Concetti Chiave
- David Copperfield is portrayed as an autobiography detailing his childhood experiences, including his school life at Salem House.
- David's stepfather, Mr. Murdstone, sends him to Salem House as a punishment for biting him, highlighting the harsh disciplinary actions of the time.
- The school environment is depicted as cruel, with Mr. Creacle, the teacher, enjoying inflicting physical punishment on students, leaving lasting scars.
- A lack of solidarity among students is evident as they laugh instead of defending each other when someone is punished, reflecting the oppressive atmosphere.
- The text uses literary devices such as repetition and metaphors to emphasize the cruelty and fear instilled by the teacher, Mr. Creacle.
This text is taken from “David Copperfield” written by Charles Dicken. This book is though as an autobiography where we can find a detailed description of his childhood, his loves and his pains. This extract deals with david’s first days at school at Salem House, the school where he has been sent by his stepfather, Mr Murdstone.
Punishment and humiliation
David was sent there as a punishment for had bitten his stepfather’s hand and this episode happens during holidays. He was also olding a sign with “pay attention, he can bite” to ridicule him. This text speaks about david’s cruel teacher, Mr Creacle who find pleasant hiting his students, in particular those who are chubby such us David leaving on them big scars. All the children are all fascinated by his eye but when the teacher look theme they start to tremble and the all drop over their books.
Lack of solidarity
A very important thing that we can notice from this text is that there is not solidarity between children: in fact when the teacher hit one of his student the other children don’t try to defend him but they all laugh. This text is also characterised by the frequent use of some devices like repetition (tooth , tooth, did it bite, did it bite) and also some metaphores (our heart sinking into our boots). This text probably wants to exalt the cruelty of the teacher: in fact david calls him incapable, brute and miserable little propitiators of a remorles idol.
Domande da interrogazione
- What was the reason for David being sent to Salem House, and how was he humiliated upon arrival?
- How does the text describe the behavior of Mr. Creacle, David's teacher, towards the students?
- What does the text reveal about the solidarity among the children at Salem House?
David was sent to Salem House as a punishment for biting his stepfather, Mr. Murdstone's hand. Upon arrival, he was humiliated by being made to wear a sign that read "pay attention, he can bite," which was intended to ridicule him.
Mr. Creacle is depicted as a cruel teacher who takes pleasure in hitting his students, especially those who are chubby like David, leaving them with big scars. His intimidating presence causes the children to tremble and drop their books when he looks at them.
The text highlights a lack of solidarity among the children at Salem House. When Mr. Creacle hits a student, the other children do not defend their peer but instead laugh, indicating a culture of fear and isolation rather than support.
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