essay prompts for great expectations

Great Expectations

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A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-6

Chapters 7-14

Chapters 15-19

Chapters 20-26

Chapters 27-33

Chapters 34-40

Chapters 41-48

Chapters 49-56

Chapters 57-59

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

 How does the phrase “great expectations” change and develop from the beginning to the end of the book? Why do you think Charles Dickens chose this phrase for the book’s title?

Though Great Expectations contains some flawlessly kind, ideal characters (such as Joe and Biddy ) and some simply evil characters (such as Orlick), most of the novel’s characters are morally complex, displaying both their best and worst characteristics. Choose between Pip, Estella , Miss Havisham , Mr. Jaggers , or Abel Magwitch and track that character’s moral progression over the course of the book. 

Between Pip’s various “educators” on his path to becoming a gentleman—including Mr. Wopsle, Biddy , Estella , Herbert, and Matthew Pocket—how does Pip’s educational process change over the course of the novel? How does Pip’s idea of a “gentleman” evolve with his teachings?

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Great Expectations Essay Topics & Writing Assignments

Essay Topic 1

Revenge is a theme of this book that is very important to many of the characters involved. Where does this theme of revenge present itself and how do these occurrences affect the characters involved in those scenes?

Essay Topic 2

How does Pip's relationship with Estella change over the course of the plot? What causes these changes, and what significance does this have to the outcome of the book?

Essay Topic 3

Betrayal is a theme introduced at the very beginning of this book. How does the constant stream of betrayal affect the outcome of the plot, and which characters are most affected by it?

Essay Topic 4

This book takes place in a few different settings. Describe some of these settings and how they affect the course of the plot. Why might Dickens have chosen these particular places for this plot to take place?

Essay Topic 5

What role...

(read more Essay Topics)

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AP® English Literature

The ultimate guide to “great expectations” for the ap® english literature free response questions.

• The Albert Team
• Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

The 2017 AP® English Literature Free Response Questions focus on varying themes and are each structured differently.  Here we discuss the third FRQ prompt which allows you to choose a particular work of literature as the focus of your essay.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is a well-known classic novel. Herein we will discuss how to determine if the given prompt is appropriate for this particular literary work and give you an idea of what to review before your exam.

Great Expectations Themes for AP® English Literature

To choose a literary work to answer your prompt, it’s important to examine the themes which are outlined in the assigned essay. If the theme is not relevant or well established in a work, you will do well to choose another title to examine. The following are the main themes which you may discuss in your Great Expectations AP® English Lit Essay. Ambition and Self Improvement are the main themes of this classic story. Dickens teaches Pip lessons about the importance of loyalty, affection and social conscience by allowing his pursuit of the opposite. Throughout the story, his pursuit of wealth and a higher social class is punctuated by failures and a greater understanding of life’s most important factors. Social Classes are another prevalent theme explored throughout the book. The characters and story are based in the post-Industrial Revolution Victorian England. This chosen backdrop influences Dickens’ portrayal of everyone from the lowest caste to the wealthiest of families. He connects wealth with work and improvement of one’s self. This is why even the richest characters portrayed have achieved station based on success in business. Innocence and Guilt are intertwined themes represented throughout the book by convicts and lawyers alike. Dickens allows Pip to learn that often we must trust our instincts about people and not judge them based on society’s standards.

How to use Great Expectations for the 2017 AP® English Literature Free Response Questions

Great Expectations is a well-known literary work, with which you should be familiar. It may well be a viable choice for the AP® English Lit free response question. However, that is dependent on the question. Each year the 3rd FRQ is different, and the CollegeBoard supplies a list of suggested books to reference for your essay. The absence of a book from the list does not disqualify it from use, that being said; it’s important to know how to choose which book to use for the given analysis.

In preparation for your exam, it’s a good idea to read previous years’ free response questions posted on CollegeBoard. The following review is for the 2016 FRQ prompt.

2016 FRQ 3: Many works of literature contain a character who intentionally deceives others. The character’s dishonesty may be intended to either help or hurt. Such a character, for example, may choose to mislead others for personal safety, to spare someone’s feelings, or to carry out a crime.

