In this passage from Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, Pip, the main character, remembers a terrifying
experience he had as a little child with an escaped prisoner. Pip, whose full name is Philip Pirrip, is an orphan
raised by his sister and her husband, Joe Gargery, the blacksmith. One day, while visiting his parents' graves
in a graveyard near his home, Pip is approached by a terrifying man. The man is dirty, injured, and wearing
rags, with an iron chain on his leg.
The convict angrily demands to know Pip's name, where he lives, and who he lives with. He then searches
Pip's pockets, finding only a piece of bread, which he eats hungrily. The convict orders Pip to bring him two
things: a file (a tool for cutting metal) and food. He threatens Pip, saying that if he does not bring the items by
the next morning, he will face terrible consequences. The convict also warns Pip that he is not alone, and there
is a dangerous young man with him who is even more terrifying.
Pip, scared for his life, agrees to help the convict and promises to return with the items. The convict then
leaves, warning Pip not to tell anyone about their encounter. As Pip watches the convict limp away, he is filled
with fear and runs home as fast as he can, terrified of what might happen if he fails to fulfill the convict's
demands.
This passage illustrates Pip’s vulnerability as a child, the harshness of the convict's world, and the beginning of
Pip’s journey, which will eventually lead to the development of his character throughout the novel.
1. Short Answer Questions
a) Why was the narrator called 'Pip'?
The narrator, named Philip Pirrip, could not pronounce his full name as a child. His infant tongue could only
manage to say "Pip," and so, he began calling himself Pip, and the name stuck.
b) Describe the appearance of the man who Pip met at the marshes
The man Pip met was a convict, rough in appearance. He was dressed in coarse grey clothing, with an iron on
his leg. His shoes were broken, and he had a rag tied around his head. He looked dirty, injured, and exhausted.
c) Why was the man interested in the fact that Pip's brother-in-law was a blacksmith?
The convict showed interest in Pip’s brother-in-law being a blacksmith because he thought Joe might have a
file, a tool he needed to escape his iron leg. This connection made the convict expect Pip to bring him a file and
food.
d) What did Pip feel as he saw the man moving across the graveyard?
As Pip saw the convict moving across the graveyard, he felt fear and unease. The convict seemed to be
avoiding the grasping hands of the dead in the graves, and Pip thought he looked ghostly and sinister, which
terrified him further.
2. Long Answer Questions
a) What were Pip's first impressions of his parents, and where had he derived these from?
Pip’s first impressions of his parents came from their tombstones, as he had never seen them alive. He
imagined his father as a stout, dark man with curly black hair, based on the shape of the letters on his
tombstone. His mother, Georgiana, he imagined to be freckled and sickly due to the inscription on her grave.
These impressions were innocent and formed from the limited information he had, as photographs had not yet
been invented.
b) What does the man tell Pip about his companion and why does he do so?
The convict tells Pip about his companion to further intimidate him. He warns that his companion, a young man,
is much more dangerous than he is. The convict explains that the young man will not hesitate to hunt Pip down
if he fails to bring the file and food. He uses this to scare Pip into obeying his demands, emphasizing that
failure would lead to severe consequences, thereby ensuring that Pip does not report him or fail to deliver the
items.
3. Detailed Answer
a) Dickens combines humour and terror in The Convict. Analyze this in detail, with reference to Pip and the
convict.
In The Convict, Dickens brilliantly blends humour and terror to create a gripping narrative. The terror comes
from the convict's frightening appearance and threatening behaviour. The convict’s harsh demands and the
ominous way he speaks about his companion create a sense of fear in Pip. However, Dickens also introduces
moments of absurdity that add humour, such as when the convict wishes he were a frog or an eel, expressing
frustration at his situation in a strangely comical way. The contrast between the convict's menacing nature and
his humorous lamentation about his own condition adds complexity to his character. Pip, though terrified, is
also portrayed in a way that makes his reactions relatable, as he clings to the tombstone and nervously agrees
to the convict’s demands, which emphasizes both the gravity of the situation and the childlike innocence of Pip.
This combination of fear and absurdity keeps the reader engaged, balancing the intense mood of the scene
with lighter moments.
