Penguin Readers Factsheets

T e a c h e rs n o t e s

level
E 1 2

David Copperfield
by Charles Dickens

3 4 5

6
PREINTERMEDIATE
Hogarth in 1836 and they had ten children, but in 1858 he separated from her, beginning a secret relationship with a young actress, Ellen Ternan, which lasted until his death in 1870.

S U M M A R Y

avid Copperfield, published in 1849-50, when Dickens was at the height of his fame, contains many autobiographical elements.

David enjoys a happy childhood with his mother and her faithful servant, Peggotty, until his mother marries again and proves powerless to protect him from the cruelty of his stepfather, Mr Murdstone. He is sent away to school, where he meets an older rich boy, Steerforth, and makes friends with a boy of his own age, Traddles. He also enjoys holidays by the sea with Peggottys family, who are fishermen. However, after his mothers death, he is put to work in a factory. He runs away to find his great-aunt, Betsey Trotwood. She pays for his studies while he lives with her lawyer, Mr Wickfield, and makes friends with Wickfields daughter, Agnes. On leaving school, he is articled to a lawyer called Mr Spenlow and falls in love with Spenlows daughter, Dora. In the meantime he has been the link between the two worlds of his childhood, taking Steerforth to Yarmouth, where his friend is attracted to Emily, Peggottys beautiful niece. In both these situations he has yet to learn that in this society wealth determines the nature of all relationships.

BACKGROUND AND THEMES

David Copperfield, probably because it is partly autobiographical, was Dickens own favourite among his novels. Whereas he usually concentrates on a specific social problem, which becomes his main theme, here the theme is personal. In David Copperfield he attempted to come to terms with the trials and humiliations of his childhood and youth, writing as a man who had overcome his humble beginnings and become the most successful novelist of his time. Davids life does not directly reflect Dickens life, but important incidents that had left a lasting impression on him are reproduced with little alteration. Dickens was taken from school at the age of 12 when his father was committed to the debtors prison, and put to work in a relatives factory, like David (p.20). Shortly afterwards, when his father received a legacy that set him free, this also allowed the boy to resume his education. Dickens pictures his father in David Copperfield as the eternally optimistic, improvident Mr Micawber, but he told his biographer, Forster, that he had never forgotten the humiliation of working in the factory, or forgiven his mother, who thought he should go on working. In the novel, the angelic mother of Davids early childhood is replaced by the harsh, cold Miss Murdstone. The second main theme of the novel is that goodness has nothing to do with social position, and social position is too often equated with wealth. Here again, Dickens personal experience was relevant. As a poor young shorthand writer, he had fallen in love with the daughter of a banker, whose father sent her abroad to keep her out of Dickens way, as Mr Spenlow plans to do with Dora (p.59). Spenlows attitude towards David changes when Davids aunt loses her money. When he says I thought you were a gentleman he implies that being a gentleman is a matter of money, not of being a gentle man, as David is. This tendency to equate money and social position with virtue corrupts characters judgement and behaviour. The

DAVID COPPERFIELD

ABOUT CHARLES DICKENS

Charles Dickens, the best-known English novelist, was born in 1812, the son of a Royal Navy clerk, and grew up in ports Portsmouth and Chatham before the family moved to London when he was 10. Incidents from his childhood and youth feature in David Copperfield, where the hero, like Dickens, earns his living as a shorthand writer before achieving fame with his novels. Dickens was the first writer to reach a mass audience in Britain and the United States, publishing his novels in weekly episodes, and subsequently editing magazines in which his work and that of other well-known writers first appeared. His earliest work is notable for his comic inventiveness (Pickwick Papers) and powerful depiction of social evils, and relies heavily on melodrama and sentiment (Oliver Twist). David Copperfield, written at the midpoint of his career, retains many of these features but also points forward to the great novels of his maturity, which analyse the nature of Victorian society. Dickens married Kate

