Time+Period+of+the+Novel+and+Setting

Kimberly Hakvaag Samantha Hopkins Benjamin Hagan Graceanne Ruggiero

Please research and inform your viewers about the time period of the novel. What era did this story take place during? What was life like back then? What was the way of life? Any important controversies or topics that were taken place during this era?

After giving us the research from that time period, write about the setting of the novel. What did Dickens emphasize about his setting? What is important about this setting in reference to Pip's great expectations in social status? Is this setting a lot like other Dickens' settings? Setting: Where, when, mood, integral setting or simple setting?

Integral setting - cannot take place anywhere else and still be the same story (integral = important) Simple setting - can take place anywhere else, at anytime, and still be the same story

The time period of Great Expectations is set in the Victorian Era, in the early nineteenth century. The Industrial Revolution was also taking place at this time. [|Click here for information about the Victorian Era] [|Click here for information about the Industrial Revolution] [|Images of the Victorian Era][|Images of the Industrial Revolution]
 * Time Period**

Life during the Victorian Era and Industrial Revolution was much different than life today. This time period was a very complex and eventful age, including advances in medical, scientific and technological knowledge. As far as religion, many citizens experienced a great age of doubt. There was always a big difference between the high class and other classes. The only people that earned any respect was the high class. Social classes and being a gentleman played a huge role in this time period as well as in the book.
 * What was life like back then?**


 * Setting:** The setting takes place in 19th century England. Pip is born in the early 1800's and told his story in the 1860's. During this time the Industrial Revolution is going on and the abolishment of slavery in the colonies in 1834. Also at this time, London is considered a thriving metropolis and England is very powerful and wealthy. This book has an integeral setting because it cannot take place anywhere else and still have the same story line.
 * Mood:** There are moments of touching tradgedy and sadness such as when Pip was in the cemetary surrounded by his dead family and being mistreated by his only surviving relative, Mrs. Joe. The book also has a mystery and danger thrown in to it as well, especially when Abel Magwitch was found out to be Pip's secret benefactor through a huge twist in the story.
 * Where:** This story takes place in London, England (Kent Marshes) where both Pip and Charles Dickens grew up. Kent Marshes is located in south-east England and is a huge swampland. Kent Marshes is known as a low lying marshland which was at one time all undersea.
 * When:** The Victorian Era, when Queen Victoria ruled England from 1837-1901 was when this story took place. This time was also considered the height of the Industrial Revolution in Britain

What was the way of life? The way of life for children was that you took over your father’s job when he retired. Also you went to work when you were old enough. Children were expected to help towards the family budget. They often worked long hours in dangerous jobs and in difficult situations for a very little wages. They would chimney sweep and crawl under machinery to fetch things and worked in coal mines crawling through tiny tunnels. They also sold matches, flowers and other cheap goods. There was a lot of people and therefore not many jobs. So they lived close to were they worked (if they had a job), and lived in slum housing, which is large houses that were turned into flats and tenements. The landlords who owned them were not concerned about the conditions. People wanted to move to big cities to improve their pay. There were poor sanitary conditions during this time. People would drink out of puddles; sometimes the water was even muddy. There were a lot of deaths. The conditions affected children as well as adults. There were homeless children, and there were children living with their families. Many children were turned out of their home and left to fend for themselves at an early age and many more ran away because they were treated badly. People lived by stealing from the upper class. For example, Magwitch stole from Pip’s family with Pips help, but confessed when he got caught and taken back to prison. This wouldn’t have normally been forgiven, but Joe was very kind hearted and forgave Magwitch, and said he would never leave him hungry either. As the century progressed, the plight of the poor, and of the deprived homeless children, had an effect on the consciences of more and more people. The Victorian era can also be thought of as one of intense philanthropy. Many of our modern day charitable institutions, such as The Children's Society, have their roots at this time.

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Setting Emphasis Dickens describes the setting as not up to Pip’s expectations. When Pip went to London he thought that he was going to be a high class gentleman and in a very clean and classy environment. When Pip gets to London, Dickens describes the setting as dirty and disgusting, not much better than were he came from. What Dickens is trying to emphasize is that London is not as great as is cracked up to be. Pip will not become a high class gentleman over night, he has to work at it and work is way up through the classes. Even though he did have money from his benefactor, he was not yet into the higher class like he believed.

Important Controversies There is one main controversy during the Victorian era and it is social class. There is such a humungous difference between the rich and the poor that the rich will not even look at the poor. Those in the very high class only deal with those who they believe are as good as they are. The poor are struggling to keep food on the table and clothes on their back but are doing the hard laboring work. The rich are doing nothing for the society but are in turn leading very lavish and laid back life styles, doing whatever makes them happy. During this time everyone wants to be of high stature in the town. Everyone strives to be this high class diplomat and most of the people do not care who they hurt on their way. This is what happens to Pip. He becomes so consumed in this idea of being rich and being better than everyone else that he hurts the only friend he had, Joe.

The setting is very important in this novel. It changes as Pip's life and expectations do. In the beginning of Great Expectations, the setting is located in the marshes of England. Pip is quite miserable at this time: he hates learning the blacksmith trade, he becomes arrogant, and he criticizes every aspect of his physical and moral being. Once Pip receives the money to become a gentlemen, the setting changes completely. Pip moves to London, where the gentlemen live. He starts having higher opinions of himself, and is even asamed of Joe and his own former life. With Pip's giant leap in social status comes an extreme change in setting. Another aspect of setting that Dickens conveys is the weather. For example, when Pip meets the convict in the graveyard, it a dark, gloomy night. By knowing that this section takes place in a graveyard, and it is dark out, the reader can suspect that a problem is about to occur. At this point in the novel, Pip gets intimidated by the convict, and gets scared into stealing food, a file and a wittle for him. From there, Pip begins to feel guilty all of the time, and the setting remains unpleasant (rainy). When Pip becomes a gentleman and lives with Herbert, the convict reappears during a storm. From there, Pip helps the convict dodge the police, ultimately putting himself in danger. On a more positive note, in the second ending, when Pip reunites with Estella, there is a silver mist, and the moon and stars are out. Dickens notes that it is not dark out. The readers can expect a happy ending when given this setting, and indeed, the ending is pleasant. Pip and Estella catch up in a peaceful conversation at the Satis House, and they walk out of its ruins hand in hand, never to part again.
 * Setting Importance**

Is this setting a lot like other Dickens' settings? Yes, the setting of //Great Expectations// is much like his other books. Charles Dickens was an English novelist. Most of his books took place in the Victorian era, and are charactericized by attacks on social evils, injustice, and hypocrisy. Many other Charles Dickens’s novels have a relatively similar setting, such as: Pip stayed at Barnards Inn. Barnard’s Inn was recorded as part of the estate of Sir Adam de Basyng, mayor of London, in 1252. In 1454, the property was established as an Inn of Chancery. The Inn was a school for law students, who then passed on to the Inns of Court. Barnard’s Inn, together with Staple Inn, became associated with Gray’s Inn. In 1892, the freehold was purchased by the Mercers’ Company and the building housed the Mercers’ School from 1894 until 1959. The Hall dates from the late 14th century, with early 16th century linen-fold paneling. The historic chalk and tile walling preserved in the southern wall of the Council Chamber below the Hall is much older, dating from the Roman period.
 * Oliver Twist
 * A Tale of Two Cities
 * A Christmas Carol
 * David Copperfield
 * Bleak House

[|.click here for more info about Barnards Inn]