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Great Expectations

Ambition, class and growing wiser in Charles Dickens’s famous novel

B150–60 minutesClassic LiteraturePrintable
Teacher lesson: Begin with the question about wanting a better life, then work through the activities in order or choose the sections that suit your class. The reading is a simplified overview rather than a substitute for the novel. Teacher answers are stored separately.
Teacher AnswersClassic Literature
1 Lesson Goals
Victorian scene inspired by Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:

  • explain the main situation and characters in Great Expectations.
  • understand vocabulary about ambition, class and personal growth.
  • give an opinion about Pip’s choices using reasons.
Start here: Is it wrong to want a better life? What matters more: money, status, or kindness?
2 Reading

Before you read: What might make a young person feel ashamed of an ordinary life?

Charles Dickens published Great Expectations in 1861. The story follows Pip, a poor boy who lives with his sister and her kind husband, Joe, in the English countryside.

One day, Pip meets an escaped prisoner called Magwitch in a churchyard and secretly helps him. Later, Pip is invited to the strange home of Miss Havisham, a wealthy woman who still wears her old wedding dress. There he meets Estella, her beautiful but proud adopted daughter.

Estella makes Pip feel ashamed of his simple background. He begins to dream of becoming a gentleman so that she will respect him. Then Pip unexpectedly receives money from a secret benefactor and moves to London.

Pip assumes Miss Havisham is behind his good fortune, but he later discovers a surprising truth. Through disappointment and difficult choices, he learns that wealth and social position do not automatically make a person good or happy.

The novel explores ambition, class, guilt, loyalty, kindness and personal growth.

3 Vocabulary

Match each word to the best meaning.

1. expectation
2. ambition
3. ashamed
4. prisoner
5. gentleman
6. kindness
a. a person kept in prison
b. a strong desire to achieve something
c. the quality of being caring and helpful
d. feeling embarrassed or sorry about something
e. a hope or belief about what will happen
f. a polite, respectable man
4 Check Your Understanding

Answer the questions.

  1. Who is the main character?
  2. Where does Pip meet Magwitch?
  3. Who are Miss Havisham and Estella?
  4. Why does Pip want to become a gentleman?
  5. What important lesson does Pip learn about money and social class?
5 Language Focus

Complete each sentence with: feels, meets, wants, learns, becomes.

  1. Pip ________ ashamed of his poor background.
  2. He ________ Estella at Miss Havisham’s house.
  3. Pip ________ to become a gentleman.
  4. Later, he ________ important lessons about life.
  5. Through experience, Pip ________ wiser and more thoughtful.
Useful pattern: At first …, but later …
Write one sentence showing how Pip changes.
6 Listen & Speak

Discuss

  • Why does Pip become dissatisfied with his ordinary life?
  • Is Estella kind to Pip?
  • Does wealth always bring happiness?
  • What makes someone truly respectable?

Character Match

A. Pip
B. Joe
C. Miss Havisham
D. Estella
E. Magwitch
1. kind blacksmith and loyal friend
2. ambitious boy who changes
3. wealthy woman living in the past
4. beautiful, proud and emotionally distant
5. escaped prisoner helped by Pip

Choose one character and give two adjectives with reasons.

Great Expectations — Continued
7 Use Your English

Something New

Expectation Tracker

Write one thing Pip expects from wealth, one disappointment he experiences, and one important lesson he learns.

Write

Write 100–120 words on one topic.

  • Is it wrong to want a better life?
  • Write Pip’s diary after arriving in London.
  • Explain one way Pip changes during the story.
8 Puzzle or Game
Who Am I?

Choose Pip, Joe, Miss Havisham, Estella or Magwitch. Give three clues without saying the name. Your partner guesses the character.

Example: “I am kind. I work as a blacksmith. I care about Pip.”

Write your three clues:

9 Success Criteria ✓

Tick each statement when you can do it.

  • I can identify the main characters and situation.
  • I can explain Pip’s main expectations.
  • I can use at least three new words correctly.
  • I can explain how Pip changes.
  • I can give an opinion and support it with a reason.

One thing I am proud of today:

10 Show What You Can Do
Final challenge: Great Expectations

Plan: Write the names of two characters, 3 useful words or phrases, and one important lesson Pip learns.

Respond: Write 6–8 sentences, or prepare a 45-second spoken response, explaining what Pip learns about success and true worth.

Reflect: Underline the part of your response that best shows your progress.