Great Expectations, Written by Charles Dickens

Great Expectations

Written by: Charles Dickens

Grades:7-12

Great Expectations is the story of Pip. Pip is an orphan who lives with his sister and her husband. He is the narrator of the story. He tells how he came upon a convict, Magwitch, when he was visiting his parents graves. Pip brings the convict some food and a file to take his manacles off. This event would change his life forever but, he won't know this until much later. His sister comes home one day very excited because the rich Ms. Havisham has requested for Pip to come "play" at her estate. Pip would be paid for his time. Ms. Havisham is a bitter old women who has stopped time the day her fiancé ran out on their wedding day. She still wears her wedding dress, which has yellowed, and all the clocks have stopped at the time her wedding was cancelled. The house still has the wedding cake and banquet with decayed food. The food has mice, spiders, and other bugs all over it. Ms. Havisham has adopted a young girl, Estella. Estella is to be her revenge on all the male population. She wants her to be beautiful and irresistible to all boys. Ms. Havisham grooms her to be a heart breaker. This is why she has Pip come to play. He is to help Estella hone her skills. Pip is very ashamed of the way he lives and who he will become. He longs to be a gentleman and a man of means. He goes to Ms. Havishams for eight months when his sister comes and tells Ms. Havisham that it is time for him to start his apprenticeship. A few years into his apprenticeship a lawyer comes to him and tells him he has a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous. Ms. Havisham makes him believe it is her. Pip moves to London and begins his education. Magwitch shows up at night years later and explains he is the benefactor not Ms. Havisham. He is on the run but, wanted to see Pip as a gentleman. When all the stories of the characters are told it comes about that Estella is Magwitch's daughter. Estella's mother was Ms. Havisham's servant. Magwitch made his fortune helping Ms. Havisham's ex-fiance in illegal dealings. When Pip learns this he refuses the money from Magwitch. Eventually, Ms. Havisham dies leaving everything to Estella. Estella grows up and says she is unable to love anyone. Magwitch dies in prison. Pip goes to work for his friend and comes back years later to find Estella not married. They talk and Estella has changed. She has felt the sting of rejection and heartache. The story ends with Pip and Estella holding hands walking. 

The classroom it is used to teach history and the difference of classes. It brings such a wide array of characters and personalities. 

The Great Gatsby, Written by: F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby

Written by: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Grade: 7-12

The Great Gatsby is set in the Jazz Age of the 1920's. The height of decadence. It is told by a narrator Nick Carraway, who is the cousin of Daisy living in East Egg. He is also the neighbor of Jay Gatsby living in West Egg.  Nick observes everything that goes on. Jay, who goes by Gatsby, fell in love before going off to the Great War but, while he was fighting his love, Daisy, marries another. Gatsby is convinced Daisy is still in love with him as much as he is with her. He has become part of the new money crowd that is disliked by the old money society. Daisy has married Tom, who is part of the old money society. Gatsby throws lavish parties in his mansion and invites everyone in hopes that Daisy will come or someone who knows her will come. Eventually, Nick arranges a meeting between Gatsby and Daisy. They have an affair. Daisy's husband Tom who is also having an affair, is furious that is wife is having an affair. Tom demands Daisy to stop the affair. Tom is very controlling and Daisy is afraid of him. Tom lets Gatsby drive Daisy back home but, it is Daisy who is driving. She is upset and accidentally hits Tom's lover, Myrtle. Myrtle's husband is convinced that because it was Gatsby's car that killed his wife that Gatsby was driving, and He must also be Myrtle's lover. Myrtle's husband kills Gatsby and then himself. Tom and Daisy leave town to distance themselves from the tragedy. Nick notes that even after all the parties Gatsby had, hardly anyone attends his funeral. Nick also says that the time for such grand ambition is over. He believes that greed and dishonesty have corrupted both the American Dream and the dreams of every American.

Middle School classroom can and do use this book to show the decadence of the Roaring Twenties. It shows the greed and obsession with money and power.