Curated set · answers marked
At the start of the novel, David Copperfield is born under a condition that superstition claims will give him a unique destiny. What is that condition?
Rationale
In the opening chapter of the novel, Dickens mentions that David is born with a caul, which was thought to protect the individual from drowning and bring good luck. The caul is eventually put up for sale, but it does not bring its purchaser any significant fortune.
Who did Dickens refer to as his "favourite child," claiming this character was his most cherished creation?
Rationale
Charles Dickens stated that David Copperfield was his favorite character, primarily because the novel reflects his own life story, including the struggles of his childhood and his early journey as a writer.
At the start of the novel, under what circumstance is David Copperfield born that superstitious people believe signals he is destined for bad luck?
Rationale
The novel begins with the narrator mentioning that he was born with a caul, which superstition suggested meant the child would never drown — and this was even advertised for sale in a newspaper, although it never found a buyer.