Magwitch?
CHAPTER 41
1.
Why might it be important to Magwitch that Pip “always bear the name of Pip”?
2.
What danger is the convict in?
3.
Does Pip feel a responsibility to protect the convict?
4.
Do you think Pip is doing the right think in hiding the convict?
5.
Why does Pip feel he cannot receive any more money from Magwitch? Is this an admirable trait of Pip’s?
6.
What advice does Herbert offer about Magwitch? Why does he say Pip should wait to tell Magwitch that he cannot accept his money?
CHAPTER 42
1.
Who is Compeyson? Identify two coincidences involving him. Why does
Magwitch hate him?
2.
How is Compeyson connect with Miss Havisham?
CHAPTER 43
1.
What danger do Herbert and Pip realize Magwitch is in?
2.
What effect does Magwitch’s appearance have on Pip’s feelings for Estella?
3.
After the convict arrives, why does Pip plan a trip to see Estella? Why does he go to Satis House?
4.
Who does he see at the Blue Boar? Who does he think he sees?

CHAPTER 44
1.
Pip confronts Miss Havisham about letting him believe that she was his benefactor. Has she led him on? Does he have a right to be angry?
2.
How does Miss Havisham explain why she did not correct Pip’s belief that Estella was intended for him?
3.
Do you think it is true that Estella never deceived Pip? Why or why not?
4.
Who does Estella plan to marry?
5.
How does Estella explain why she plans to marry?
6.
What favor does Pip ask of Miss Havisham? Does she comply?
7.
How does Pip feels when he leaves Satis House?
CHAPTER 45
1.
What is in the note Wemmick sends Pip?
2.
Why does he send it?
3.
Can Pip trust Wemmick?
CHAPTER 46
1.
Describe life at Clara’s house.
2.
What plan does Herbert come up with for hiding the convict?
3.
Why does Wemmick refer to the convict as “Tom, Jack, or Richard” while explaining the plan to Pip?
4.
What information does Pip give Magwitch?
5.
Why does he withhold information about Compeyson? What does this reveal about Pip?
6.
What plan does Pip have for getting the convict out of the country?
7.
How does Pip prepare for the plan?
CHAPTER 47
1.
What distressing news does Pip get from Mr. Wopsole after watching Wopsle’s play?
CHAPTER 48
1.
What kind of husband does Jaggers suggest Drummle will be to Estella?
2.
What happened at Hounslow Heath?
3.
How did Jaggers know Molly?
4.
When and how does Pip realize that Jaggers’ housekeeper is Estella’s mother?
5.
What does he learn from Wemmick about the woman and her child?
CHAPTERS 49-50
1. What does Miss Havisham want in exchange for helping Herbert?
2. Do you believe Pip when he says that he forgives Miss Havisham? Why or why not?
3. Do you believe Miss Havisham when she tells Pip that in raising Estella she
“meant to save her from misery like (her) own”? Why or why not?
4. Explain what Pip means by “the vanity of sorrow...the vanity of unworthiness...the vanity of penitence” (p. 401). How could these traits be considered vanities?

5. Why did Miss Havisham’s dress catch fire? Does Dickens want readers to believe this was an accident?
6. How does Pip show real courage and character in Chapter 50?
7. What does Pip deduce about Magwitch?
CHAPTERS 51-52
1. Why does Pip go to Little Britain?
2. How does Pip persuade Jaggers to give him more information about Estella when he first refuses?
3. Why does Jaggers refer to Wemmick as the “most cunning impostor in all of London” (p. 415)?
4. Besides Wemmick’s home life, what else did Jaggers not know?
5. Why does Jaggers pose his information in the form of a hypothetical situation?
6. What news does Pip get about Herbert when he goes to Clarriker’s?
7. How does Startop get involved in the plan to save Magwitch? Do you think this is a good idea?
8. Why does Pip leave Monday night? Why does he decide to go in spite of the risk? Why must he hurry and return to London?
CHAPTER 53
1. What is the mood as Pip sets out for the sluice house? How does this foreshadow the action in the chapter? Why does Pip feel he is doomed?
2. What is the effect of his candle going out? What does the candle symbolize?
3. How is Orlick characterized? What motivates him to want to kill Pip?
4. What event from Chapter 43 gives us a clue that Orlick may have been the one waiting in the sluice house?
CHAPTER 54
1. Why does Magwitch say Pip cannot appreciate freedom the way he does?
How accurate is his theory?
2. Explain Magwitch’s belief that life is a river. Is the metaphor appropriate?
3. The narrator says of Magwitch, “One would have supposed that it was I who was in danger, not he, and that he was reassuring me” (p. 446). Why does
Magwitch seem increasingly calm and submissive, even under such dire circumstances?
4. What causes Pip’s fear when they stop for the night? How do readers learn that his fears are justified?
5. What has happened to Compeyson? Do you think Magwitch killed him?
6. Why is Pip finally able to accept and love Magwitch? What has caused this change in Pip?
CHAPTERS 55 -56
1. Does Dickens think that all criminals are bad? How do you know?
2. How does Dickens gain sympathy for the people who are on trial?
3. What does the author do to keep the chapters from being too dark and tragic?

4. What is the significance of Magwitch’s death? Why did Dickens have him die, but not hanged, as he was sentenced?
5. How does Pip repay Magwitch before he dies?
6. How do you think the book will end? What will Pip do now?
CHAPTER 57
1. Why is Pip in so much debt?
2. Why were the police unable to take him to Newgate?
3. In Chapter 27 Joe says he will not return to London, but he does in Chapter 57.
Why?
4. Why was Biddy able to teach Joe to read when Pip had failed?
5. What does Pip plan to do after Joe leaves? What are his newly revised expectations?
CHAPTERS 58-59
1. Reread Pip’s speech to Biddy and Joe (483-484). What does he say? Why is his speech significant?
2. What advice does Biddy give to Pip after his return 11 years later?
3. During this 11-year period, what happened to Estella? What does Pip notice about her when he meets her at the site of Satis House? How have Pip’s expectations changed? What does he expect now?
4. What do you think will happen to Pip during the next twenty years?
5. Which ending of the story do you find the most believable? The most satisfying? Why?