CHAPTER 18 Practice Quiz — Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: CHAPTER 18
Where does Chapter 18 open, and what is happening there?
It opens at the Three Jolly Bargemen, where Mr. Wopsle is dramatically reading aloud a newspaper account of a murder trial to an attentive group.
How does the strange gentleman humiliate Mr. Wopsle?
He cross-examines Wopsle about legal principles, forcing him to admit that the accused is presumed innocent and that no witnesses have been cross-examined, making Wopsle look foolish before the group.
What does Mr. Jaggers reveal to Pip and Joe at the forge?
He reveals that an anonymous benefactor has arranged for Pip to inherit a handsome property and be raised as a gentleman in London.
What two conditions are attached to Pip's expectations?
Pip must always keep the name Pip, and he must never inquire into the identity of his secret benefactor.
Who does Jaggers suggest as a tutor for Pip?
He suggests Mr. Matthew Pocket, whom Pip recognizes as a relative of Miss Havisham.
How much money does Jaggers leave for Pip's immediate expenses?
He leaves twenty guineas on the table for Pip to buy new clothes before departing for London in one week.
How does Joe react when Jaggers presses him to accept compensation?
Joe becomes so angry that he squares up with a "fell pugilistic purpose," forcing Jaggers to back near the door and cease the offer.
What physical habit characterizes Mr. Jaggers throughout this chapter?
He repeatedly bites the side of his great forefinger and throws or points it accusingly at people while speaking.
How does Pip recognize Jaggers before they are formally introduced?
Pip recognizes him as the gentleman he previously met on the stairs during his second visit to Miss Havisham's house.
What is Joe's stated reason for refusing money from Jaggers?
Joe says no money can compensate him for the loss of "the little child — what come to the forge — and ever the best of friends."
How do Joe and Biddy react when told of Pip's fortune?
They heartily congratulate Pip but with a certain touch of sadness, which Pip resents rather than appreciating.
What is Mrs. Joe's reaction to the news of Pip's expectations?
She laughs and nods, repeating the words "Pip" and "Property," but shows no real comprehension of the situation due to her impaired mental state.
How does Pip's behavior after receiving his fortune illustrate the theme of class snobbery?
He immediately begins viewing village life as beneath him, planning to avoid being seen in new clothes locally and even seeing the stars as "poor and humble" for shining on rustic objects.
What does Joe's refusal of compensation reveal about the theme of money versus loyalty?
It shows that genuine love and loyalty cannot be bought — Joe values his bond with Pip far above any financial consideration, contrasting with the transactional world Pip is entering.
How does the chapter develop the theme of guilt and ingratitude?
Pip acknowledges he may be "dissatisfied with myself" despite his good fortune, recognizing at some level that his eagerness to leave and his resentment toward Joe and Biddy are morally troubling.
What does this chapter suggest about the theme of justice and judgment?
Jaggers's demolition of Wopsle's assumptions about the murder case introduces the idea that people rush to judgment without evidence — a theme that mirrors Pip's own misjudgment of his benefactor's identity.
What is the dramatic irony in Pip's reaction to hearing about Matthew Pocket?
Pip takes the Pocket connection as confirmation that Miss Havisham is his benefactress, but the reader will eventually learn this assumption is entirely wrong.
How does Dickens use retrospective narration in this chapter?
The older Pip interjects with regret — "O dear good Joe, whom I was so ready to leave and so unthankful to" — creating a contrast between the young Pip's excitement and the narrator's mature understanding.
What does Joe's pipe smoke symbolize at the end of the chapter?
Pip watches the smoke drift up to his window "like a blessing from Joe — not obtruded on me or paraded before me, but pervading the air we shared together," symbolizing Joe's quiet, unconditional love.
How does the Wopsle scene at the beginning foreshadow broader themes?
Jaggers exposing Wopsle's rush to judgment mirrors the novel's concern with misidentification, false assumptions, and the danger of drawing conclusions without proper evidence.
What does "indentures" mean in the context of Pip's apprenticeship?
Indentures are the formal legal documents binding an apprentice to a master craftsman — Jaggers asks Joe to cancel them to free Pip from his obligation.
What does Jaggers mean by the proverb "Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is a better"?
It means that making promises (bragging) is easy, but keeping your word (holding fast) is what matters — Jaggers is warning Joe to stick to his stated refusal of payment.
Who says "he has great expectations" and what is the significance?
Mr. Jaggers says it to Joe and Pip, delivering the pivotal announcement that gives the novel its title and sets Pip on his new path as a gentleman.
What is the significance of Pip's statement "My dream was out; my wild fancy was surpassed by sober reality"?
It captures the moment Pip believes his long-held fantasy of being elevated by Miss Havisham has come true, though the phrase "sober reality" is deeply ironic since his assumption is entirely wrong.