Keyword Guide · quote-explained
Chapter 20 marks a pivotal shift in Pip's understanding of his social standing and the cost of his new life. Students often struggle to connect the chapter's dialogue to larger themes of identity and class. This guide distills the most impactful quotes and gives you actionable ways to use them in assignments and discussions.
Great Expectations Chapter 20 features quotes that reveal Pip's growing discomfort with his privileged lifestyle, his complicated feelings toward his past, and the quiet tensions of his new London circle. Each quote ties back to core themes of social class, ambition, and self-deception. Write down one quote that resonates with you and link it to a prior moment in Pip's journey.
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Chapter 20 quotes from Great Expectations capture the dissonance between Pip's new upper-class existence and his lingering ties to his Kent roots. They highlight small, sharp moments of self-awareness and the pressure to perform a new identity for others. These quotes are not just dialogue—they are narrative signposts for Pip's moral and emotional arc.
Next step: Make a two-column list where you pair each key quote with a corresponding theme from the novel’s core ideas (class, ambition, guilt).
Action: Compile all Chapter 20 quotes that reference Pip’s childhood or home in Kent
Output: A bulleted list of 3-4 quotes with page numbers (from your class edition)
Action: Compare these quotes to lines from Chapter 1 where Pip first encounters a stranger in the churchyard
Output: A 3-sentence reflection on how Pip’s tone and priorities have shifted
Action: Link one quote to a real-world example of someone struggling with conflicting social identities
Output: A 2-sentence connection that you can use in class discussion
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Action: Re-read Chapter 20 and mark 2-3 quotes that trigger a strong emotional reaction (disgust, sympathy, confusion) in you
Output: A highlighted copy of the chapter with notes on your emotional response next to each quote
Action: For each marked quote, ask: What does this reveal about the speaker’s motivations or unspoken thoughts?
Output: A 1-sentence analysis for each quote that goes beyond surface-level meaning
Action: Link each analyzed quote to one of the novel’s core themes (class, ambition, identity) and write a 2-sentence explanation of the connection
Output: A study sheet that you can use for quiz prep or discussion
Teacher looks for: Clear, text-based connections between the quote and the character’s motivations or novel themes
How to meet it: Avoid vague statements; instead, reference specific details from the quote and surrounding context to support your claim
Teacher looks for: Demonstration of how the quote fits into the novel’s overarching message, not just the chapter’s events
How to meet it: Explicitly link the Chapter 20 quote to a scene or theme from an earlier or later part of the book
Teacher looks for: Original interpretation that goes beyond summarizing the quote’s literal meaning
How to meet it: Ask and answer a “why” question about the quote, such as why the author chose that specific wording or timing
Use this before class. When discussing Chapter 20 quotes, focus on how small, casual lines reveal more about character than grand speeches. For example, a throwaway comment about etiquette can expose the rigidity of upper-class life. Prepare one quote to share that highlights this quiet storytelling technique.
Use this before essay draft. Don’t drop quotes into your essay without context. Instead, lead into each Chapter 20 quote with a sentence that explains the scene or character’s state of mind. After the quote, write 2-3 sentences that connect it to your thesis statement. Circle any quotes in your draft that lack this framing and revise them.
Many quizzes will ask you to match Chapter 20 quotes to their speakers or themes. Create flashcards where one side has a partial quote (to avoid copyright issues) and the other side has the speaker, theme, and narrative purpose. Test yourself for 10 minutes each night until you can recall each card accurately.
Some Chapter 20 quotes hint at future conflicts or character changes. Look for lines where Pip expresses doubt about his benefactor or his new life. Jot down these lines and make a note of how they might play out in later chapters. Share one of these foreshadowing examples in your next class discussion.
Compare Pip’s dialogue in Chapter 20 to the way he spoke in earlier chapters. Notice how his word choice and tone have shifted to match his new social circle. Write a 3-sentence reflection on how this linguistic change reveals his identity crisis. Use this reflection to support an argument about Pip’s character in your next essay.
Chapter 20 quotes raise questions about whether social status justifies abandoning old loyalties. Choose one quote that addresses this ethical dilemma and write a short response from the perspective of Joe, Pip’s former guardian. Use this response to practice empathetic analysis for class discussion or exam questions.
The most important quotes are those that reveal Pip’s internal conflict, critique upper-class norms, or foreshadow future plot events. Focus on lines that show a gap between Pip’s public behavior and private thoughts.
Make a list of the novel’s core themes (class, ambition, identity) and pair each Chapter 20 quote with the theme it aligns with. Then, find a similar quote or event from an earlier chapter to draw a direct parallel.
Yes. Chapter 20 quotes work well for essays about character development, thematic motifs, or narrative structure. Make sure to link each quote to your thesis and provide context about the scene and novel’s broader message.
Use partial, paraphrased quotes or refer to dialogue by its context (e.g., “Pip’s remark about his uncomfortable new clothes”) alongside copying full lines. If you do use a short direct quote, cite it according to your teacher’s preferred style guide.
Editorial note: This page is independently written for educational support. Verify specifics with assigned class materials and the original text.
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