A good working definition of empathy is the act of imaginatively stepping into another person’s perspective and considering how things look from their point of view (i.e., walking a mile in someone else’s shoes).

As you read the First and Second Stages of the novel we will dedicate a portion of our discussion to identifying experiences, opinions, beliefs, or emotions that Pip has that are worthy of a reader’s empathy.  I am hoping that we will all look at this critically and challenge the opinions of classmates.  Once a situation has been classified as ‘worthy of empathy’ it will be added to our bulletin board. 

At the end of chapter 39 we will use these examples as a springboard for a writing assignment.