Pearson Education 2000

Penguin Readers Factsheets

T e a c h e rs n o t e s
proud rich boy, Steerforth, could have been a good man but has been spoilt by an indulgent mother. Consequently, he looks down on poor fishermen, ignoring their human qualities, and takes advantage of Emily (ruins her in the language of the time) but will not marry her. In contrast, Ham, the humble fisherman who loved Emily, dies trying to save him. At the other end of the social scale, envy of others social position leads Uriah Heep, who always emphasizes that he is humble, to cheat Mr Wickfield and dream of marrying Agnes. David himself is not corrupted. From the beginning, he judges everyone on their merits, refusing to accept that people are inferior because they are poor.
When Mr Spenlow hears that David is poor, he says, You are not a gentleman. What does the word gentleman mean? How does Spenlow understand the word? What does this tell us about life in Dickens day?

level

Chapters 13-16
Students work in small groups. In Dickens early novels characters are usually very good, very bad or very funny. In his later novels, they are more believable. In David Copperfield some are like those in the early novels, a few like the ones in the later novels. Ask students to put the characters in the column where they think they belong. (As a guide you can suggest that they will probably put three characters in each column, though there is room for disagreement.) Then have a class discussion. Very good Very bad Funny Natural

Communicative activities

Peggotty, Betsey Trotwood, Mr Murdstone, Mr Creakle, Traddles, Steerforth, Emily, Mrs Gummidge, Mr Micawber, Uriah Heep, Agnes, Rosa Dartle.

DAVID COPPERFIELD

The following teacher-led activities cover the same sections of text as the exercises at the back of the reader, and supplement those exercises. Supplementary exercises covering shorter sections of the book can be found on the photocopiable Students Activities pages of this Factsheet. These are primarily for use with class readers but, with the exception of discussion and pair/group work questions, can also be used by students working alone in a selfaccess centre.

ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK

Put students into small groups. Using the completed table of characters of Mr Murdstone and Mr Creakle, they talk about David and Dora, above, but instead they decide if (a) they agree with the way Dickens ended the book for each of them; (b) they think that that the ending for each of them is believable.

ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK

Teach students the words stepfather and stepmother. Put them into small groups and ask them: Why do you think that in stories stepfathers and stepmothers are nearly always unkind?

Glossary
It will be useful for your students to know the following new words. They are practised in the Before You Read sections of exercises at the back of the book. (Definitions are based on those in the Longman Active Study Dictionary.) Chapters 1-3 cart (n) a vehicle with wheels pulled by a horse, carrying things (modern: lorry) coach (n) a closed vehicle with wheels pulled by a horse, carrying a number of people (modern: bus) complain (v) to say you are not happy about something cruel (adj) making other people suffer, giving them pain gentleman (n) a man who is polite and thinks of others (but in the novel, usually a man belonging to the middle or upper class) manage (v) to know how to look after a house or a business servant (n) a person who works in someones house, cleaning, cooking, etc. shilling (n) money (= twelve pennies) (20 shillings = one pound) Chapters 4-6 carriage (n) a vehicle with wheels pulled by a horse, carrying people (modern: car) clerk (n) someone who works in an office, looking after papers donkey (n) an animal like a small horse with big ears (see p.27) humble (adj) believing you are not as important as other people (also used in the novel to mean belonging to a lower class) lawyer (n) someone who can practise the law as a profession owe (v) to have to pay someone because you have borrowed money from them rub (v) to move something against another thing (here, used of hands) Chapters 7-9 scar (n) this is left by a cut on your skin Chapters 10-12 deceive (v) to make someone believe something that is not true shorthand (n) a fast way of writing down what people say, using signs Chapters 13-16 rope (n) this is long, strong and thick and is used to tie things

ACTIVITIES AFTER READING A SECTION Chapters 1-3

Put students into small groups to discuss these questions. Ask them to look up relationship (the way in which people relate to each other) in their dictionary. Davids mother doesnt help him against Mr Murdstone, and nobody helps the teacher, Mr Mell. What does this tell us about the relationships between (a) husbands and wives, (b) employers and employees when Dickens lived?