Choose a novel or play in which a character deceives others. Then, in a well-written essay, analyze the motives for that character’s deception and discuss how the deception contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.

While Great Expectations is not on the suggested list for this prompt, you may choose to use it. The theme of deception is represented by various characters in the story. However, the most prevalent one is probably Abel Magwitch, the convict. A thesis for this essay may look something like the following . In Great Expectations, the character of Abel Magwitch used deliberate anonymity to perpetrate deception on Pip to help him improve his station in life.

To support this thesis, you may point out that Magwitch is the only character who uses his earnings in what seems to be a selfless way. He is also the only truly self-made man, written by Dickens, in this story. Both of these characteristics are essential to the reasoning for his deception. Magwitch wanted Pip to become a gentleman and live a proper, wealthy life. He has to work hard to gain the money to drive this transformation while in Australia.

He could have made himself known from the start, but he thinks Pip is more likely to achieve these goals, without that knowledge. The following quote, from Chapter 2, shows that Magwitch sent all his gains for Pip.

“As I give’ you to understand just now, I’m famous for it. It was the money left me, and the gains of the first few year wot I sent home to Mr. Jaggers—all for you—when he first came after you, agreeable to my letter.”

Magwitch was born poor and could have easily used his fortune to improve his own life, as illustrated in the following quote from Chapter 42.

“I first become aware of myself, down in Essex, a thieving turnips for my living. Summun had run away from me—a man—a tinker—and he’d took the fire with him, and left me very cold.”

However, he remembered the help Pip had given him, years earlier, and dedicated himself to creating a gentleman. Later it becomes apparent that Magwitch feels he owns Pip for the support he bestowed upon him. This is outlined in the following quote from Chapter 39.

“He was a convict, a few year ago, and is an ignorant common fellow now, for all he’s lucky,’ what do I say? I say to myself, ‘If I ain’t a gentleman, nor yet ain’t got no learning, I’m the owner of such. All on you owns stock and land; which on you owns a brought-up London gentleman?”

To examine another possible use for Great Expectations on your 2017 English Lit Exam we will take a look at another prompt.

2015 FRQ 3 : In literary works, cruelty often functions as a crucial motivation or a major social or political factor. Select a novel, play, or epic poem in which acts of cruelty are important to the theme. Then write a well-developed essay analyzing how cruelty functions in the work as a whole and what the cruelty reveals about the perpetrator and/or victim.

Great Expectations was on the provided list for this year’s prompt, with good reason. Cruelty is an underlying theme throughout the story. A possible thesis is as follows. In Great Expectations, the theme of cruelty is represented through both physical and psychological means of individuals and society. To elaborate on this thesis and explain what it reveals about the perpetrator and/or victim, you will need to choose your examples and expand upon them.

You can choose from Pip being abused by his sister and Miss Havisham. The abuse he undergoes at the hands of Estella and conversely the abuse suffered by Estella to make her into a weapon of destruction. Further options include the cruel deception played on Miss Havisham which resulted in her sick mind and victimization of others or the way society cruelly leaves the poor to fend for themselves and then punishes them for that necessity, as is the case with Magwitch’s childhood and later life.

For example, Pip undergoes cruelty at the heavy hand of his sister and the mental turmoil supplied by Miss Havisham. The way that Pip reacts to his abuse is indicative of a boy who doesn’t think he is worthy of better treatment. He not only undergoes physical harm from Mrs. Joe but also harms himself as a punishment for his weakness. Furthermore, when faced with disdain and rejection from Estella, thanks to the plans of Miss Havisham, he reacts by loving her more. Evidence for these statements can be found in the following quotes from chapters 8, 29, 29, 39, and 44 respectively.

