Testul nr.

SUBIECTUL I

Charles Dickens – GREAT EXPECTATIONS

a. Contextualize the text from a historical and cultural point of view

Charles Dickens is a writer considered symbolic for the Victorian Era, mostly because he
managed to illustrate in his novels the way in which the society worked at that time, for both
the poor and the rich. The Victorian Era, taking its name after Queen Victoria (who reigned
between 1837 – 1901), was a period in which literature flourished and the novel became the
most important literary form. More than that, the print culture was expanded, as well as
literacy, which meant that more people were reading books at that time.

Therefore, the novel became a perfect way for Dickens to portray his views towards the
Victorian social system. And even though the Industrial Revolution had been one of the most
important political, social and economic events of that time, it didn’t succeed in tightening
the gap between the rich and the poor. Dickens wrote about life of poor people and the way
in which it was extremely difficult for them to make a living, in a society in which the power
of money was the most important thing. He wrote well known novels such as David
Copperfield, Bleak House, The Pickwick Papers, A Tale of Two Cities and Great
Expectations.

Dickens, even though writing during an era which is known for its success in making Britain
powerful, wrote about the social issues still existent in the country, and the flaws of a
revolution which hadn’t been for everyone. Even though literacy expanded, not as many
children managed to go school, therefore education didn’t reach everyone. So, through its
powerful realistic writing, leaving aside the Romantic tendencies of the century, Dickens
accurately describes the life of those not so fortunate, and this is why his novels remain not
only as a precious literary gift, but also as a testimony for those times.

b. Discuss the relevance of the text, in terms of content and style, with reference to it’s
authors literary canon.

Great Expectations was published in 1861 and it is a novel that clearly illustrates Dickens’
beliefs and critiques regarding Victorian England’s class system. That is why, in his novel,
there are extremely different characters such as, wealthy people, poor people or even
convicts. Dickens wanted to be a voice for everyone and that is why he chose realism as a
way of writing his novel. His realistic descriptions and characters managed to create a
powerful portrayal of how life was for all kind of people at the time.

The title of his novel is representative for the main character, Pip. Pip is a boy who isn’t that
lucky to go to school and lives with his sister and her husband. Great Expectations can be
considered a bildungsroman from the point of view of Pip’s development. There are several
strages in the book in which Pip changes dramatically, thanks to different lessons her learns
from the people he meets. Dickens illustrated to life of a poor boy who wanted to become
wealthy and who wanted to have a higher social status in order to be able to marry the girl he
fell in love with, Estella. However, his great expectations, are not met at the end of the book.

First, his life changes when Miss Havisham invites him to his house, Satis House, a symbol
of decay and death. There, he meets Estella and he falls in love with her, just as Miss
Havisham intended to. When it comes to Miss Havisham’s character, there also some gothic
elements: such as the fact that she spent her time in her wedding dress, after being left by her
lover, the fact that the clock in her room was always at the same hour. Miss Havisham is a
powerful symbol of death and eternity and she manages to destroy any kind of humanity left
in Estella, convincing her to seduce Pip and punish him afterwards, just for her enjoyment.

Afterwards, Pip’s life changes when he meets Jaggers, Miss Havisham’s lawyer, and also
when he finds out who his real benefactor was. So, Dickens through this ups and downs
educates Pip in understanding that not money dictates the value of a human being, but rather
his or her qualities. One last time, Pip’s life takes a final turn when he gives up Estella and
also Magwitch’s money and finally understands that he shouldn’t be ashamed of who he
really is and the money only bring unwanted engagements and complications. This case is
the best illustrated when it comes to Estella who has to marry a man with whom she isn’t
happy.

In this way, Dickens uses one of his most beloved techniques: doubles and scenes written in
counterpoint. The novel is full of such doubles, two women in Pip’s life, two benefactors,
two convicts, etc. That is why his novels are characterized by balance and symmetry and
each character has a counterpart.

Along this technique, Dickens also likes to use the irony when construction his plots. His
tone is highly ironic and this makes the novel even more enjoyable and frees him of being
saying something directly.

Even though he is a realistic writer, when it comes to Great Expectations there isn’t a 3rd
person omniscient reliable narrator, but a 1st person narrator: Pip. Through Pip Dickens
manages to take his novel from the social phase to the psychological one because he manages
to analyze his characters through Pip’s eyes, making Pip analyze himself once again.
Investigating human nature is one of the factors that are extremely original when it comes to
Dickens. And as a result, his characters are complex and round, especially Pip.

As a conclusion, Great Expectations is a novel that encompasses Dickens literary techniques

and it is constructed in such a way that it includes all patterns of Victorian England’s social
system, though Dickens does not generalize, only illustrates some realities. He shows how
ambition is not always a positive trait and how keeping your humanity despite the desire of
 self improving is the only thing that matters in a society in which money and power lead
human beings to decay.

SUBIECTUL AL II – LEA

a. Specify and illustrate five categories of verbs that are not normally used in progressive
forms:
- Senses: smell, see, hear.
Ex. I am seeing. is not correct. We can only say I am seeing her tomorrow, but it
changes meaning in meeting her.
I see her.
- Feelings: love, hate.
I love the way that dress looks on you.
- Communication: agree, deny, disagree, mean, promise, satisfy, surprise.
I agree with you.
- Thinking: believe, imagine, know, mean, recognize, understand.
I believe what you are telling me.
- Other states: be, belong, matter, need, own, possess.
Does this book belong to you?
b. 1. Jack wouldn’t have been be in prison if a detective had not recognized him.
2. If I were taller I would be able to reach the shelf. \
3. If it weren’t for Laura’s wonderful acting the play would be a flop.
4. Real will win even if Barca scores first.
5. If get up early it makes me sleepy.

c. 1. Of 2. How 3. Inside 4. Neither Nor 5. About 6. To 7. Instead 8. As 9. Although 10. their