Chapters 4-6
Divide the students into groups of three. One student plays the part of Betsey Trotwood and the others are Mr Murdstone and Miss Murdstone. Betsey Trotwood asks the others what they have done to David and why they have acted badly towards him. They must tell the truth but can say why they think they were right.

Chapters 7-9
Put students into small groups to discuss this question. Ask them to look up character (what a person is like) in their dictionary. Compare the characters of Uriah Heep and Mr Micawber. Dickens seems to have the same opinion of them as David has. What is this opinion? What does it tell us about Dickens thoughts about money and success?

Chapters 10-12
Put students into small groups to discuss this question.

Pearson Education 2000

Published and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by W S Fowler Factsheet series developed by Louise James

Penguin Readers Factsheets

Students activities

level
E 1

David Copperfield
Photocopiable
Students can do these exercises alone or with one or more other students. Pair/group-only activities are marked.

2 3 4 5

Activities before reading the book

Read the names of the first three chapters and look at the pictures on page 9 and page 13. Why do you think David has a new father? What happens to him because of this? (g) Mr Murdstone takes David away from school. (h) Mr Micawber teaches David a lesson about money. 2 Work with another student. David has arrived at his aunts house. You are David and Davids aunt. Act the conversation between them about Mr Murdstone and Davids work in Mr Quinions factory.

6
PREINTERMEDIATE

Activities while reading the book

CHAPTERS 1-3

Chapter 6 Chapters 1 & 2

Answer these questions. (a) Why doesnt Miss Trotwood help Davids mother to look after him? (b) Why is Mr Murdstone angry when he meets David for the first time? (c) Why doesnt he want his friend to say Mrs Copperfield is pretty? (d) Why is Davids mother not at home when he comes back from Yarmouth? (e) Why cant David learn his lessons when Mr Murdstone teaches him? Complete these sentences.

DAVID COPPERFIELD

(a) Davids aunt is angry with Miss Murdstone because ........................................ (b) She takes David to Canterbury to see ........................................ (c) She wants him to find ........................................ (d) While he is in Canterbury, David lives ........................................ (e) Mr Wickfields clerk, Uriah Heep, is ......................................... and wears ............................ (f) David does not like him because his hand is like ........................................ (g) Heep is studying to be ........................................ (h) He always says that he and his family are ........................................

Chapter 3
1 Put the people with the descriptions. (a) Mr Mell (i) cruel and unpopular and a bad teacher. (b) Mr Creakle (ii) a kind boy who doesnt laugh at David. (c) Traddles (iii) a rich boy who likes Davids stories. (d) Steerforth (iv) a poor teacher who lives with his mother. 2 Answer these questions. (a) Who makes David wear the board in the picture on page 13. Why? (b) Who says: A gentleman cant be rude to a poor man. Why? (c) Why does Mr Mell lose his job as a teacher at the school? (d) What do the three boys - David, Steerforth and Traddles think about this?

CHAPTERS 7-9 Chapter 7

1 Who is speaking, and who or what are they talking about? (a) Hes a clever man. I need someone like him to manage my money. (b) I threw something at her. It hit her on the mouth. (c) I know that she is younger than I am. But she has agreed to marry me. (d) She should be a gentlemans wife. (e) Ive done something terrible. The people in Yarmouth hate me. 2 Work with another student. You are David and Emily. Act the conversation between them. Emily isnt sure of her feelings. She has said that she will marry Ham but she likes Steerforth. David tells her what to do if she wants to be good.

CHAPTERS 4-6 Chapters 4 & 5

1 Put these sentences in order. (a) Mr Murdstone finds David a job in a factory. (b) David arrives at his aunts house. (c) Davids mother and brother die. (d) David decides to go to see his aunt. (e) David meets Mr Micawber. (f) A young man steals Davids money on the way to Dover.

