Chapter onePip and Estella
My story begins when I was seven years old. I was in the graveyard of the church that was very close to my home.1 Both of my parents were buried there.
Suddenly I started crying because I felt afraid and the noise of my sobs filled the graveyard.2
“Who is making that awful noise?” said a low voice. A terrible looking man came toward me.
“Don’t move or I’ll cut your throat,” he said.3 He was dirty and was wearing leg irons. He must have escaped from the local prison!
He grabbed me and I cried, “Please don’t kill me!”
“What’s your name? Quickly!” he demanded.
“Pip,” I said.
“Where is your home?” he asked. I pointed to the nearby village.
He then turned me upside down to empty my pockets.4 I only had a piece of bread and he quickly picked it up and devoured it.
Check up
A __________ is a place where people are buried after they die.
1. graveyard
2. cottage
3. restroom
Key Words
graveyard (n): nghĩa trang
sob (n): tiếng khóc nức nở
awful (adj): thảm thiết, kinh khủng
noise (n): tiếng ồn
throat (n): cổ
leg irons (n): xích chân
must have + p.p (v): hẳn là đã
escape (v): trốn thoát
local (adj): địa phương, trong vùng
grab (v): túm lấy
(grab - grabbed - grabbed)
demand (v): hỏi
point (v): chỉ, trỏ
upside down (adv): lộn ngược
empty (v): trút hết ra
devour (v): nhai ngấu nghiến
Key Sentences
1 I was in the graveyard of the church that was very close to my home.
2 Suddenly I started crying because I felt afraid and the noise of my sobs filled the graveyard.
3 “Don’t move or I’ll cut your throat,” he said.
4 He then turned me upside down to empty my pockets.
“Where are your parents?” he asked. I pointed to the gravestones in the churchyard.1
“They are in the ground over there, sir,” I replied.
“So who do you live with?”
“My sister, sir. Wife of Joe Gargery, the blacksmith, sir,” I told him.
“Blacksmith, eh? You know what a file is?”
“Yes, sir,” I said.
“Then you bring me a file and some food and then I won’t kill you,” he said.2
I agreed and then he let me go.
Just before I left he said again, “You bring me the file and food tonight, you hear. And don’t tell anyone you saw me. If you do, I’ll find you and tear your heart and liver out.”3
I was absolutely terrified so, once more, I promised to bring the things and to keep quiet.4 Then I fled from the graveyard.
I thought, “I have to bring him what he wants. If I don’t, he might find me at home and kill me. He knows where I live.”
Check up
Choose the one item that a blacksmith does not use in his work.
a. hammer
b. file
c. flour
Key Words & Sentences
gravestone (n): bia mộ
blacksmith (n): thợ rèn
file (n): cái giũa
tear A out: xé A ra
(tear - tore - torn)
liver (n): gan
absolutely (adv): thực sự
terrified (adj): sợ hãi
keep quiet: giữ kín
flee (v): bỏ chạy
(flee - fled - fled)
1 I pointed to the gravestones in the churchyard.
2 “Then you bring me a file and some food and then I won’t kill you,” he said.
3 If you do, I’ll find you and tear your heart and liver out.
4 I was absolutely terrified so, once more, I promised to bring the things and to keep quiet.
I was worried. It would not be easy to sneak the food out of the house.1 My sister was much older than me and often lost her temper.2 If she caught me, she would punish me. On the other hand, her husband Joe was always kind to me. He often protected me from my sister.
That night, when I tried to hide some bread in my pocket, he said, “Pip! You are eating too fast. You couldn’t have eaten all your bread so quickly!3 You’ll get sick if you’re not careful.”
My sister looked at me and said, “What’s he been doing?”
“He’s eating too quickly. I ate too quickly when I was a boy but not as fast as you!” Joe said.
My sister pulled me up from the table by my hair.4
“Well, then! It’s time for a dosing!” My sister made me drink a spoonful of ‘tar water’ which was a disgusting, thick, dark liquid.5 It was awful. I swallowed it as quickly as I could.
Check up
What does it mean by “sneaking something out”?
a. To secretly take something away from somewhere.
b. To buy a new pair of athletic shoes.
c. To tell someone a secret.
