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The influence of childhood experiences on Estella
Section B: 19th century prose. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. In the extract, Pip and Estella visit Miss Havisham; the old woman complains that Estella treats her harshly.
Explore how Dickens presents the influence of childhood experiences on Estella, in this extract and elsewhere in the novel.
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Marking points
- 1 Covers Estella in the extract and elsewhere in the novel.
- 2 Analyses Dickens' methods with references.
- 3 Addresses relevant context and SPaG.
- 4 May use the listed indicative ideas or other valid evidence.
Full-mark answer
A strong answer would show how Estella understands herself as shaped by Miss Havisham's schooling, analyse her calm detached language and light/dark imagery in the extract, and connect this to wider moments such as her role as a weapon against men, her treatment of Pip and her later softening.
Why this answer loses marks
Estella is cold because Miss Havisham brought her up that way.
This covers the idea, but it needs the extract, elsewhere in the novel and Dickens methods/context.