What are the setting, problem of the story, climax, events leading to resolution, and ending of the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens?

While short stories usually have a singleness of setting,
conflict and climax, in novels there are often multiple settings and conflicts.  Such is
the case, of course, with Charles Dickens's Great Expectations.  In
fact, the novel itself is divided into three parts, a division which indicates that
there are various elements at work in the extensive narrative of Dickens. However,
here is an outline of the key elements to
consider:

SETTING:  Victorian England (mid-nineteenth
century), the marshes  and London

CONFLICTS:  There are
both internal and external
conflicts. 

A. internal--

1. Pip
   wishes to become a gentleman (move upward in social class) and not be considered
   "coarse" so that he can marry Estella and be respected by people of the upper class. 
   


2. He wrestles with guilt over his rejection of Joe as not
   fitting to be associated with.


3. He also wrestles with his
   repulsion of Provis (Magwitch) and his gratitude for the man when the old convict visits
   him in London.


4. Pip has conflicting feelings about
   Estella, as well.

B.
external

1. Pip initially comes into conflict with
   the grey convict and Mrs. Joe


2. Earlier on and later in the
   novel, Pip comes into conflict with the envious Orlick who years later seeks revenge
   against Pip for his having been fired by
   Joe.


3. He conflicts with Estella who mocks him and reacts
   to his offers of affection with disinterest and
   coldness.


4. He struggles against Miss Havisham, whom he
   believes his benefactor and who teaches Estella to be cruel towards
   him.


5. Pip is a rival of Bentley Drummle and jealous of
   Estella's attention to him.


6. Pip struggles against
   Compeyson as he and Herbert try to get Provis on a ship leaving
   England.

CLIMAXES: 

1. Between
   Chapters L and LVI there are moments of high intensity to the conflicts mentioned
   above. 


2. Orlick tries to kill Pip.
   


3. Pip and Herbert attempt to get Provis out of London and
   escape hanging.


4. Pip saves Miss Havisham from the fire and
   is burned himself.


5. At the end of the novel, Pip meets
   Estella for the last time.

FALLING
ACTIONS: 

1. After Magwitch is captured and lies
   dying, Pip consoles him and grows to love the old convict. 
   


2. When Joe comes to Pip's aid after the fire, Pip
   apologizes for his cruelty and begs forgiveness; Joe and he reconcile. 
   


3. Pip aids Herbert who goes on to marry and live a good
   life.


4. Pip returns to the forge.
   


5. Pip talks with Estella and pledges
   friendship.

DENOUEMENT: 

1. Pip
   returns to the forge and country life, abandoning the falseness of his life in London. 
   


2. He realizes that goodness does not lie in one's social
   class, but in one's heart instead. 


3. Finally, Pip
   acknowledges that he and Estella will never
   marry.