Key Words & Sentences
sneak (v): lấy trộm
lose one’s temper: nổi nóng (lose - lost - lost)
punish (v): trừng phạt
on the other hand: trái lại, ngược lại
protect from: bảo vệ khỏi
hide (v): giấu
(hide - hid - hid)
get sick: bị ốm
pull A up by something (v): nhắc nhở
A về điều gì
dose (v): cho uống thuốc theo liều
spoonful (n): thìa (đầy)
tar (n): nhựa đường
disgusting (adj): kinh tởm
thick (adj): đặc
liquid (n): chất lỏng
swallow (v): nuốt
1 It would not be easy to sneak the food out of the house.
2 My sister was much older than me and often lost her temper.
3 You couldn’t have eaten all your bread so quickly!
4 My sister pulled me up from the table by my hair.
5 My sister made me drink a spoonful of ‘tar water’ which was a disgusting, thick, dark liquid.
When Joe and my sister were asleep, I crept into the kitchen and grabbed a pork pie from the pantry.1Joe’s Uncle Pumblechook had given it to my sister for Christmas dinner which was the next day. After that, I took some brandy, and a file from Joe’s workshop. I ran to the graveyard and quickly gave the pie, brandy and file to the awful man. He was very happy. Then I ran back home.
The next day came and I was very worried. I knew my sister would discover that the pie and brandy were gone.2
My sister prepared dinner and Uncle Pumblechook and another man, Mr. Wopsle, came to have dinner with us. It was a very nice dinner and near the end I began to think I might survive the night.3
Just then, my sister said, “I almost forgot. Uncle Pumblechook gave us a pie.” She went to get it but came back empty-handed.4
“It’s gone!” she said in a surprised voice.
I felt so guilty that I jumped up and ran out of the room.5 I ran to the front door and opened it. I was very surprised. There was a group of soldiers and a policeman standing in front of the door.
Check up
Choose the one thing that Pip did not give to the escaped prisoner.
a. A pork pie.
b. Some brandy.
c. A key.
Key Words & Sentences
asleep (adj): ngủ
creep into: lẻn vào, đi rón rén
(creep - crept - crept)
pork (n): thịt lợn
pantry (n): chạn thức ăn
brandy (n): rượu mạnh
workshop (n): phân xưởng
survive (v): thoát được
empty-handed (adj): tay không
feel guilty: cảm thấy có lỗi
(guilty (adj): có tội, có lỗi)
front door: cửa trước, cửa chính
1 When Joe and my sister were asleep, I crept into the kitchen and grabbed a pork pie from the pantry.
2 I knew my sister would discover that the pie and brandy were gone.
3 It was a very nice dinner and near the end I began to think I might survive the night.
4 She went to get it but came back empty-handed.
5 I felt so guilty that I jumped up and ran out of the room.
The policeman said, “We need Joe to fix these for us.” He was holding some handcuffs. “Two prisoners escaped from the prison last night.”
Joe took the handcuffs and repaired them. Then, we all went to join in the search for the two men.1 I sat high on Joe’s shoulders as we walked through fields and forests.2 I hoped I would see the prisoner first. I was afraid that he would think I had told the police about him.
After some more searching, we all heard shouting. We followed the noise and saw two men fighting.3One was the prisoner I gave food to and the other had a long scar on his face. The soldiers quickly caught them. As they were led away, the man I had met saw me.4 I shook my head. I was trying to tell him that I had kept my promise. He looked at me without anger.
He turned to the policeman and said, “I stole a pork pie and some brandy from the blacksmith’s.”
Joe said in a surprised voice, “Yes, we are missing a pork pie.” Joe then said to the prisoner, “Whatever wrong thing you did, you have a right to eat.”5
Then the soldiers took the two prisoners back to prison.
Check up
How did the prisoner help Pip?
a. He said that he forced Pip to steal for him.
b. He said that he broke into Joe’s house and stole some things.
c. He gave Pip some money.
