Little David Copperfield
Little David Copperfield is a novel by Charles Dickens that follows the life of David Copperfield from childhood to adulthood. The story explores themes of identity, family, love, and betrayal, as David navigates his way through various challenges and relationships. Alongside David's journey, the novel also delves into the lives of other characters, including his stepfather, Mr. Murdstone; his aunt, Betsey Trotwood; and his friend, Steerforth. Throughout the novel, Dickens employs his signature wit and social commentary to critique the societal norms of his time, particularly those related to class and gender roles.
By Charles Dickens · First published 1849 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Bildungsroman, Social Critique · 14,740 words
First lines
I, little David Copperfield, lived with my mother in a pretty house in the village of Blunderstone in Suffolk. I had never known my father, who died before I could remember anything, and I had neither brothers nor sisters. I was fondly loved by my pretty young mother, and our kind, good servant, Peggotty, and was a very happy little fellow. We had very few friends, and the only relation my mother talked about was an aunt of my father's, a tall and rather terrible old lady, from all accounts, who had once been to see us when I was quite a tiny baby, and had been so angry to find I was not a little girl that she had left the house quite offended, and had never been heard of since. One visitor, a tall dark gentleman, I did not like at all, and was rather inclined to be jealous that my mother should be so friendly with the stranger.
What this Textopian page supports
Little David Copperfield is listed on Textopian as a novel by Charles Dickens, dated 1849 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Charles Dickens
- Date: 1849 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Bildungsroman, Social Critique, Drama, Autobiographical Fiction
- Length: 14,740 words
- Structure: 1 section, 287 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Little David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Little David Copperfield?
- How does this novel by Charles Dickens fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Tales From Dickens David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
- The Personal History Of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
- The Story Of Pip As Told By Himself by Charles Dickens
- Tales From Dickens Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
- Tales From Dickens Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens
- The Lamplighter by Charles Dickens
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The story takes place in 19th century England, involving and detailing historical settings and social structures of the time.
- Bildungsroman — The story chronicles David Copperfield's life from childhood to maturity, exploring his intellectual, emotional, and moral development.
- Social Critique — Dickens criticizes the shortcomings of society, addressing issues like child labor, class dichotomy, and women’s rights within the Victorian era.
- Drama — David Copperfield's life is filled with personal struggles, conflicting relationships, and emotional turmoil.
Tags
coming of age · autobiographical · Victorian literature · social criticism · orphan · friendship · family · poverty · class struggle · identity · resilience · education