“ My sister’s bringing up had made me sensitive. In the little world in which children have their existence whosoever brings them up, there’s nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt, as injustice. It may be only small injustice that the child can be exposed to; but the child is small, and its world is small, and its rocking-horse stands as many hands high, according to scale, as a big-boned Irish hunter.” -Pip

“The unqualified truth is, that when I loved Estella with the love of a man, I loved her simply because I found her irresistible. Once for all; I knew to my sorrow, often and often, if not always, that I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be. Once for all; I loved her nonetheless because I knew it, and it had no more influence in restraining me, than if I had devoutly believed her to be human perfection.” -Pip

“I have not bestowed my tenderness anywhere. I have never had any such thing.” -Estella “Miss Havisham’s intentions towards me, all a mere dream; Estella not designed for me; I only suffered in Satis House as a convenience, a sting for the greedy relations, a model with a mechanical heart to practise on when no other practice was at hand; those were the first smarts I had.” -Pip

“It would have been cruel in Miss Havisham, horribly cruel, to practice on the susceptibility of a poor boy, and to torture me through all these years with a vain hope and an idle pursuit, if she had reflected on the gravity of what she did. But I think she did not. I think that in the endurance of her own trial, she forgot mine, Estella.” – Pip

Classic literary works always have many themes, allowing for their use in a variety of prompt types. Let’s examine another free response question from a previous year. Again, Great Expectations was not on the suggested list. However, reading the theme and question, we can determine it is a viable choice.

2014 FRQ 3 : It has often been said that what we value can be determined by what we sacrifice. Consider how this statement applies to a character from a novel or play. Select a character that has deliberately sacrificed, surrendered, or forfeited something in a way that highlights that character’s values. Then write a well-organized essay in which you analyze how the particular sacrifice illuminates the character’s values and provides a deeper understanding of the meaning of the work as a whole.

A thesis which could be supported for this prompt is as follows. In Great Expectations, the sacrifice of Joe to stay with Mrs. Joe, for the good of Pip, shows that he values the well-being of the boy above his own and informs the development of Pip’s own values.

To support this thesis, you could expound on the abuse Joe underwent from Mrs. Joe and the fact that he was always there for Pip, even when Pip was not appreciative. Furthermore, Joe’s love for Pip is intertwined with Dickens’ message to not judge people by social class or appearance, rather by who they are. The following quote, from Chapter 7, illustrates that Joe wanted to take Pip in after the death of his parents.

“I said to her, ‘And bring the poor little child. God bless the poor little child,’ I said to your sister, ‘there’s room for him at the forge!'” -Joe

In chapter 57, we see Joe again comes to rescue Pip.

“ I opened my eyes in the night, and I saw, in the great chair at the bedside, Joe. I opened my eyes in the day, and, sitting on the window-seat, smoking his pipe in the shaded open window, still I saw Joe. I asked for cooling drink, and the dear hand that gave it me was Joe’s. I sank back on my pillow after drinking, and the face that looked so hopefully and tenderly upon me was the face of Joe.”

“For the tenderness of Joe was so beautifully proportioned to my need, that I was like a child in his hands. He would sit and talk to me in the old confidence, and with the old simplicity, and in the old unassertive protecting way, so that I would half believe that all my life since the days of the old kitchen was one of the mental troubles of the fever that was gone.”

In conclusion, Great Expectations has many themes you may find helpful for the last Free Response Question on the AP® English Literature Exam. When reading the prompt and deciding on what literary work to use for your essay, remember to choose a subject where the theme outlined in the given instructions is prevalent.

In the case of Great Expectations ambition, self-improvement, social classes, innocence, and guilt are a few of the more prominent themes discussed. However, as we saw with the 2016 prompt example, this story has many underlying themes which you may examine for your Great Expectations AP® English Lit Essay.

For more help preparing for your AP® English Literature exam we suggest you read   The Ultimate Guide to 2015 AP® English Literature FRQs . And, for writing advice for the AP® English Lit free response questions, Albert.io’s AP® English Literature section has practice free response sections with sample responses and rubrics.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — Great Expectations

Essays on Great Expectations

Brief description of great expectations.

Great Expectations is a classic novel by Charles Dickens, following the story of an orphan named Pip as he navigates through social class, love, and personal growth. It is a timeless tale that explores themes of ambition, identity, and the impact of social status on individuals.

