Great Expectations Chapter Summaries

These Great Expectations chapter summaries make an excellent review.

• Chapter 1 - The novel begins at the church graveyard on Christmas Eve. Pip informs us that he is an orphan and lives in the marsh country. An escaped convict appears and threatens Pip. He commands Pip to bring him a file and vittles (food) or he'll cut Pip's throat.
• Chapter 2 - Pip returns home and we meet his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery, who's raised Pip "by hand." Mrs. Joe, as she is called, is an abusive guardian who bullies Pip and Joe. Joe, the town blacksmith and Pip's only friend, informs Pip that Mrs. Joe has the tickler, a stick used to beat Pip when he's been bad. Mrs. Joe returns and swats Pip several times. Pip runs to Joe for protection. They sit down to dinner and Pip, although hungry, does not eat so he can sneak food to the convict. Pip snags some food and sneaks into Joe's forge to steal a file.
• Chapter 3 - It's Christmas morning. Pip awakes early and runs to the churchyard. On the way he spots another convict who tries to strike him. Pip runs. He meets the original convict and gives him food, drink, and a file. Pip tells the convict about the other convict. The chapter ends with the original convict filing his leg iron and Pip running back to his house.
• Chapter 4 - The Gargerys have guests for Christmas: Mr. Wopsle, the church clerk; Uncle Pumblechook, an arrogant corn merchant; and Mr. and Mrs. Hubble. The guests harass Pip about being ungrateful. Mrs. Joe brings Pumblechook some brandy. He drinks it and chokes on it (Pip had replaced the brandy with tar water.). Mrs. Joe fetches the pork pie, which is missing. Pip runs in fear. The door opens and a party of soldiers enter.

I hope this summary of Great Expectations, chapters 1-4 have helped.

These Great Expectations chapter summaries make an excellent review.

• Chapter 5 - The soldiers inform the Gargerys they are hunting an escaped convict and need a blacksmith to fix a pair of handcuffs. Joe obliges. Joe, Wopsle, and Pip accompany the soldiers on the hunt. They capture both convicts. The original convict confesses to stealing a pie from the blacksmith.
• Chapter 6 - The Christmas feast ends and Pip is taken to bed, relieved of not being found out and feeling guilty for not telling Joe the truth.
• Chapter 7 - Pip goes to school in the village. He writes a letter to Joe, who can't read. Pip is determined to teach Joe. Joe narrates to Pip his background. Joe's dad was a drunk who beat him. Joe had to work to support his mother and was never able to learn. Mrs. Joe enters and announces that Pip has been requested to play at Miss Havisham's, an eccentric old lady who lives up town.
• Chapter 8 - Pumblechook escorts Pip to Havisham's house. Miss Havisham's snooty, beautiful daughter lets him in and insults him. Pip marvels at the dark corridors and Miss Havisham's appearance. She wears a wedding dress and sits in a candle lit room with all the clocks stopped at 8:40. Pip and Estella play cards. Estella insults him the entire time. Miss Havisham gives Estella permission to break Pip's heart. Pip waits in the courtyard for lunch and cries. Estella brings him his lunch and insults him again.

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