Books, pens and pencils: the trials of a Victorian youth

In this survey, we have focussed our attention on the first part of the novel David Copperfield and analyzed how the child hero's natural dispositions are crushed by faulty training. Through his early schooling and youthful experiences, David gains a knowledge of the wretchedness children may s...

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Main Author: Cornut-Gentille D'Arcy, Chantal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad de Alicante 1989-12-01
Series:Revista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses
Online Access:https://raei.ua.es/article/view/1989-n2-books-pens-and-pencils-the-trials-of-a-victorian-youth
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author Cornut-Gentille D'Arcy, Chantal
author_facet Cornut-Gentille D'Arcy, Chantal
author_sort Cornut-Gentille D'Arcy, Chantal
collection DOAJ
description In this survey, we have focussed our attention on the first part of the novel David Copperfield and analyzed how the child hero's natural dispositions are crushed by faulty training. Through his early schooling and youthful experiences, David gains a knowledge of the wretchedness children may suffer in the rigidly practical Victorian society which tended to regard little ones as small-scale adults. By means of the story, Dickens is clearly denouncing the excessive eagerness of utilitarians for efficiency and productiveness in education, and his protests are directed against educators, educational establishments and institutions which ignored the child's need to develop at a natural pace in an atmosphere of affectionate encouragement and happiness.
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spelling doaj.art-c5c3016e3d4f445ea7d5387cba2ac7212022-12-21T22:02:30ZengUniversidad de AlicanteRevista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses0214-48082171-861X1989-12-0122110.14198/raei.1989.2.034340Books, pens and pencils: the trials of a Victorian youthCornut-Gentille D'Arcy, ChantalIn this survey, we have focussed our attention on the first part of the novel David Copperfield and analyzed how the child hero's natural dispositions are crushed by faulty training. Through his early schooling and youthful experiences, David gains a knowledge of the wretchedness children may suffer in the rigidly practical Victorian society which tended to regard little ones as small-scale adults. By means of the story, Dickens is clearly denouncing the excessive eagerness of utilitarians for efficiency and productiveness in education, and his protests are directed against educators, educational establishments and institutions which ignored the child's need to develop at a natural pace in an atmosphere of affectionate encouragement and happiness.https://raei.ua.es/article/view/1989-n2-books-pens-and-pencils-the-trials-of-a-victorian-youth
spellingShingle Cornut-Gentille D'Arcy, Chantal
Books, pens and pencils: the trials of a Victorian youth
Revista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses
title Books, pens and pencils: the trials of a Victorian youth
title_full Books, pens and pencils: the trials of a Victorian youth
title_fullStr Books, pens and pencils: the trials of a Victorian youth
title_full_unstemmed Books, pens and pencils: the trials of a Victorian youth
title_short Books, pens and pencils: the trials of a Victorian youth
title_sort books pens and pencils the trials of a victorian youth
url https://raei.ua.es/article/view/1989-n2-books-pens-and-pencils-the-trials-of-a-victorian-youth
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