He hopes to have her face be the last he sees when he sees his last. It has always been among his most popular novels and was his own favorite. From daphne du mauriers rebecca and j r r tolkiens the hobbit, to toni morrisons beloved and f scott fitzgeralds the great gatsby, here are the 27 best opening lines in books. Charles dickens eighth novel, illustrated by phiz, is a thinly disguised autobiography with many of the story lines mirroring dickens own life. Scroll through each poignant piece of literary genius and most known book quotes below in our list.
In this multiple choice game youre given the first line to 10 of dickenss works. David copperfield the narrator and major character of the novel. This longish, singlesentence opener is 115 words long and punctuated with 16 commas, most of which are in the first. Book summary the novel traces the life of david copperfield from the time of his birth to his mature manhood, when he is married and familiar with the vicissitudes of life. The titles on the list span centuries and genres and include classics and contemporary novels that are certain to become classics. The first chapter is typical of the victorian novelistic style, especially its long sentences and frequent digressions. The age of innocence by edith wharton alices adventures in wonderland.
David s baby brother isnt really an independent figure in the book. David copperfield has always been among dickenss most popular novels and was his own favourite child. Maybe really my favorite first line is the first line of a portrait of the artist as a young man, which, for me, is the best line in the. David copperfield, agnes wickfield, james steerforth, clara peggotty, little emly, uriah heep, miss betsey trotwood, dora spenlow, mr.
Ive enjoyed reading along with their selections in the past and got into the habit i dont remember how of starting off with extended closereadings of the first lines of the novels. First line if you really want to hear about it, the first thing youll probably want to know is where i was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that david copperfield kind of crap, but i dont feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. Opening lines the first sentence or maybe the first paragraph of a book have a lot of work to do. Great first lines great first lines peggy korman cnm first lines of a novel. Wilkins micawber, tommy traddles, clara copperfield, mr. David copperfield by charles dickens dr jekyll and mr hyde by robert louis stevenson emma. To begin my life with the beginning of my life, i record that i was born as i have been. First edition of charles dickens david copperfield an excellent copy in the variant cloth binding dickens, charles. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in. He represents david s own vanishing childhood trust and innocence. But you, my dear reader, should start with david copperfield.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. As david and peggotty drive off in a cart, david looks back. The first half of david copperfield, concerning the struggles of the young boy against repressive stepparents and draconian schoolmasters, is one of the greatest, most affecting novels ever written. The first and last lines of iconic books, and what they. We take a look at the killer opening lines that got us hooked into our. What is the first line of david copperfield leo tolstoy. Dickens copperfield books, tapes, cliffnotes, bibliographies, essays, movies david copperfield quotes david copperfield dictionary. The 27 best opening lines in books, from rebecca to the great. The best opening lines in literature, ever marie claire. Now a grown man, david copperfield tells the story of his youth. They have to set the scene, perhaps introduce a character, and more than anything, get us to. David copperfield, charles dickenss eighth novel, came out in monthly magazine installments from may 1849 to november 1850. According to stylist, here are the best opening lines from childrens books.
I need say nothing here, on the first head, because nothing can show better than my. Opening lines set the tone for a work of literature, serving as an invitation for a reader. A number of characters and incidents from the novel were omitted notably davids time at salem house boarding school, although one. I kept my housekeepingbook regularly, and balanced it with mr. The first sentence of david copperfield whether i shall turn out to be the hero of my own. David copperfield, charles dickens eighth novel, was first published as a serial in 184950, and as a book in 1850 our copy. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery. David copperfield quotes, david copperfield important quotes. It was first published as a serial in 184950, and as a book in 1850.
David copperfield, by charles dickens project gutenberg. To begin my life with the beginning of my life, i record that i was born as i have been informed and believe on a friday, at twelve oclock at night. From the pithy to the provocative, the classic book opener comes in many different forms. Following david from his impoverished childhood to his encounters with the memorable uriah heep, the beautiful dora, and the comic micawber, david copperfield is believed to be the most autobiographical of charles dickenss works. Whether i shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else. I was thinking about the opening line from dickens tale of two cities, yesterday, one of the authors great books, and probably one of his greatest sentences, period. Copperfield, returned my mother, is dead, and if you dare to speak unkindly of him to me my poor dear mother, i suppose, had some. David copperfield, novel by english writer charles dickens, published serially in 184950 and in book form in 1850. Opening linesthe first sentence or maybe the first paragraph of a bookhave a lot of work to do.
Character list for david copperfield charles dickens info. Or the first line of tristram shandy or david copperfield. That book was made by a mr mark twain, and he told the truth, mainly. How familiar are you with the work of charles dickens. Bbc culture what are the best first lines in fiction. Murdstone come up to his mother and apparently scold her for being so emotional. David copperfield also stands as a midpoint in dickens. Oct 29, 2019 what are the best first lines in fiction. Calls a house a rookery when theres not a rook near it, and takes the birds on trust, because he sees the nests.
David copperfield quotes by charles dickens goodreads. The first line sets the scene, the tone, sheds just enough. The narrator, in his statement of intent, pointedly avoids. Murdstone, who brings his strict sister, miss murdstone, into the house. Whether i shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. David copperfield is the unforgettable story of davids pursuit of his dream of being a successful writer. The polar opposite to austen and dickens, this line plunges the reader into the narrative, but in a lowkey tone of disappointed expectations that captures jane eyre s dismal circumstances. David copperfield is the eighth novel by charles dickens. If you really want to hear about it, the first thing youll probably want to know is where i was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that david copperfield kind of crap, but i dont feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. Whether i shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show 9. Language arts for the esl learner the lesson will be based on the book. I am a lone lorn creetur and everythink goes contrairy with me.
