Discussion guide for "Great Expectations"

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I'm going to lead a discussion group (1 hour) on Dickens' "Great Expectations". I'm looking for a guide to help me in this. I don't want a literary analysis or serious critical appraisal, but just something that will enable me to keep the discussion on track, or, alternatively, get it going if it seems stuck.

My only previous discussion leader was once with a Great Books group, filling in for an absent leader. I had never participated in any book discussion group before, nor have I since except once this spring. I am not particularly looking forward to doing this, but am committed, so I want to do it right. The group consists of 30-40 well-educated seniors.

Googling "Study Guide..." and "Discussion Guide..." has shown me many critical studies, but nothing that seems quite appropriate. I have a feeling that I'll have to make up my own list of talking points, but I would like a bit of help.

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My of my favorite books in grade school. Just bm'g.

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Discussion Guide
Oops everyone!

Quote:

My only previous discussion leader was once with a Great Books group

I meant "discussion leader experience" - guess my mind got ahead of my fingers.

C Imposter - I never liked Dickens until "Bleak House' was required reading in grad school. Two reasons - "A Christmas Carol" which I considered mawkish and couldn't stand, and "Oliver Twist" which scared me to death. Then I hit "Bleak House" and now I re-read most of the novels every couple of years, mainly on tape, actually, since some of the recordings are beautifully read - a serendipitous little extra.

As to the subject in hand - I suspect I need more of a how-to guide for discussion leading generally.

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Discussion Guide
I hit the jackpot with our local public library - found a study guide and also a guide to leading book discussions. Both looked so helpful that I bought secondhand copies at Amazon.

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Tomkitten, When are you gonna start the "discussion?"

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Discussion guide
Not until October. That will give me time to re-read Great Expectations at least once.

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Re: Discussion guide

Tomkitten wrote:

Not until October. That will give me time to re-read Great Expectations at least once.

Good idea; I'm going to the library to look for a copy too!

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Discussion guide
Let me know how you enjoy it.

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Well, that'll be an interesting observation even for myself. However, as a fan of Les Miserables, I'm sure most of us have since then seen the movie and stage production which were both very well done and popular.

As they say in show business, break a leg.

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It was a fairly decent movie :-)

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Discussion guide for "Great Expectations"

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