Points of View

The novel is told in the first person by the character of David Copperfield. Although he does relate some events that happened before he really remembers them, such as the day of his birth, for the most part he is limited to his own perspective. This allows the reader to see things from his child eyes with the understanding of an adult. It also keeps the reader in the dark about the events that go on around David without his knowledge. Many of the surprising events are announced this way, letting the reader pick up clues that David misses.

Setting

The novel takes place primarily in England during the nineteenth century. David's life is concentrated in Yarmouth, Dover, Canterbury, and London, though he frequently travels between them. These individual settings are described in detail, down to the layout of the houses themselves. There is often contrast...