Great Expectations

    AQA
    GCSE

    Great Expectations follows the maturation of Philip Pirrip (Pip), an orphan raised by his blacksmith brother-in-law in the Kent marshes. Following a terrifying encounter with the convict Magwitch and a summons to Satis House by the eccentric Miss Havisham, Pip develops a fervent desire to transcend his working-class origins and become a gentleman for the cold, beautiful Estella. Upon receiving a mysterious fortune, Pip travels to London, abandoning his loyal family to pursue 'great expectations' and a life of idleness. The narrative reaches its crisis when the true source of his wealth is revealed not as Miss Havisham, but the convict Magwitch, forcing a painful moral reassessment of gentility, gratitude, and loyalty. Ultimately, the novel serves as a critique of the Victorian class system and a psychological study of guilt and redemption.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
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    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • AO1: Develop a conceptualised response to the task, maintaining a critical style with precise textual references
    • AO2: Analyse the effects of Dickens' language (e.g., gothic motifs, caricature), form (retrospective first-person narration), and structure (contrasts, pacing)
    • AO3: Integrate understanding of Victorian context (e.g., the hulks, gentility, industrialisation) to inform and enrich the interpretation of the text
    • AO4: (SPaG) Maintain technical accuracy in spelling, punctuation, and grammar to ensure the argument is coherent and sophisticated

    Example Examiner Feedback

    Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

    • "You have identified the gothic imagery here; now explain specifically how this shapes the reader's view of Miss Havisham"
    • "Your reference to the Victorian penal system is accurate, but you must link it directly to Magwitch's dialogue in this scene"
    • "You are retelling Pip's journey. Shift to analysing how Dickens uses the retrospective narrator to critique Pip's past choices"
    • "To reach Level 6, explore the nuance in this metaphor—does it suggest entrapment or protection?"

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • AO1: Develop a conceptualised response to the task, maintaining a critical style with precise textual references
    • AO2: Analyse the effects of Dickens' language (e.g., gothic motifs, caricature), form (retrospective first-person narration), and structure (contrasts, pacing)
    • AO3: Integrate understanding of Victorian context (e.g., the hulks, gentility, industrialisation) to inform and enrich the interpretation of the text
    • AO4: (SPaG) Maintain technical accuracy in spelling, punctuation, and grammar to ensure the argument is coherent and sophisticated

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Allocate 50 minutes: 5-10 planning, 35 writing, 5 checking. Prioritise the 'whole text' links during planning
    • 💡Start the response by establishing a thesis that directly answers the 'How does Dickens present...' prompt using the extract as a springboard
    • 💡Select 2-3 short, memorised quotations from elsewhere in the novel that thematically link to the extract to demonstrate whole-text knowledge
    • 💡Ensure every point about context (AO3) is triggered by a specific detail in the text (AO1/AO2), not written as a history lesson

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Narrating the plot of the novel rather than analysing the specific methods Dickens uses to convey meaning
    • Analysing the extract in exhaustive detail but failing to reference the wider novel, capping the mark at Level 2/3
    • Bolting on context (e.g., 'Dickens was poor once') without explaining how it shapes the specific scene or character presentation
    • Confusing the perspectives of the older, narrating Pip with the immediate experiences of the younger protagonist

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

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