1424028795_36021

28833_01_Great_ELT_P32-62.qxd 11/17/09 9:15 PM Page 46
46 Great Expectations for ELT
TEACHER’S NOTES
WORKSHEET 18 – EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITY
1 This task aims to highlight how unrealistic Pip’s ambition and dreams of Estella are compared with
Biddy’s dreams of becoming a teacher. Check students understand the vocabulary. Some items may
apply to both characters.
ANSWER KEY: Answers may vary, but expect the following.
Pip: socially ambitious, intelligent but immature, desire to learn, ashamed, arrogant, snobbish, desires
material wealth
Biddy: realistic goals, intelligent, honest, down-to-earth, sensible, aware of own identity
2 ANSWER KEY:
Although Pip does achieve some of his dreams, Biddy is happier. She becomes a school teacher and
marries Joe. For a woman of her low social status in Victorian times this was an admirable achievement.
They are happy and share the same values; while even at the end of the story, Pip has to be content with
Estella’s friendship, rather than her love.
3 Encourage class discussion.
ANSWER KEY:
Pip’s expectations of Estella: He hopes to win her love and marry her. This is harmful to him, as he
wastes his best years living a dream.
Miss Havisham’s expectations of Estella: She wants Estella to take revenge on men. This harms Estella
by making her cold and unfeeling. Ironically, she marries Drummle, is treated badly and is unhappy.
Magwitch’s expectations of Pip: Magwitch wants to give Pip a chance to lead a better life than he has
had, but he also hopes to spend his last years with Pip. This is kind but unrealistic. Handing great wealth
to young Pip harms him by making him arrogant and lazy. He learns the true value of hard work only
when the money is lost.
Pip’s expectations of Joe: Pip’s snobbish attitude towards Joe prevents him from realising how well
respected Joe is in the community as a successful, skilled craftsman. Pip’s desire for him to educate
himself makes Joe feel uncomfortable. It creates distance between them, but is not truly harmful.
Pip’s expectations of Herbert: Not harmful. Pip sees that Herbert’s dreams are more practical than his
own, i.e. Herbert is happy to work for his living, whereas Pip dreams only of Estella. He provides Herbert
with the means to achieve his goal, allowing his friend to then prove his worth as a businessman.
4 Pip’s sense of guilt and responsibility affect the way he behaves in the story.
ANSWER KEY: Answers may vary. The following are possible.
1 Pip assumes that his sudden wealth means that all his dreams will now come true. Miss Havisham is
the only wealthy person he knows, and he mistakenly believes that she has grown fond of him.
However, part of the blame lies with Miss Havisham who allows him to believe this.
2 Pip is blinded by his own desperate desire for this to be true, but part of the responsibility lies with
Miss Havisham, who encourages Pip to love Estella.
3 Pip is guilty, as his motives are purely selfish. He wants Joe to change because he is ashamed of his
low social status and lack of education. He fails to see Joe’s true worth as an honest, hard¯working man.
Optional extension: See Appendix, page 61, question 3, for a writing task.