How Many Chapters Does Great Expectations Have

Chapter 1 – The novel begins at the church graveyard on Christmas Eve. Pip informs us that he is an orphan and lives in the marsh country. An escaped convict appears and threatens Pip. He commands Pip to bring him a file and vittles (food) or he’ll cut Pip’s throat.

Chapter 2 – Pip returns home and we meet his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery, who’s raised Pip “by hand.” Mrs. Joe, as she is called, is an abusive guardian who bullies Pip and Joe. Joe, the town blacksmith and Pip’s only friend, informs Pip that Mrs. Joe has the tickler, a stick used to beat Pip when he’s been bad. Mrs. Joe returns and swats Pip several times. Pip runs to Joe for protection. They sit down to dinner and Pip, although hungry, does not eat so he can sneak food to the convict. Pip snags some food and sneaks into Joe’s forge to steal a file.

Chapter 3 – It’s Christmas morning. Pip awakes early and runs to the churchyard. On the way he spots another convict who tries to strike him. Pip runs. He meets the original convict and gives him food, drink, and a file. Pip tells the convict about the other convict. The chapter ends with the original convict filing his leg iron and Pip running back to his house.

Chapter 4 – The Gargerys have guests for Christmas: Mr. Wopsle, the church clerk; Uncle Pumblechook, an arrogant corn merchant; and Mr. and Mrs. Hubble. The guests harass Pip about being ungrateful. Mrs. Joe brings Pumblechook some brandy. He drinks it and chokes on it (Pip had replaced the brandy with tar water). Mrs. Joe fetches the pork pie, which is missing. Pip runs in fear. The door opens and a party of soldiers enter.

Chapter 5 – The soldiers inform the Gargerys they are hunting an escaped convict and need a blacksmith to fix a pair of handcuffs. Joe obliges. Joe, Wopsle, and Pip accompany the soldiers on the hunt. They capture both convicts. The original convict confesses to stealing a pie from the blacksmith.

Chapter 6 – The Christmas feast ends and Pip is taken to bed, relieved of not being found out and feeling guilty for not telling Joe the truth.

Chapter 7 – Pip goes to school in the village. He writes a letter to Joe, who can’t read. Pip is determined to teach Joe. Joe narrates to Pip his background. Joe’s dad was a drunk who beat him. Joe had to work to support his mother and was never able to learn. Mrs. Joe enters and announces that Pip has been requested to play at Miss Havisham’s, an eccentric old lady who lives up town.

Chapter 8 – Pumblechook escorts Pip to Havisham’s house. Miss Havisham’s snooty, beautiful daughter lets him in and insults him. Pip marvels at the dark corridors and Miss Havisham’s appearance. She wears a wedding dress and sits in a candle lit room with all the clocks stopped at 8:40. Pip and Estella play cards. Estella insults him the entire time. Miss Havisham gives Estella permission to break Pip’s heart. Pip waits in the courtyard for lunch and cries. Estella brings him his lunch and insults him again.

Chapter 9 – Mrs. Joe and Pumblechook pester Pip for details about his visit to Havisham’s. He lies. He tells Joe the truth later. Pip expresses his disappointment in being common. Joe teaches Pip that lying is no way to become uncommon. ** Chapter 10** – Pip, determined to become uncommon, asks Biddy to teach him. Biddy begins immediately. Pip fetches Joe at the Three Jolly Bargemen where Pip meets a strange man who rubs his leg, stirs his drink with a file, and hands Pip two pounds. ** Chapter 11** – Pip returns to Miss Havisham’s. He meets Sarah Pocket, Camilla, and Raymond, who flatter Miss Havisham in hopes of getting her money when she dies. Estella escorts Pip to Havisham’s room. Estella insults him and slaps him. Havisham has Pip walk her in circles in a room across the hall. The room contains a wedding cake covered in cobwebs. It will serve as Havisham’s tomb. Pip is let out, prowls about the courtyard, and meets a pale young gentleman who challenges Pip to a boxing match. Pip knocks him down three times and is declared the winner. As Pip exits, Estella lets him kiss her on the cheek. ** Chapter 12** – Pip returns to Havisham’s regularly. She requests that Pip return with Joe Gargery so he can be officially apprenticed to him.

Chapter 13 – Joe accompanies Pip to Miss Havisham’s. Joe looks and acts ridiculous. He marvels at Miss Havisham’s eccentricities. Joe does not answer Havisham directly, but gives his answers to Pip. Estella looks on scornfully. Miss Havisham gives Joe 25-guineas for becoming Pip’s apprentice. ** Chapter 14** – Pip begins his apprenticeship. He hates it. He stays only out of loyalty and love to Joe. ** Chapter 15** – Pip continues his instruction of Joe. Joe proves to be an extremely dull student and learns little. Pip requests a half holiday so he can visit Estella. Orlick finds out and wants a half holiday too. Joe grants it. Mrs. Joe, eavesdropping, curses Joe for wasting wages. Orlick and Mrs. Joe get in an argument. Joe beats up Orlick. Pip goes to Miss Havisham’s and discovers Estella has gone to school in France. Pip returns home and learns that Mrs. Joe has been struck in the back of the head and is lying unconscious. ** Chapter 16** – The crime is not solved, although Pip suspects Orlick. Biddy is hired to take care of Mrs. Joe. Mrs. Joe communicates by writing and requests the presence of Orlick. Pip does not know why.

Chapter 17 – Pip continues his apprenticeship. He tells Biddy of his desire to be a gentleman and his love for Estella. ** Chapter 18** – Four years into Pip’s apprenticeship, he and Joe are visited by Mr. Jaggers at the Three Jolly Bargemen. Jaggers informs Pip that he is to be educated as a gentleman and shall inherit a large sum of money. He instructs Pip to come to his office in London the next week and gives Pip money to buy clothes. ** Chapter 19** – Pip prepares for his departure. He buys a suit and visits Miss Havisham. Pip acts boorishly toward Biddy and accuses her of pride. Pip departs for London. ** Chapter 20** – Pip arrives at Jagger’s office in Little Britain. Jaggers arrives followed by clients and wannabe clients. Jaggers informs Pip about his living arrangements at Barnard’s Inn. Wemmick, Jaggers clerk, escorts Pip to his new home. ** Chapter 21** – Pip is disappointed with his living arrangements and considers London “overrated.” His roommate at Barnard’s Inn is Herbert Pocket, the same pale young gentleman who Pip boxed at Miss Havisham’s.

How long does it take to read the classics?

But many research studies show that the average adult reading speed is around 300 words per minute (you may be slightly slower or faster than that even from 200 – 400 words per minute). Based on that 300 number you could breeze through the majority of the classic works in fewer than 10 hours each.

Can you read Great Expectations in one day?

It takes an average reader about 6 hours and 22 minutes to read Great Expectations by Charles Dickens according to a new site called Howlongtoreadthis.com. … The site will also let readers test their own reading speed so as to personalize the engine.

How many parts are there in Great Expectations?

Dickens divides the novel into three parts or volumes: Volume 1 (19 chapters) up to Pip’s departure for London. Volume 2 (20 chapters) up to the return of Magwitch. Volume 3 (20 chapters) from there until the end.

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