How does Dickens create an effective opening to Great Expectations?

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How does Dickens create an effective opening to Great Expectations? The first nineteen chapters of Dickens’ Great Expectations creates an effective opening in many ways. The very first chapter sets the scene with a mixture of anxiety and a build up of pressure. This is a good way to open a novel as it immediately grabs the readers interest.Throughout the opening of Great Expectations the setting changes several times. At the graveyard in chapter one, the atmosphere is very eerie and bleak. The graveyard is described as “dark flat wilderness” which gives the reader an image of a grim setting. There is no major difference between the graveyard setting and the setting in the next four chapters, collectively they have the atmosphere of depression and apprehension . This is when Pip steals the ‘wittles’ for the convict and is edgy about getting caught. The first big change happens in chapter eight when Pip visits Miss Havisham’s house. Dickens describes the setting here as ‘dismal, and had a great many iron bars to it,‘ it is still dark and gloomy all over the house, especially in Miss Havisham’s room. Although this gives the impression that it is similar to the first seven chapters, Pip’s feelings are different, this is the first time he feels vulnerable and resentful toward his upbringing and his background rather than afraid.The rest of
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the opening is very similar to the first seven chapters. Pip takes onboard what he discovered at Miss Havisham’s and strives to be ‘uncommon‘ after Estella mocks him about his background and appearance, “He calls knaves Jacks, this boy’’. He often revisits Miss Havisham’s house until he prepares to leave home for London towards the end of the opening.Dickens is very detailed about all his characters, this makes the reader feel as though they know them and helps them to understand Pip’s life. Pip has a completely different relationship with every character. His family life is very dysfunctional, as his ...

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