David Copperfield follows the life of main character David Copperfield from a baby to an adult.
Reading and Writing Workshop: Exploring Themes of Childhood, Class, and Perseverance
Begin by reading the work either in groups or as a class. If group reading, divide the work into sections and assign each group a section. As groups, they will read their section, write a summary of each chapter, and then each group reports on their chapters sequentially. As students read, they should complete the Novel Tracker. After reading and reporting on the entire novel, the workshop might consist of a single session or more. The goal is to engage participants in an exploration of life in an American religious colony through primary sources, and writing exercises that foster a deeper understanding of concepts such as English society, cultural norms, conflict, and resilience.
Objective: This workshop is divided into structured sessions, each focusing on reading, discussion, and writing activities to support student learning and context. The workshop incorporates public domain primary resources to deepen understanding and inspire creative expression. Students will also 1) Analyze the themes and character dynamics of the novel, 2) Examine primary sources to contextualize the novel's setting and societal norms. and
3) Develop creative writing pieces inspired by the novel and its historical context.
*This workshop follows a structured approach integrating reading, writing, and discussion based on Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence. It incorporates public domain memoirs, real-life stories, fiction, poetry, and scripts to deepen comprehension and inspire creative writing.
Session 1: Autobiographical Beginnings
Theme: Personal Growth and Identity
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 1: "I Am Born"
Supporting Memoirs:
Session 2: Struggles of the Lower Class
Theme: Poverty and Resilience
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 10: "I Begin Life on My Own Account"
Supporting Historical Accounts:
Session 3: The Power of Education
Theme: Overcoming Hardship Through Learning
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 15: "I Make Another Beginning"
Supporting Memoirs:
Session 4: The Role of Women in Society
Theme: Gender Expectations and Independence
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 23: "I Corroborate Mr. Dick, and Choose a Profession"
Supporting Fiction:
Session 5: Child Labor and Social Critique
Theme: Injustice Against Children
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 11: "I Begin Life on My Own Account, and Don't Like It"
Supporting Poetry:
Session 6: Class and Ambition
Theme: Social Mobility and Struggles of the Working Class
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 24: "My First Dissipation"
Supporting Fiction:
Session 7: Betrayal and Redemption
Theme: Trust, Deceit, and Second Chances
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 36: "Enthusiasm"
Supporting Memoir:
Session 8: Looking Back and Moving Forward
Theme: Reflection and Self-Discovery
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 64: "A Last Retrospect"
Final Reflection Writing:
ConclusionThis workshop connects David Copperfield to real-life narratives, poetry, and fiction that reinforce themes of childhood, struggle, and resilience. Through writing and discussion, participants develop a deeper engagement with Dickens’ work and public domain sources.
Begin by reading the work either in groups or as a class. If group reading, divide the work into sections and assign each group a section. As groups, they will read their section, write a summary of each chapter, and then each group reports on their chapters sequentially. As students read, they should complete the Novel Tracker. After reading and reporting on the entire novel, the workshop might consist of a single session or more. The goal is to engage participants in an exploration of life in an American religious colony through primary sources, and writing exercises that foster a deeper understanding of concepts such as English society, cultural norms, conflict, and resilience.
Objective: This workshop is divided into structured sessions, each focusing on reading, discussion, and writing activities to support student learning and context. The workshop incorporates public domain primary resources to deepen understanding and inspire creative expression. Students will also 1) Analyze the themes and character dynamics of the novel, 2) Examine primary sources to contextualize the novel's setting and societal norms. and
3) Develop creative writing pieces inspired by the novel and its historical context.
*This workshop follows a structured approach integrating reading, writing, and discussion based on Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence. It incorporates public domain memoirs, real-life stories, fiction, poetry, and scripts to deepen comprehension and inspire creative writing.
Session 1: Autobiographical Beginnings
Theme: Personal Growth and Identity
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 1: "I Am Born"
Supporting Memoirs:
- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin – https://www.gutenberg.org/files/148/148-h/148-h.htm
- Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass – https://www.gutenberg.org/files/23/23-h/23-h.htm
- Write about a significant childhood event that shaped your identity, using Dickensian descriptive techniques.
Session 2: Struggles of the Lower Class
Theme: Poverty and Resilience
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 10: "I Begin Life on My Own Account"
Supporting Historical Accounts:
- London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew – https://www.gutenberg.org/files/55998/55998-h/55998-h.htm
- How the Other Half Lives by Jacob Riis – https://www.gutenberg.org/files/45502/45502-h/45502-h.htm
- Compare Dickens’ portrayal of poverty to Mayhew’s real-life accounts.
Session 3: The Power of Education
Theme: Overcoming Hardship Through Learning
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 15: "I Make Another Beginning"
Supporting Memoirs:
- Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington – https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2376/2376-h/2376-h.htm
- Imagine you are Booker T. Washington. Write a letter to David Copperfield encouraging him about the importance of perseverance through education.
Session 4: The Role of Women in Society
Theme: Gender Expectations and Independence
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 23: "I Corroborate Mr. Dick, and Choose a Profession"
Supporting Fiction:
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë – https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1260/1260-h/1260-h.htm
- Rewrite a scene from David Copperfield from the perspective of a female character, reflecting on her role in society.
Session 5: Child Labor and Social Critique
Theme: Injustice Against Children
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 11: "I Begin Life on My Own Account, and Don't Like It"
Supporting Poetry:
- The Cry of the Children by Elizabeth Barrett Browning – https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2005/2005-h/2005-h.htm
- The Chimney Sweeper by William Blake – https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1934/1934-h/1934-h.htm
- Write a poem in response to The Cry of the Children from the perspective of a child laborer in David Copperfield.
Session 6: Class and Ambition
Theme: Social Mobility and Struggles of the Working Class
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 24: "My First Dissipation"
Supporting Fiction:
- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens – https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1400/1400-h/1400-h.htm
- Compare the ambitions of David Copperfield and Pip (Great Expectations). What do their journeys say about class and opportunity?
Session 7: Betrayal and Redemption
Theme: Trust, Deceit, and Second Chances
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 36: "Enthusiasm"
Supporting Memoir:
- Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup – https://www.gutenberg.org/files/45631/45631-h/45631-h.htm
- Write about a time when you faced betrayal or disappointment. How did it shape your character?
Session 8: Looking Back and Moving Forward
Theme: Reflection and Self-Discovery
Key Text: David Copperfield Chapter 64: "A Last Retrospect"
Final Reflection Writing:
- Write a retrospective essay on your journey through this workshop.
- How has exploring primary sources changed your understanding of David Copperfield and its themes?
ConclusionThis workshop connects David Copperfield to real-life narratives, poetry, and fiction that reinforce themes of childhood, struggle, and resilience. Through writing and discussion, participants develop a deeper engagement with Dickens’ work and public domain sources.