Comparing the Opening Scenes of the David Lean and the B.B.C. Versions of Great Expectations By Charles Dickens
David Lean's version of Great Expectations is in my opinion more
effective at showing the fear and tension in Scene 1. David Leans
version was made in 1946 so it is shot in black and white. The BBC
Version was made in 1997 and was in colour. Lean's version is very
similar to the novel more than the B.B.C version. Lean's was the most
effective at using most of the dialogue than the B.B.C version. The
B.B.C version used a small amount of the dialogue.
At the beginning of Lean's film the audience are shocked by the
scenery. The first things we see are the gallows where the convicts
are hanged. Then the camera shot is in the graveyard, where the creepy
sound effects such as the trees creaking and the wind whistling come
into play. The scenery is very spine-chilling in the graveyard.
The convict is first seen when he jumps out on Pip out of the left
hand side of the screen. The convict jumps into the shot on the left
hand side because the brain automatically starts from left to right so
we immediately see the convict on the left. We are then amazed and
also shocked at Pip's scream. We can also see that the convict is
wearing very ragged clothing compared to Pip who is dressed tidily and
smartly. The convict's face is dirty and is very different to Pip's.
He is wearing a white shirt and looks well. We can see from the
convict's entry that he has been living under very poor conditions and
is starving hungry.
There are many shots in the film that give it a more apprehensive and
frightening sensation. One of these shots is called a low angle shot.
This is used to show that the convict is more powerful and bigger than
Pip. It is to show that Pip is insignificant. This is very successful
at the beginning of the film. Also these low angle shot lets the
I think this applies to both of the openings of the films as in the
who this convict is and what kind of part will he play in the rest of
Throughout the novel Great Expectations, Pip's character and personality goes through some transformations. He is somewhat similar at the beginning and end, but very different while growing up. He is influenced by many characters, but two in particular:Estella and Magwitch, the convict from the marshes. Some things that cause strength or growth in a person are responsibility, discipline, and surrounding oneself around people who are challenging and inspiring. He goes through many changes some good and some bad
In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens uses diction and imagery to illustrate how if one bases their dreams and aspirations on the values of a society that prizes materialism over character, they will face a life of devoid unhappiness through the character of Pip. In the novel, Pip finds it impossible to change social classes when Joe declares, “That ain't the way to get out of being common. . . as to being common . . . You are uncommon in some things. You're uncommon small . . .
“About the book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens: The Similarities Between Dickens and Pip.” A Date with Dickens. Oprah’s Book Club. 6 December 2010. Web. 21 March 2014.
The narrative (voice-over) gives a wide perspective. When Pip is running to the churchyard there is a long shot used, this long shot makes Pip. look small and vulnerable to the world. The first things we see in the long shot. are the gibbets where the convicts are hanged; this tells us that Pip. is in a dangerous and isolated place. Then the camera shot is in the graveyard, where the creepy sound effects such as the trees creaking and the wind whistling come into play.
How Dickens Engages the Reader in Great Expectations The text is created in an intelligent way so that it interests the reader from the beginning. The title itself stimulates the inquisitiveness of the reader. We are led to think that the novel promises a certain amount of drama or action. The text from the novel 'Great Expectations' is structured in a deliberate fashion to encourage the reader to read on. Great Expectations is a gothic novel.
I have chosen to look at how the relationship of Pip and Magwitch develops during the novel. I have chosen 3 key scenes in which Magwitch and pip meet and I will look at how each is portrayed in terms of character, development, setting and the messages or morals that dickens is trying to convey.
In the opening chapter, we feel sorry for Pip as we find out that his
In the sheltered, cut-off village, the young Pip has not experienced society; however, it still manages to reach him. The first experience is a chance encounter with an escaped convict, who scares Pip into stealing some food and drink (Hobsbaum 223). Pip has no way of knowing, but the convict will turn out to be one of the most im...
It can be seen through Dickens’s highly successful novel Great Expectations, that his early life events are reflected into the novel. Firstly the reader can relate to Dickens’s early experiences, as the novel’s protagonist Pip, lives in the marsh country, and hates his job. Pip also considers himself, to be too good for his ...
Rawlins, Jack P. "Great Expectations: Dickens and the Betrayal." Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900. 23 (1983): 667-683.
Charles Dickens is well known for his distinctive writing style. Few authors before or since are as adept at bringing a character to life for the reader as he was. His novels are populated with characters who seem real to his readers, perhaps even reminding them of someone they know. What readers may not know, however, is that Dickens often based some of his most famous characters, those both beloved or reviled, on people in his own life. It is possible to see the important people, places, and events of Dickens' life thinly disguised in his fiction. Stylistically, evidence of this can be seen in Great Expectations. For instance, semblances of his mother, father, past loves, and even Dickens himself are visible in the novel. However, Dickens' past influenced not only character and plot devices in Great Expectations, but also the very syntax he used to create his fiction. Parallels can be seen between his musings on his personal life and his portrayal of people and places in Great Expectations.
Great Expectations and Oliver Twist are representative of the works produced by Charles Dickens over his lifetime. These novels exhibit many similarities - perhaps because they both reflect painful experiences that occurred in Dickens' past.
To be able to locate and analyze themes of novels, such as Great Expectations, it is essential to understand the basic definition of a theme: It is a fundamental and often universal idea explored in a literary work. For instance, if we take a closer look at the story of Pip, we discover that the main idea behind the story is ambition and self improvement, which is correlated to the preceding minor themes, including social class, crime, guilt and innocence.