Importance ... Read More Brief Description of Great Expectations

Importance of writing essays on this topic.

Essays on Great Expectations are important for academic and personal exploration as they provide an opportunity to delve into the complexities of the characters, themes, and social commentary within the novel. Through writing about Great Expectations, students can develop critical thinking skills and gain a deeper understanding of the literary techniques employed by Charles Dickens.

Tips on Choosing a Good Topic

• Focus on a specific theme or character to narrow down your topic
• Consider the historical and social context of the novel for inspiration
• Look for unique angles or interpretations that have not been extensively explored

Essay Topics

• The transformation of Pip's character throughout the novel
• The significance of the marshes in Great Expectations
• How social class influences the characters' actions and choices
• The role of guilt and redemption in Great Expectations
• The portrayal of women in the novel and its impact on the plot
• The societal critique presented in the character of Miss Havisham
• The symbolism of the convict in the opening scene
• The use of foreshadowing in the narrative
• The significance of the title "Great Expectations" in relation to the characters' aspirations

Concluding Thought

Exploring Great Expectations through essay writing offers a unique opportunity to engage deeply with the themes and characters of the novel. By examining different aspects of the story, readers can gain a richer understanding of the timeless literary work and its enduring relevance. Happy writing!

Pip’s Coming of Age Journey in The Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

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Great Expectations by Charles Dickens: Great Wealth Does not Lead to Great Integrity

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August 1861

Charles Dickens

Novel, Bildungsroman, Graphic Novel, Social Criticism, Fictional Autobiography

Pip, Estella, Miss Havisham, Abel Magwitch, Joe Gargery, Jaggers, Herbert Pocket, Wemmick, Biddy, Dolge Orlick, Mrs. Joe, Uncle Pumblechook, Compeyson, Bentley Drummle, Molly, Mr. Wopsle, Startop, Miss Skiffins

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Great Expectations

Although most American high school readers struggle a bit with nineteenth-century style, Dickens’s insights into the human condition are universal and timeless. Great Expectations is probably his most widely taught novel in American high schools.

The two endings of Great Expectations —Dickens’s original ending, and the happier, more romantic one he was apparently pushed to publish—are an interesting point of critical discussion. The document linked here includes the text of both endings, as well as my thoughts about the merits of each.

The quote ID quiz linked here is an effective way of testing both memory and comprehension of the text.

The excerpts linked here are significant and representative passages, for which I have provided numerous detailed questions to help develop students’ ability to engage in a sustained close reading of the text. The questions cover skills such as general interpretation, identification and explanation of rhetorical devices, vocabulary in context, and psychological and thematic analysis. There are also more general discussion and writing prompts for each passage.

The Blu-ray linked here is the 1946 David Lean film, which is generally considered a classic and perhaps the best of numerous film and television adaptations.

Related Resources

Great Expectations Essay Prompts (PDF)

The Two Endings of Great Expectations (PDF)

Great Expectations Quote ID Quiz (PDF)

Answers to Great Expectations Quote ID Quiz (PDF)

Excerpt I from Great Expectations (PDF)

Excerpt II from Great Expectations (PDF)

Amazon | Parnassus | Powell’s

Blu-ray (1946 film)

Essay Prompts

Carefully consider the following prompts. Develop a thesis for one of them, and then write an essay in which you present a detailed, thoughtfully reasoned, well-supported argument in defense of your thesis.

1. Discuss the process of growth that Pip undergoes in the novel. What are his values and goals early in the story, and what are they at the end of the novel? What events and experiences cause this transformation?

2. Discuss one character who is presented in a positive light in the story. What qualities make him or her a heroic or admirable figure?

3. Which of the two endings do you find more aesthetically and/or emotionally satisfying? Decide which one you think is superior, and then develop an argument in defense of your choice.

4. How is the motif of redemption presented and developed in the novel? You can make reference to various elements such as character, style, and plot in developing your argument.

