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32 Great Expectations for ELT
TEACHER’S NOTES
WORKSHEET 12 – VOLUME II,
CHAPTERS XVII–XX – THE COLD TRUTH
1 Books closed. Students read through the summary and try to predict what they need for each gap.
Explain that in some cases they will need a short phrase and in others just one word. Play CD2, Tracks
17 and 18. Pause, then play the tracks again. Elicit answers. This question offers practice in the
sentence completion task, similar to Paper 4, Part 2 of the Cambridge FCE examination.
ANSWER KEY: 1 £500 2 who his benefactor 3 look after his money / affairs
4 Wemmick 5 a partner
2 Books open. The aim of this question is to focus on Estella’s character and the impression she is creating.
Tell students to listen to and read Chapter XIX. They should pay particular attention to the way in which
Estella treats people. Play CD2, Track 19. Allow time for them to make notes. Elicit answers. Estella is not
likeable here, but some students may feel sorry for her; she is Miss Havisham’s puppet, just as Pip is.
ANSWER KEY: Answers may vary, but expect the following.
Pip Estella is cruel to Pip, but honest. She does not pretend to be interested in his attentions. He is the
only one whom she is not ‘false’ towards.
Her admirers Estella is charming and flirtatious, encouraging men who are attracted to her, even though she isn’t
interested in them. We get the impression that she is simply doing her duty to Miss Havisham.
Miss Havisham This is the only time in the story that Estella stands up to Miss Havisham. She is cold towards her
benefactor and blames her for making her that way. She seems tired of playing Miss Havisham’s
game. Her engagement to Drummle could be a desire to break away. In this, it is possible to feel
sympathy for her.
3 Books open. The aim of this task is to help students understand Pip’s shock at the news that a convict is
his benefactor, that Miss Havisham has deceived him, and to encourage them to think of Magwitch’s
expectations of Pip. Students listen to and read Chapter XX. Play CD2, Track 20. Allow time for the
students to make notes. You may wish to discuss Magwitch’s feelings in more detail here. What does his
generous gift to a young boy whom he met only once say about him?
ANSWER KEY:
Pip is horrified at the news that his benefactor is nothing but a criminal. His dreams of marrying Estella
and inheriting Miss Havisham’s fortune are shattered. Magwitch may give him wealth, but not the social
status he desires.
4 The aim of this task is to show how generous a sum of £500 was in the 1830s. Despite this, Pip manages
to run up huge debts, showing him to be irresponsible. Students could do this in pairs. Explain to them
the value of old English money. Tell them that in 1840, approximately 60 per cent of adult male workers
earned an average wage of under 25 shillings a week. Eighteen shillings a week was considered to be
beneath the poverty line. This was in sharp contrast to the lifestyle of the wealthy, highlighting how
extravagant and irresponsible Pip has been. Dickens was clearly making a social comment here about the
decadence of the wealthy.
ANSWER KEY: Answers will vary.
Pip would have about £20 to live on each week. Other expenses include food, clothing and
entertainment. Elicit that Pip could live comfortably on this allowance, without getting into debt.
Optional extension: For a writing task see Appendix, page 61, question 1.