Chapter I

Note: Being born with a caul (naître « coiffé », c’est à dire la tête couverte d’une partie des membranes fœtales) is traditionally considered a lucky sign.

Type of narrative: first-person narrative

Narrator: David Copperfield

Characters introduced (names, relationships, characteristics):

Clara Copperfield: David’s mother. A former governess. She is a very young widow with no experience as a housekeeper.

Miss Betsey Trotwood: David’s great-aunt on his father’s side. She got separated from her husband because he was violent and has become an enemy of men.

Betsey Trotwood is an inflexible woman who lives in her own world instead of adapting to the real world. Three examples:

• She was prejudiced against her nephew’s wife although she did not know her.
• She “decides” that her child will be a girl.
• She is offended when it turns out to be a boy.

The narrator contrasts Clara with Betsey:

• Clara appears sweet, shy and meek. She lacks confidence and is depressed by her circumstances.
• On the other hand, Betsey has a forceful personality that cannot be shaken easily.

Clara Peggotty: the Copperfields’ servant.

Ham Peggotty: Peggotty’s nephew.

What are the two prophecies made about David?

• He will be unlucky.
• He will see ghosts.

Summary:

At the beginning of the novel, David’s father is already dead. His mother is pregnant.

His father had fallen out with his aunt because she disapproved of his marriage.

Miss Trotwood pays a visit to Clara. She has taken it into her head that the baby will be a girl. She has decided that she will be her godmother and call her Betsey Trotwood.

The very same night, Clara gives birth to a boy. Miss Trotwood leaves the house forever.

Chapter II

Pages 22 to 25: the narrator’s earliest memories.

• His mother.
• His nurse.
• Their house
• The church

The contrast in his mother’s and his nurse’s physical appearance:

	mother	nurse
figure (Fr: silhouette)	slim	nondescript
striking features	beautiful hair	· dark eyes · red cheeks

Pages 25-27: the narrator’s first encounter with Mr Murdstone.

David sits up late reading a book about crocodiles to Peggotty while waiting for his mother to return from a visit.

David’s mother returns with a man. David refuses to shake hands with him.

Pages 27-29: after the encounter.

Peggotty warns David’s mother not to marry someone her dead husband would not have liked. David’s mother is upset.

Pages 29-32: the second encounter.

The man takes David on a short trip to meet business acquaintances.

He doesn’t want David to understand the conversation so he refers to him as “Mr Brooks” and to his marriage as “the projected business”.

Pages 32-34: after the second encounter.

David leaves to spend two weeks with Peggotty’s family in Yarmouth.

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