Key Words & Sentences
fix (v): làm lại cho chắc, sửa lại
handcuffs (n): cái xích tay
repair (v): sửa chữa
join in: tham gia vào
search (n): cuộc tìm kiếm
scar (n): vết sẹo
lead away: dẫn đi
shake one’s head: lắc đầu
(shake - shook - shaken)
keep one’s promise: giữ lời hứa
anger (n): sự giận dữ
steal (v): lấy cắp
(steal - stole - stolen)
miss (v): thấy thiếu
right (n): quyền
1 Then, we all went to join in the search for the two men.
2 I sat high on Joe’s shoulders as we walked through fields and forests.
3 We followed the noise and saw two men fighting.
4 As they were led away, the man I had met saw me.
5 Joe then said to the prisoner, “Whatever wrong thing you did, you have a right to eat.”
In the village, I was going to an elementary school. Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt taught at the school. She was very old and she often fell asleep in class. She had a granddaughter, Biddy, and she sometimes taught in the school instead of her grandmother.1 She was an orphan and even though she looked a little dirty, she was very kind to all of the students.2 She taught me to read and write.
One cold winter evening, I sat beside Joe and wrote on a slate:
“MI DEER JO i OPE U R gRWrTE WELL i OpE i SHAL soN B HhBELL 42 TEEDGE U JO”3
Joe was very impressed with my note.
“Pip! How smart you are!” he exclaimed. He smiled at me.
Joe had promised to teach me to become a blacksmith when I became older.4 But I didn’t want this. I dreamed of a better life. I wanted to be rich and to study all day long. I sat dreaming about the life I wanted but my happy thoughts were interrupted when my sister came into the room saying, “Well, what a lucky boy our Pip is!5 I hope she doesn’t pamper him.”
Check up
Choose the word which has the closest meaning with “pamper”?
a. impress
b. gratify
c. put on
Key Words & Sentences
elementary school (n): trường tiểu học
great-aunt (n): bà cô, bà dì
in class: trong lớp
orphan (n): đứa trẻ mồ côi
slate (n): bảng đá đen
(dành cho học sinh)
impressed (adj): ấn tượng
exclaim (v): thốt lên
dream of: ước ao
all day long: suốt ngày
interrupt (v): cắt ngang
pamper (v): nuông chiều
1 She had a granddaughter, Biddy, and she sometimes taught in the school instead of her grandmother.
2 She was an orphan and even though she looked a little dirty, she was very kind to all of the students.
3→ “My dear Joe, I hope you are great. Well, I hope I shall soon be able to teach you, Joe.”
4 Joe had promised to teach me to become a blacksmith when I became older.
5 I sat dreaming about the life I wanted but my happy thoughts were interrupted when my sister came into the room saying, “Well, what a lucky boy our Pip is!”
Mr. Pumblechook was with my sister and he said, “She’s not the type to pamper a person.”1
“Who?” asked Joe.
“Miss Havisham,” replied my sister impatiently. “She wants Pip to play with a girl in her house. She might even pay him. He’d better go or he’ll be in trouble with me.”2
Joe was very surprised. “How does she know Pip?” he asked.
“Idiot!” replied my sister. “She doesn’t know him! Uncle Pumblechook is her neighbor. She asked if he knew a boy and then he kindly mentioned Pip.”3
Uncle Pumblechook looked very pleased. He was proud he knew Miss Havisham.
“This boy could make money by going to Miss Havisham.4 He should be grateful,” said my sister.
I was not grateful at all. Miss Havisham was a very rich but strange and stern woman. She lived in a large, cold house and she never went outside. I didn’t want to spend any time with her or in her house. But I had no choice but to go.5
Check up
Choose the common word for the following sentences.
• I had no ____________ but to go.
• That is the best ____________.
a. type
b. choice
c. force
Key Words & Sentences
type (n): kiểu người
impatiently (adv): nôn nóng,
sốt ruột
‘d (= had) better + V: nên
be in trouble with someone (v): gặp rắc rối với ai
idiot (n): đồ ngốc
kindly (adv): tử tế, tốt bụng
mention (v): nhắc đến, đề cập đến
pleased (adj): hài lòng
grateful (adj): biết ơn
stern (adj): nghiêm khắc, lạnh lùng
1 Mr. Pumblechook was with my sister and he said, “She’s not the type to pamper a person.”
2 He’d better go or he’ll be in trouble with me.
3 She asked if he knew a boy and then he kindly mentioned Pip.
4 This boy could make money by going to Miss Havisham.
5 But I had no choice but to go.
The next morning, my sister forced me to leave the house with Uncle Pumblechook.1 We walked slowly to Miss Havisham’s house. We rang the bell and a servant opened the gate.
