CHAPTER 41 Practice Quiz — Great Expectations
by Charles Dickens — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: CHAPTER 41
What secret does Pip reveal to Herbert at the beginning of Chapter 41?
Pip tells Herbert the full truth that Magwitch (Provis), the convict from the marshes, is his secret benefactor — not Miss Havisham as they had assumed.
How does Herbert react when he learns the identity of Pip's benefactor?
Herbert is astonished and dismayed, mirroring Pip's own feelings of repugnance toward Magwitch.
What alias does Magwitch use in London?
Magwitch goes by the name Provis to conceal his identity as a returned transported convict.
What does Magwitch boast about to Herbert?
Magwitch boasts that he has "made" Pip a gentleman and that they should both be very proud of it.
What does Magwitch promise about his behavior?
He promises to keep a "gen-teel muzzle" on, meaning he will restrain his rough, low-class manners in polite company.
What is Pip's first plan for his future after refusing Magwitch's money?
Pip considers becoming a soldier, since he has been "bred to no calling" and feels fit for nothing else.
Why does Herbert argue against Pip becoming a soldier?
Herbert says soldiering is absurd because Pip would have no hope of repaying his debts, and suggests Pip could work at Clarriker's firm instead.
What is the dramatic irony in Herbert's suggestion about Clarriker's?
Herbert does not know that his own partnership at Clarriker's was secretly purchased with Magwitch's money — the very fortune Pip wants to reject.
What danger does Herbert identify if Pip rejects Magwitch while in England?
Herbert warns that a rejected Magwitch might recklessly expose himself to arrest, since being a returned transport is a capital offense.
What plan do Pip and Herbert settle on for dealing with Magwitch?
They decide to smuggle Magwitch out of England, with Pip accompanying him to persuade him to leave.
Why must Pip go with Magwitch when he leaves England?
Magwitch is so attached to Pip that he would only agree to leave if Pip accompanies him. Without Pip, he would refuse to go.
What symbolic action does Herbert perform with Magwitch's chair?
Herbert unconsciously sits in Magwitch's vacated chair, then recoils and pushes it away — physically manifesting his revulsion without saying a word.
What does the empty chair symbolize in Chapter 41?
The chair symbolizes the unwanted presence of Magwitch in their lives. Herbert's instinctive recoil from it represents the contamination they feel from Magwitch's patronage.
What theme does Pip's inability to support himself highlight?
It highlights the hollowness of social class: Pip's gentleman's education has left him incapable of earning a living, making him less self-sufficient than the convict who funded it.
What fear haunts Pip throughout the chapter regarding the man on the stairs?
Pip is never quite free from the uneasy fear that someone may have followed Magwitch or is watching their movements, potentially threatening to expose the convict.
How does Dickens describe the bond between Pip and Herbert in this chapter?
Pip says he had "never felt before, so blessedly, what it is to have a friend," emphasizing that genuine friendship is more valuable than wealth or social status.
What moral dilemma does Pip face regarding Magwitch?
Pip must protect the life of a man he finds repulsive, because rejecting Magwitch could drive him to self-destruction — making Pip feel he would be "in some sort, his murderer."
What does Herbert call Pip throughout this chapter?
Herbert calls Pip "my poor dear Handel" — using the affectionate nickname from their first meeting, which references the composer Handel.
What information do Pip and Herbert want from Magwitch at breakfast?
They want to learn about Magwitch's past, particularly about the other convict he was fighting on the marshes, hoping to find a pretext to get him out of England.
What does Magwitch plan to spend money on for Pip?
Magwitch is intent on buying horses, carriages, and arranging lavish appearances — plans for "his gentleman's coming out strong."
What does Magwitch suggest Pip should look for near Hyde Park?
Magwitch advises Pip to find a "fashionable crib" (elegant residence) near Hyde Park where Magwitch could have a "shake-down" (a place to stay).
What condition does Magwitch insist on before telling his story?
He insists that Herbert is "on your oath" — that everything Magwitch reveals must be kept completely secret and that his past crimes have been "worked out and paid for."