The last few lines of this wonderful book are dedicated to the love and devotion david has for his wife. I need say nothing here, on the first head, because nothing can show better. Write a one page double spaced summary of the first chapter of the david copperfield book. What is the first line in david copperfield answers. David copperfield kindle edition by dickens, charles. The second half, as the boy grows into a famous writer involved in the intrigues of his friends and lovers, is a good and affecting dickens novel. David copperfield book summaries, test preparation. Hephzibah anderson explores the art of the perfect first sentence. Dora spenlow dora spenlow is the first love and the first wife of david copperfield. Esther lombardi is a veteran journalist who has written about literature, education, and technology. Unless otherwise noted, all ellipses have been added by the author. Opening lines of novels, famous first lines of novels, best. Dickens david copperfield complete text book chapters.
David copperfield the narrator david copperfield, opening lines of novel, chapter 1. These books were a way of escaping from the unhappiness of my life. Jan 14, 2020 david copperfield is a broad canvas on which the great master of victorian fiction uses his entire palette. I endeavour to read at least 2 more books by dickens. A gentle orphan discovers life and love in an indifferent adult world. The 10 best first lines in fiction books the guardian. The work is semiautobiographical, and, although the title character differs from his creator in many ways, dickens.
Unlike many of his other novels, however, david copperfield is written from the point of view of its titular character, looking back on the ups and downs of his long life. The novel features the character david copperfield, and is written in the first person, as a description of his life until middle age, with his own adventures and the numerous friends and enemies he meets along his way. As a young boy, he lives happily with his mother and his nurse, peggotty. David copperfield the greatest literature of all time.
It follows the life of david copperfield from childhood to maturity. Copperfield, returned my mother, is dead, and if you dare to speak unkindly of him to me 37. My meaning simply is, that whatever i have tried to do in life, i have tried with all my heart to do well. In it dickens related some of his own early experiences, including his work in a factory and his schooling and reading. First paragraphs of classic books memorable quotations. Be sure to let us know which mustread books have you read. Life is happy for david until his mother decides to marry. Constructing social and personal identities in dickens. The 27 best opening lines in books, from rebecca to the. The story is told almost entirely from the point of view of the first person narrator, david copperfield himself, and was the first dickens novel to be written as such a narration. Literature network charles dickens david copperfield chapter 1 chapter 1 whether i shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.
Opening lines are the initial portions of dialogue or text in a written book or other media work often constituted by at least the first sentence or a fragment thereof. This was the first book in george rr martins a song of ice and fire series. Dont judge a book by its cover, or so the adage goes, but is the same true for the book s opening line. Clerks premiered at the sundance film festival 26 years ago, so we asked kevin smith 26 questions about the festival. The opening lines of david copperfield are, of course, among the most famous in the british novel. David copperfield is probably the most autobiographical novel by charles dickens. First paragraph of david copperfield memorable quotations. The novels full title is the personal history, adventures, experience and observation of david copperfield the younger of blunderstone rookery which he never meant to publish on any account. The novel traces the life of david copperfield from the time of his birth to his mature manhood, when he is married and familiar with the vicissitudes of life. David copperfield by charles dickens first paragraph whether i shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. Constructing social and personal identities in dickens david. Dickens friend and first biographer, john forster, wrote that dickens never stood so high in reputation as at the completion of copperfield, and that in the novel dickens had cast the suspicion that underneath the fiction lay something of the. David copperfield by charles dickens, browne, first edition. Charles dickens quiz opening lines to the novels of charles dickens.
He uses many incidents of his childhood and early life to create a considerable fictional achievement. Many elements of the novel follow events in dickens own life, and it is often considered as his veiled autobiography. Charles dickens quiz opening lines to the novels of. The first and last lines of iconic books, and what they reveal. Whether i shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by. During david s early childhood, his mother marries the violent mr.
By the time this novel started to appear, dickens had already published some of his most famous works, including the pickwick papers 1837, oliver twist 1839, nicholas nickleby 1839, and a christmas carol 1843. Having that in mind, weve rounded up the first lines of some of the worlds most famous books, and they stand as excellent examples of how a short sentence or two can set the tone for an entire story and define its legacy for decades to come. I am born david copperfield charles dickens lit2go. The phiz illustrations of david copperfield complete collection, with extracts from the relevant david copperfield chapters. A good opening line, or incipit, is usually considered desirable. David copperfield by charles dickens free ebook online. At the same time, the reader can hardly resist turning the first page. First edition in book form, first state following all but two of the twenty points listed in smith, in the primary. N 1 it was first published as a serial in 184950, and as a book in 1850. David copperfield, charles dickens david copperfield is the eighth novel by charles dickens. David copperfield, in full the personal history of david copperfield, novel by english writer charles dickens, published serially in 184950 and in book form in 1850.
A number of them are so wellknown that they are remembered long after the work, while others are so famous that they can end up parodied. Our guide to the greatest opening lines of novels in the english. David copperfield quotes, david copperfield important. David copperfield by charles dickens whether i shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. His early years are enjoyable with his mother who was widowed shortly before his birth and with her servant, peggotty. The book of strange new things by michel faber forty minutes later he was up in the sky. Top ten quotes annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. The first sentence of david copperfield whether i shall turn out to be the hero of my own life.
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