Chapters 8 & 9
1 Look up chance in your dictionary. In Dickens stories, things often happen by chance. In this story, David often meets people again by chance. Who is the person he meets in these sentences? (a) She is sitting next to him at the theatre. (b) He sees an old friend at the dinner at the Waterbrooks house.

Pearson Education 2000

Penguin Readers Factsheets

Students activities
(c) She is at Mr Spenlows house, looking after Dora Spenlow. (d) He is living in the same house as Davids friend. 2 Answer these questions. (a) What does Agnes think of Steerforth, and why does she tell David she is sorry? (b) How did Uriah Heep become the owner of half of Mr Wickfields business? (c) What is the change that Mrs Crupp notices in David? Why has he changed? (d) Why does Mr Micawber write to David? What has he done? (e) Why is David going to Yarmouth? Why does he go to Highgate first? Ask and answer the question: Do you think I should marry her soon?

level

CHAPTERS 13-16 Chapters 13 & 14

1 Which sentences about David and Doras marriage are true, which are false? Correct those that are not true. (a) Dora doesnt know how to manage the house. (b) She doesnt love David. (c) David doesnt love her. (d) She is like Davids mother. 2 Answer these questions. (a) Why is Mr Micawber angry and sad when he comes to see David? (b) Who helps David to find Emily? (c) Who do they see on the stairs outside Emilys room? (d) How is Mr Micawber able to show that Heep has stolen money? (e) Why didnt Mr Wickfield understand what was happening? (f) Why doesnt Heep have to go to prison?

CHAPTERS 10-12 Chapter 10

1 Complete these sentences.

DAVID COPPERFIELD

(a) When Emily says she will only return if Steerforth makes me a lady, she means if he ...................................... (b) Mrs Steerforth thinks Mr Peggotty will feel better if she ...................................... (c) Rosa Dartle hates Emily because ...................................... (d) David is very happy because Dora agrees ...................................... (e) But she says they wont tell her father yet because ....................................... 2 Talk with another student. You are David and Steerforth. They meet. David tells Steerforth what he thinks of him. He wants him to marry Emily. Steerforth tells David why he doesnt want to.

Chapters 15 & 16
Put the two halves of these sentences together (a) Jip the dog dies (i) that she made her son selfish. (b) Betsey Trotwood (ii) is talking about him. pays Uriah Heep (c) Ham tries to save (iii) because he is very Steerforth sad. (d) Rosa Dartle tells (iv) because she thinks he Mrs Steerforth does not love her. (e) David leaves (v) to save Mr Micawber England from prison. (f) Agnes cannot marry (vi) but dies swimming the man she loves to the ship. (g) David realizes that she (vii) and becomes rich and successful. (h) Mr Micawber goes to (viii) at the same moment Australia as Dora.

Chapters 11 & 12
1 Match the people to the feelings or actions. (a) Mr Micawber (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) is pleased David is in love with Dora, not Agnes. Betsey Trotwood (ii) doesnt want to hear about money or cooking. Mr Wickfield (iii) helps David to learn shorthand. Mr Spenlow (iv) does not want Heep to marry his daughter. Dora (v) tells David she will always be his friend. Traddles (vi) is happy that Uriah Heep can give him work. Agnes (vii) is angry with herself for losing her money. (viii) changes his mind about David when he hears he is poor. (i)

Activities after reading the book

Talk to one or more other students. (a) Why is David happier in his second marriage than his first? (b) Are Davids opinions of people changed by the amount of money the people have? Find examples in the book. (c) Some people in the book think that rich people are better people. Who thinks this? Are the rich people in David Copperfield better people than the poor people?

(h) Uriah Heep

2 Work with another student. You are David and Traddles. You both want to get married. Is Sophy the best wife for Traddles? Is Dora the best wife for David?

Pearson Education 2000

Published and distributed by Pearson Education Factsheet written by W S Fowler Factsheet series developed by Louise James