L1

L1. Write ten True/False questions about Dickens' Great Expectations.
Note: Any word, phrase, sentence or paragraph that I consider to be wrong is shown in red. And any text I consider to be questionable is followed by a question mark: questionable.

Request 1: Write ten True/False questions about Dickens' Great Expectations.

Response 1: Sure, here are ten True/False questions about Dickens' Great Expectations:

  • 1. Pip is the protagonist of Great Expectations. (True)
  • 2. Miss Havisham is Pip's sister. (False)
  • 3. Pip falls in love with Estella at first sight. (True)
  • 4. Abel Magwitch is the name of Pip's biological father. (True)
  • 5. Jaggers is a lawyer who becomes Pip's benefactor. (False)
  • 6. Joe Gargery is a blacksmith and Pip's brother-in-law. (True)
  • 7. Compeyson is Magwitch's former partner in crime. (True)
  • 8. Miss Havisham's real name is Catherine. (False)
  • 9. Estella is the daughter of Miss Havisham. (False)
  • 10. Pip becomes a successful businessman in London. (False)

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Request 2: Write ten questions about the book that require one-sentence answers. (Write the answer in brackets after the question.)

Response 2: Sure, here are ten questions about Great Expectations that require one-sentence answers:

  • 1. Who is Pip's closest friend and confidant throughout the novel? (Joe Gargery)
  • 2. What is the name of the wealthy spinster who raises Estella to break men's hearts? (Miss Havisham)
  • 3. What is the name of the lawyer who serves as the executor of Miss Havisham's estate? (Mr. Jaggers)
  • 4. What is the name of the secret benefactor who funds Pip's move to London and his education? (Abel Magwitch)
  • 5. What is the name of the escaped convict who threatens Pip in the opening scene of the novel? (Magwitch)
  • 6. What is the name of the criminal who is Magwitch's former partner and rival? (Compeyson)
  • 7. Who does Pip believe is his anonymous benefactor throughout much of the novel? (Miss Havisham)
  • 8. What is the name of the country estate where Estella goes to live with her husband? (Bentley Drummle)
  • 9. What is the name of the young boy who is apprenticed to Joe Gargery in the novel? (Orlick)
  • 10. What is the title of the novel's final chapter? ("Finale")

Request 3: Do the same task but each question starts with "Why".

Response 3: Sure, here are ten "Why" questions about Great Expectations that require one-sentence answers:

  • 1. Why does Pip feel guilty after Joe comes to visit him in London? (Because he is ashamed of his low social status and manners.)
  • 2. Why does Miss Havisham raise Estella to break men's hearts? (Because she was jilted on her wedding day and wants revenge on all men.)
  • 3. Why does Pip come into a large fortune in the novel? (Because he is secretly funded by a wealthy benefactor, Abel Magwitch.)
  • 4. Why does Estella marry Bentley Drummle? (Because she believes she has no capacity for love or affection.)
  • 5. Why does Magwitch come back to England after being exiled as a convict? (To see Pip, whom he has been secretly supporting financially.)
  • 6. Why does Pip reject Biddy's offer of marriage? (Because he is in love with Estella and wants to improve his social status.)
  • 7. Why does Pip believe that Miss Havisham is his secret benefactor? (Because she is the only wealthy person he knows who has shown him kindness and attention.)
  • 8. Why does Magwitch risk his life to return to England and see Pip one last time? (Because he wants to see the young man he has grown to love before he dies.)
  • 9. Why does Pip feel guilty for not returning Joe's letters after he becomes wealthy? (Because he has neglected his humble roots and the people who supported him.)
  • 10. Why does Dickens choose to end the novel on an ambiguous note, with Pip's future uncertain? (To suggest that social status and material wealth are not as important as personal growth and self-knowledge.)

Request 4: Write ten multiple-choice questions with three distractors in each case. Indicate the correct answer.

Response 4: Certainly! Here are ten multiple-choice questions with three distractors each:

  • 1. What is Pip's real name? A) Philip Pirrip B) Peter Pippers C) Patrick Phipps D) Perry Pollock Answer: A) Philip Pirrip
  • 2. Where does Estella go to school? A) London B) Paris C) New York D) Rome Answer: B) Paris
  • 3. Who is Pip's first employer in London? A) Mr. Wopsle B) Mr. Pumblechook C) Mr. Jaggers D) Mr. Pocket Answer: B) Mr. Pumblechook
  • 4. What does Pip steal for the escaped convict in the opening scene of the novel? A) A loaf of bread B) A pocket watch C) A bottle of brandy D) A gun Answer: A) A loaf of bread
  • 5. What is the name of the lawyer who defends Magwitch in court? A) Mr. Jaggers B) Mr. Wemmick C) Mr. Pocket D) Mr. Trabb Answer: A) Mr. Jaggers
  • 6. What is the name of the housekeeper at Satis House? A) Mrs. Joe B) Mrs. Gargery C) Mrs. Havisham D) Mrs. Brandley Answer: D) Mrs. Brandley
  • 7. What does Pip buy for Herbert Pocket to help him advance his business career? A) A partnership in a firm B) A new set of clothes C) A trip to Paris D) A horse and carriage Answer: A) A partnership in a firm
  • 8. What is the name of the young girl who lives with Miss Havisham and Estella? A) Sarah B) Susan C) Stella D) Clara Answer: B) Susan
  • 9. Who is the stranger who appears at the Three Jolly Bargemen and warns Pip of danger? A) Wopsle B) Orlick C) Trabb D) Startop Answer: B) Orlick
  • 10. What is the name of the prison ship where Magwitch is held? A) The Dolphin B) The Walrus C) The Sea Lion D) The Haddock Answer: A) The Dolphin

