The Range of Devices Charles Dickens Uses to Engage the Reader in the Opening Chapter of Great Expectations
Dickens has succeeded in gaining the reader's sympathy for pip in his
first chapter by showing the imagination and desolation of this young
childe4. In 'Great expectations' we are presented with a range of
vividly drown characters in these opening chapters. The way Dickens
describe the man "all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg" he
is not wearing a hat which shows us that he is not respectable person
and Dickens tells us that he has got great iron on his leg that tells
us that he is prisoner and he is running away from prison.
Dickens uses effective verbs to describe the convict all these words
are active e.g. 'Soaked', 'Smothered', 'Lamed', 'Stung', 'Torn',
'Limped', 'Shivered', etc, at the end you feel sorry for him because
he is hurt, he is cold and he is in desperate situation, which shows
us that he had a awful struggle to reach the graveyard, and he seizes
the chilled in his desperation. Dickens has used 'and' many times, the
repetition of 'and' creates a cumulative effect, a sense of a buildup
of every thing that had happened to the convict.
Charles Dickens uses simple but effective techniques when writing the
novel: when a author writes a book in his first person narrative it's
more interesting "My first most vivid broad impression" In this
example Dickens is writing as though he is Pip, This would help him to
write in the novel, but more importantly it will engage the reader.
Therefore, whenever some one reads it they can empathise with Pip and
become deeply immersed in the novel as though they are alongside ...
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...weakness" which describes his mental weakness because he allows
Mrs. Gargery (his wife and Pip's sister) to almost control him.
Charles dickens builds up tension all through out the chapter. The
chocking introduction of the convict leaves the reader with many
unanswered questions. For example, why does he have an Iron on his
leg? What is he running away from? These are just a sample of the many
questions that are unanswered by Dickens and which will persuade the
reader to carry on.
In conclusion, Charles Dickens uses many techniques to entice the
reader to read on. Mainly because Dickens varies the setting of the
chapter, so it is completely surprising. Another reason is to find out
who this convict is and what kind of part will he play in the rest of
the novel. All these reasons will leave the reader waiting more.
How Dickens Engages the Reader in Great Expectations The text is created in an intelligent way so that it interests the reader from the beginning. The title itself stimulates the inquisitiveness of the reader. We are led to think that the novel promises a certain amount of drama or action. The text from the novel 'Great Expectations' is structured in a deliberate fashion to encourage the reader to read on. Great Expectations is a gothic novel.
Dickens used his great talent by describing the city London were he mostly spent his time. By doing this Dickens permits readers to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the aged city, London. This ability to show the readers how it was then, how ...
notices that he is "a man with no hat", the sign of a lower class
“each about a foot and a half long, which were arranged in a neat row
And so it can be seen, that Charles Dickens’ world applauding novel of Great Expectations clearly shows that spontaneously, the opening chapter is ready to buckle the reader’s eyes to the chapter, and keep them glued to the novel, taking them till the very end. The amazing techniques he manages to bombard into only eight pages, is charming and bewildering. The use of basic vocabulary, yet very successful, creates sympathy for Pip, which is very intriguing, not letting, but forcing the reader to find out what will happen to whom. He manages to highlight the words that have double meanings of the opening chapter in a very intelligent way, making him a unique writer.
Many stories are written in a way that invokes readers’ emotions by way of words. Such a story is “Great Expectations”, written by well-known classic author Charles Dickens in the last era of his life. The result is a string of captivating and enticing events, written in a first person viewpoint that allows the reader to experience emotions as the characters do. Pip, the main protagonist, under the custody of his sister and her husband, starts as an innocent young boy who changes and ages as the tale progresses. Part one, or chapters one through nineteen of the book, highlight Pip’s childhood and adolescence. With such a true-to-life narrative, it allows the reader to experience the joys and pains of growing up, and all the feelings that go
Charles Dickens the notorious author of Great Expectations exploits language to its utmost dignification and to an unforeseen approach. This is perceived as a noticeable technique especially towards the presentation of particular characters that are portrayed in a certain and unique manner. This is clearly evident throughout the portrayal of Miss Havisham. Dickens illustrates an unconventional persona in Miss Havisham and appears together to assimilate and refute the civil principles of single women distinctively during the Victorian era. This is clearly evident throughout the line” she had bridal flowers in her hair but her hair was white” The above quote primarily implies that Miss Havisham is restricted under the traumatizing aftermath of the past experience of being jilted on her wedding day and perhaps is still “transfixed” in time. The specific phrase: “but her hair was white” signifies clear contradiction within her description and to an extent suggests a form of corruption in her psychical state. The bridal flowers in her hair over time have turned white yet her physical, men...
shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been
setting we meet her in, which is her house, is a exact replica of Miss
It can be seen through Dickens’s highly successful novel Great Expectations, that his early life events are reflected into the novel. Firstly the reader can relate to Dickens’s early experiences, as the novel’s protagonist Pip, lives in the marsh country, and hates his job. Pip also considers himself, to be too good for his ...
I have chosen to look at how the relationship of Pip and Magwitch develops during the novel. I have chosen 3 key scenes in which Magwitch and pip meet and I will look at how each is portrayed in terms of character, development, setting and the messages or morals that dickens is trying to convey.
Carswell, Beth. “11 Charles Dickens Facts.” Abe Books’ Reading Copy. 1996. Web. 28 March 2014.
"I must entreat you to pause for an instant, and go back to what you know of my childish days, and to ask yourself whether it is natural that something of the character formed in me then" - Charles Dickens
“Charles Dickens: Great Expectations.” (2 Feb, 2006): 2. Online. World Wide Web. 2 Feb, 2006. Available http://www.uned.es/dpto-filologias-extranjeras/cursos/LenguaIglesaIII/TextosYComentarios/dickens.htm.
man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round