5. Discuss the style in which the novel is written. What are its most significant characteristics? How does each of these characteristics contribute to the effectiveness of the work? Refer to specific examples in presenting your argument.

6. How does the novel define “gentleman”—what are the characteristics of a gentleman? What conception does the young Pip initially have in the novel, and what conception does he end the novel with?

PDF version

Prompts © 2008 C. Brantley Collins, Jr.

Home / Essay Samples / Literature / Books / Great Expectations

Great Expectations Essay Examples

Charles dickens’ "great expectations": unimportance of social class.

The novel “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens, portrays the life of a young boy named Phillip Pirrip, or “Pip”. From birth, Pip is born into a lower class and goes under the care of his only living sibling, Mrs. Joe Gargery and her blacksmith Husband,...

The Struggles of Redemption in Charles Dickens’ "Great Expectations"

In the novel Great Expectations written by Charles Dickens, the struggles of redemption people face are well demonstrated through the characters Pip, Magwitch, and Ms. Havisham. Eventually Pip comes to understand the error of his ways and realizes that happiness does not come through wealth...

Guilt and Shame in Charles Dickens’ "Great Expectations"

The aim of this essay is to look into the ways of how guilt and shame are depicted in Dickens’ Great Expectations. Pip, the main character, is an orphan, a lonely boy who is unhappy with his life and, most of all, with his social...

Literary Analysis of Great Expectations

Throughout this paper, an analysis of the plot, characters, and themes will shed light on Pip’s personal improvements and setbacks. In this novel, Pip, who is the main character, is raised by his sister and brother-in-law and is considered to be low class and not...

"Great Expectations": the Importance Characters Influencing Pip

Throughout the book Great Expectations, Charles Dickens incorporates many different individuals who offer a sense of enlightenment and guidance to Pip. Guardians like Joe, Biddy, and Jaggers influence and shape Pip during his hardships and difficulties. Joe appears to be a very influential individual in...

Symbol of Moral Self-improvement: Charles Dickens’ "Great Expectations"

Charles Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations’ is a bildungsroman novel narrated by Pip who is an orphan. Dickens’ characterization of Pip sets him out as an idealist who hopes and works for self-improvement. This serves as the catalyst for Pip’s progression from the innocence of childhood in...

"Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens: Gentleman in the Victorian Era

The aim of this essay is to analyze what being a gentleman really meant in the Victorian era. In order to achieve this I will have as a start point the image of the gentleman in the novel „Great Expectations”. On the following, I will...

"Great Expectations": Contributions Helping Pip to Become a Gentleman

In the novel “Great Expectation” by Charles Dickens, the main character Pip grows and develops into a young gentleman, who learns many valuable life lessons about himself. Along his path of development, Pip’s knowledge and growth are influenced by his friends and family who act...

"Great Expectations": the Dichotomy of Good and Evil in the Book

There are many ways that Dickens displays the themes of good versus evil in Great Expectations. This essay will provide the examples how he portrays them continuously throughout the book through characters, actions, and thoughts. In the beginning of the book, Pip has a general...

Miss Havisham as Pip's Shame

The aim of this essay is to discuss the shame that Philip Pirrip, also known as Pip, has experienced through the novel. Pip is an orphan character, who is brought up by his selfish sister and his sister’s blacksmith husband, Joe. He was abused by...

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About Great Expectations

Charles Dickens

Novel, Bildungsroman

United Kingdom

The book includes three "stages" of Pip's expectations and tells the story of a young boy who grows up and learns many valuable life lessons about himself and others.

Ambition and Self-Improvement, Expectations (affection, loyalty, and conscience are more important than social advancement, wealth, and class), Social Class, Crime, Guilt, and Innocence, Sophistication, Education, Family.

Pip, Estella, Miss Havisham, Abel Magwitch (“The Convict”), Joe Gargery, Jaggers, Herbert Pocket, Wemmick, Biddy, Dolge Orlick, Mrs. Joe, Uncle Pumblechook, Compeyson, Bentley Drummle, Molly, Mr. Wopsle, Mr. Wopsle, Miss Skiffins

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