Essay assignment vwo 4 on Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
You are going to write an essay on the novel ‘Great Expectations’ by Charles Dickens. Since this is quite a lengthy novel, you can use the abridged version as the basis for your essay, combined with the chapters of the original version that I sent you earlier. You are of course free to read the entire book in the original version if you prefer. Listening to an audiobook might also help you. The audiobook can easily be found on the internet.
Your essay has to meet the following requirements:
- Choose one of the topics/themes given below
- Use your own words, so don’t copy from the internet.
- Write your own unique essay, so don’t copy from each other’s ideas or content
- Use between 400 and 500 words
- Write your essay on the computer; a word-document in Arial 12.
- Give the essay an appropriate title (you are advised to add the title after having written the essay to make sure that it covers its content)
- Formulate a clear personal statement on the topic of your choice
- Support your statement with at least 3 arguments and give examples from the book to illustrate your arguments. For the topics (especially topics 3, 4 and 5 ) it is preferable to refer to the chapters of the original version. This is not obligatory but when you do so it will get you bonus points.
- Use linking words (Firstly, secondly, moreover, furthermore, in addition, since, but, however, and, finally, etcetera…)
- Pay attention to the correct use of grammar (tenses, word order, spelling, etcetera) and vocabulary, use a variety of tenses.
- Clearly separate your paragraphs
- Do not forget to add your name, class, number of words and topic of your choice (top left corner of your assignment)
- Deadline: 22 June 2020 (or anytime sooner) or later. Drop it in the pigeon hole (postvakje) of your teacher
Turn the page for the outline of the essay:
Outline of the essay:
- Introduction: Explain why you are writing this essay (assignment for English class) and include your statement and the topic on which it is based.
- Body: Paragraphs in which you support your statement, including examples from the book.
- Conclusion: repeat your statement and shortly refer to your arguments before formulating your final conclusion.
Topics:
- How is the battle between good and evil worked out in the novel?
- Relate Great Expectations to its historical context or to the society of the year in which it was published.
- Describe which characters in the book influence Pip’s life, either positively or negatively.
- How does the relationship between Pip and Stella evolve throughout the plot?
- In what way does Pip’s visit to Miss Havisham affect him (think of his own background and expectations or the way he sees Joe)?
Good luck!
Mrs Spoel
Below essay topics on Alice in Wonderland:
- Relate aspects of enchantment to the nostalgia that Alice experiences in Wonderland. Why is Alice both fascinated and frustrated by her encounters below-ground?
- Describe some of the ways that Carroll achieves humour at Alice’s expense.
- Describe the White Rabbit’s function in Alice.
- What is the significance of the Cheshire-Cat in the Queen’s Croquet-Ground scene?
5.The character of Alice was based on a real girl, an acquaintance of Lewis Carroll’s. In what way can we see the ‘real’ person’s characteristics?
- The Duchess and the Queen are both noble characters by title, but not temperament. Compare and contrast the two characters, highlighting their significance in the story.
- Alice’s journey through Wonderland is rarely, if ever, prosaic and every-day. In what way might the book be read as a metaphor for real life? Are there aspects of the novel that refuse such a reading?
- Alice’s cat, Dinah, never appears as a character herself in the book, but is often mentioned by Alice. What is Dinah’s significance, to the story and to Alice? What does she mean for other characters, and what does this indicate?