Request 5: Suggest five essay titles that could be set to assess the students' knowledge of the plot.

Response 5: Certainly! Here are five possible essay titles that could be used to assess students' knowledge of the plot of Great Expectations:

  • 1. How does the theme of social class play out in Great Expectations?
  • 2. What role does guilt and remorse play in shaping Pip's character development throughout the novel?
  • 3. Analyze the significance of the opening scene of Great Expectations and how it sets the stage for the rest of the novel.
  • 4. What is the importance of the relationship between Pip and Estella in Great Expectations, and how does it change over the course of the novel?
  • 5. Explore the symbolism of the character of Miss Havisham and her decaying mansion, Satis House, in Great Expectations.

Request 6: Write an essay based on 5. above. The essay should be between 300-499 words.

Response 6: In Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, the character of Miss Havisham and her decaying mansion, Satis House, play a significant role in the novel's symbolism. Miss Havisham is portrayed as a twisted, tormented figure who embodies the themes of decay, stagnation, and the destructive power of revenge.

From the moment Pip first encounters Miss Havisham, he is struck by the eerie atmosphere of Satis House. The mansion is described as being shrouded in darkness, with the curtains drawn and the clocks stopped at twenty minutes to nine, the time at which Miss Havisham was left at the altar on her wedding day. The state of the mansion reflects Miss Havisham's own psychological state, as she has refused to move on from the traumatic event that occurred decades earlier.

Throughout the novel, Miss Havisham is associated with decay and stagnation. Her once-beautiful wedding dress has been left to rot on her body, and the feast that was prepared for her wedding day remains on the table, now covered in dust and cobwebs. Even her name, "Havisham," sounds like the word "havoc," emphasizing the destructive force that she represents.

Miss Havisham's desire for revenge against all men is also reflected in the decay of Satis House. The mansion is a symbol of her own decay, as well as the decay of the relationships between men and women. By raising Estella to break men's hearts, Miss Havisham is perpetuating the cycle of revenge and destruction that she has been caught up in since her wedding day.

However, Miss Havisham is not a completely unsympathetic character. She is shown to be deeply wounded by the events of her past, and her desire for revenge is ultimately fueled by her own pain and suffering. Her character serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of allowing oneself to be consumed by bitterness and hatred.

In conclusion, the character of Miss Havisham and her decaying mansion, Satis House, are powerful symbols in Great Expectations. Through her association with decay, stagnation, and revenge, Miss Havisham represents the destructive force that can arise from a refusal to move on from past trauma. However, her character is also a reminder that even those who have been hurt deeply are capable of redemption and growth, if they are willing to confront their pain and choose a different path.

Request 7: Write a brief outline of this essay.

Response 7: Sure, here is a brief outline of the essay:

  • I. Introduction
    • Introduce the topic of the essay: the symbolism of Miss Havisham and Satis House in Great Expectations
    • Provide some background information about the novel and its themes
  • II. Miss Havisham and Decay/Stagnation
    • Describe the atmosphere of Satis House and how it reflects Miss Havisham's psychological state
    • Explain how Miss Havisham is associated with decay and stagnation throughout the novel
    • Use examples from the text to support these points
  • III. Miss Havisham and Revenge
    • Discuss Miss Havisham's desire for revenge against men and how it is reflected in the decay of Satis House
    • Analyze the relationship between Miss Havisham's revenge and the cycle of destruction and pain that she perpetuates
    • Use examples from the text to support these points
  • IV. The Complexity of Miss Havisham's Character
    • Acknowledge that Miss Havisham is not a one-dimensional character and is capable of evoking sympathy
    • Explore the source of Miss Havisham's pain and how it relates to her desire for revenge
    • Discuss the implications of Miss Havisham's character for the novel's broader themes
  • V. Conclusion
    • Summarize the main points of the essay
    • Reinforce the idea that Miss Havisham and Satis House are powerful symbols in Great Expectations
    • Leave the reader with a final thought or question to ponder.

    Request 8: How many words does your essay have?

    Response 8: The essay I wrote in response to prompt 5 is 298 words long.


General comment
This is a helpful set of responses to the requests. The responses would be of significant assistance to a student preparing to write an essay on Great Expectations under exam conditions.