She let me in but said to Uncle Pumblechook, “She doesn’t want to see you!”2
I followed the servant through the dark, dreary house until we came to a door. The servant knocked on the door and said, “Go in!” I entered and the door was slammed behind me.
There were many candles in the room and Miss Havisham was sitting in a chair. She was dressed completely in white and wore many jewels.3 She had a veil over her face. She was the strangest looking person I had ever seen.
Key Words & Sentences
force A to + V: ép buộc, bắt A làm gì
ring a bell: rung chuông, nhấn chuông
servant (n): người hầu, gia nhân
let A in: để cho A vào
dreary (adj): u ám, ảm đạm
knock on the door: gõ cửa
slam (v): đóng sầm (cửa)
completely (adv): toàn bộ
dress in white: mặc đồ trắng
jewel (n): trang sức
veil (n): mạng che mặt
1 The next morning, my sister forced me to leave the house with Uncle Pumblechook.
2 She let me in but said to Uncle Pumblechook, “She doesn’t want to see you!”
3 She was dressed completely in white and wore many jewels.
“Who is it?” she demanded.
“I am Pip, Ma’am,” I said.
“Pip?”
“Yes, Ma’am! Mr. Pumblechook’s boy. I’ve come to play,” I told her.
“Come here,” she said.
I was extremely scared but I walked closer.1 I saw her watch. It was twenty minutes to nine.2 Also, the clock on the wall had stopped at the same time.3
She said to me, “Are you afraid of a woman who has not seen the sun for many, many years?”4 Then, she put her hand on her chest. “Do you know what is in here?” she asked me.
“Your heart,” I said. “Yes, and it’s broken,” she cried. Then she said, “A girl named Estella lives here. I want you to play with her. Go and call her.”
I went to the door and called out for Estella. I waited and then shouted out again. Finally, I saw a small figure walking along the hall.5 She entered the room and walked over to Miss Havisham.
Key Words & Sentences
ma’am (= madam) (n): bà, cô
extremely (adv): cực kỳ, vô cùng
scared (adj): hoảng sợ
chest (n): ngực
broken (adj): tan vỡ, vỡ nát
named (adj): tên là
call out: gọi to
figure (n): bóng người
walk along: đi dọc
walk over to: tiến gần đến, lại gần
1 I was extremely scared but I walked closer.
2 It was twenty minutes to nine.
3 Also, the clock on the wall had stopped at the same time.
4 She said to me, “Are you afraid of a woman who has not seen the sun for many, many years?”
5 Finally, I saw a small figure walking along the hall.
Check up
Choose the one that differs from the others.
a. afraid
b. scared
c. terrified
d. upset
“I want to see you play cards with this boy,” she said to Estella.1
“With him?” the girl asked. Her pretty face soured with scorn.2 “He is just a common working boy!”
Miss Havisham whispered something into her ear.
“You can make him fall in love with you and then break his heart.”3
Estella finally sat down and dealt the cards. I picked up my cards and she looked at my hands.
“He has such rough hands and thick boots. He looks stupid and clumsy!” she said. I had never been ashamed of myself before but I looked at my hands and boots.4 My clothes were dirty and my hair was tangled. She looked down on me as though I was dirt on her shoe.5 We continued to play and she won. After that, I dealt the cards for a second game. She made me feel very nervous and so I made a mistake. “You are so stupid. Don’t you know anything?” she snapped at me.
She was very unkind but I didn’t say anything back to her.6
“Why didn’t you defend yourself?” asked Miss Havisham. “She says many mean things to you. What do you think of her? Whisper in my ear.” I stood up and went to her.
Check up
Estella is __________________.
a. arrogant
b. lazy
c. cheerful
d. stupid
Key Words & Sentences
play cards: chơi bài
sour (v): tỏ ra khó chịu
scorn (n): sự khinh bỉ, sự coi thường
common (adj): tầm thường, thô kệch
whisper (v): thì thầm, nói thầm
fall in love with someone: phải lòng ai
break one’s heart: làm ai đau lòng,
làm tan vỡ trái tim ai
deal cards: chia bài
(deal - dealt - dealt)
rough (adj): thô ráp
clumsy (adj): vụng về
be ashamed of: xấu hổ về
tangled (adj): rối, bù xù
look down on: coi thường, ra vẻ
dirt (n): vết bẩn
nervous (adj): bối rối, căng thẳng
snap (v): cáu gắt
defend (v): tự vệ, cãi lại
mean (adj): tồi tệ
1 “I want to see you play cards with this boy,” she said to Estella.
2 Her pretty face soured with scorn.
3 You can make him fall in love with you and then break his heart.
4 I had never been ashamed of myself before but I looked at my hands and boots.
5 She looked down on me as though I was dirt on her shoe.
6 She was very unkind but I didn’t say anything back to her.
I whispered, “I think she is very proud.”
“Really? Anything else?” she asked.
“I think she is very pretty.”
Estella heard me say this and she wasn’t pleased.1
“Anything else?” Miss Havisham asked again.
“She is very insulting,” I replied. “And I would like to go home.”
Estella took me to the front door and let me out.2 As she closed the door, I saw her face. She gave me a look of disgust. I felt very sad and started crying. I kicked a wall in the courtyard and then I saw a tall, thin boy.3
“How did you get in?” he asked.
“Estella let me in.”
“Come and fight me,” he demanded. He took off his coat and put his fists up.4 I was afraid of him but I hit him two times in the face and he fell to the ground.
“You won,” he said, bravely. I didn’t feel victorious.5Estella had saddened my life.
Check up
What did Pip NOT say about Estella?
a. She is beautiful.
b. She is disgusting.
c. She is rude.
Key Words & Sentences
proud (adj): kiêu kỳ
insulting (adj): xấc xược, ngạo mạn
would like to + V: muốn làm gì
let A out (v): để cho A đi ra
look (n): cái nhìn
disgust (n): sự thù hận, sự căm ghét
kick (v): đá
courtyard (n): sân nhỏ
get in: vào trong
take off: bỏ (mũ)
fist (n): nắm đấm
bravely (adv): dũng cảm
victorious (adj): chiến thắng, thắng cuộc
sadden (v): làm buồn bã
1 Estella heard me say this and she wasn’t pleased.
2 Estella took me to the front door and let me out.
3 I kicked a wall in the courtyard and then I saw a tall, thin boy.
4 He took off his coat and put his fists up.
5 I didn’t feel victorious.
Understanding the Story
Poor Pip always dreamt of becoming a gentleman. Let’s find out what was necessary in order to become a gentleman at the time Dickens lived.
The Gentlemen in the Victorian Age
Before the Victorian Age in England, Pip’s change from blacksmith’s apprentice to English gentleman would have been impossible. A person’s position in society was determined by their birth. Sons and daughters did what their fathers and mothers did. However, in the Victorian Age, people who inherited a lot of money, or worked very hard, could raise their status.
To be a proper English gentleman, Pip had to have money. Once he got this money, he then needed to be educated in academic subjects like History and Literature. He also had to learn how to behave. This included learning the proper way to speak, greet others, dress, eat his meals and all sorts of other everyday activities. This is why he went to study with Mr. Pocket.
A gentleman was considered as part of the upper class and was expected to behave as a refined person. Of course, not all gentlemen learned how to behave well, as in the case of Drummle.
blacksmith (n): thợ rèn
apprentice (n): người học nghề,
người học việc
position (n): địa vị, vị trí
inherit (v): thừa hưởng, thừa kế
status (n): địa vị, thân phận
proper (adj): chính thống, đúng nghĩa
academic (adj): có tính chất học thuật
greet (v): chào hỏi
all sorts of: tất cả các kiểu cách
upper class: tầng lớp thượng lưu
refined (adj): có học thức