David Copperfield – Chapter III (“I Have a Change”) – MCQs

1. What “change” does the title of Chapter III refer to?
A) David moving to a new town
B) Clara Copperfield’s remarriage to Mr. Murdstone
C) Peggotty’s departure
D) The death of Miss Betsey
Answer: B) Clara Copperfield’s remarriage to Mr. Murdstone

2. How does David first learn of his mother’s remarriage?
A) Peggotty tells him directly
B) He overhears neighbors gossiping
C) His mother announces it upon his return
D) Mr. Murdstone tells him himself
Answer: A) Peggotty tells him directly

3. Where does David meet Mr. Murdstone upon returning home?
A) In the parlor
B) At the garden gate
C) In the kitchen
D) At the church
Answer: A) In the parlor

4. What is David’s first impression of Mr. Murdstone?
A) Kind and fatherly
B) Stern and intimidating
C) Playful and generous
D) Indifferent and aloof
Answer: B) Stern and intimidating

5. What physical feature of Mr. Murdstone does David notice most?
A) His bright eyes
B) His dark whiskers and severe expression
C) His height
D) His crooked teeth
Answer: B) His dark whiskers and severe expression

6. How does Clara Copperfield’s demeanor change after marriage?
A) She becomes bolder
B) She becomes nervous and submissive
C) She grows distant but independent
D) She becomes happier and more confident
Answer: B) She becomes nervous and submissive

7. What new rule does Mr. Murdstone introduce at home?
A) Stricter discipline and less play for David
B) Free access to books
C) More outings to Yarmouth
D) Visits to Miss Betsey
Answer: A) Stricter discipline and less play for David

8. What is Mr. Murdstone’s philosophy about raising children?
A) Strictness and “firmness” in discipline
B) Allowing children complete freedom
C) Pampering them with affection
D) Sending them away to relatives
Answer: A) Strictness and “firmness” in discipline

9. Who comes to stay with the Copperfields after the marriage?
A) Miss Betsey
B) Miss Murdstone (Mr. Murdstone’s sister)
C) Daniel Peggotty
D) Mrs. Gummidge
Answer: B) Miss Murdstone (Mr. Murdstone’s sister)

10. What is Miss Murdstone’s personality like?
A) Harsh and cold
B) Gentle and kind
C) Playful and teasing
D) Weak and timid
Answer: A) Harsh and cold

11. What object does Miss Murdstone always carry, symbolizing her severity?
A) A key bunch
B) A whip
C) A ruler
D) A bible
Answer: A) A key bunch

12. What does Miss Murdstone’s constant jingling of keys represent?
A) Hospitality
B) Surveillance and control
C) Joyful nature
D) Musical talent
Answer: B) Surveillance and control

13. How does Peggotty feel about the Murdstones’ arrival?
A) Suspicious and protective of David and Clara
B) Indifferent
C) Joyful and approving
D) Frightened and submissive
Answer: A) Suspicious and protective of David and Clara

14. What change occurs in Clara’s relationship with Peggotty after the marriage?
A) Clara grows distant from Peggotty
B) Clara relies more on Peggotty
C) Peggotty leaves immediately
D) Peggotty and Clara argue constantly
Answer: A) Clara grows distant from Peggotty

15. How does David react to the new atmosphere at home?
A) He rebels loudly
B) He withdraws into fear and silence
C) He runs away to Yarmouth
D) He befriends Miss Murdstone
Answer: B) He withdraws into fear and silence

16. What does Mr. Murdstone frequently accuse David of?
A) Laziness
B) Disobedience and lack of firmness
C) Stealing food
D) Being spoiled by Peggotty
Answer: B) Disobedience and lack of firmness

17. How does Clara try to handle Mr. Murdstone’s discipline?
A) She openly defends David
B) She pleads meekly and submits
C) She scolds David harshly
D) She sends David to Miss Betsey
Answer: B) She pleads meekly and submits

18. What impact does Miss Murdstone have on the household?
A) She creates a prison-like atmosphere
B) She brings joy to the house
C) She teaches David to read
D) She reconciles Clara and Mr. Murdstone
Answer: A) She creates a prison-like atmosphere

19. What change occurs in David’s daily routine after the marriage?
A) He spends more time outdoors
B) He faces constant lessons and punishments
C) He is sent to boarding school
D) He is allowed more freedom
Answer: B) He faces constant lessons and punishments

20. What happens to Peggotty during this period?
A) She stays but is treated coldly by the Murdstones
B) She is dismissed at once
C) She goes to Yarmouth permanently
D) She marries Daniel Peggotty
Answer: A) She stays but is treated coldly by the Murdstones

21. How is Clara Copperfield’s parenting undermined?
A) The Murdstones overrule her decisions and control David’s upbringing
B) She chooses to send David away willingly
C) She ignores David’s needs entirely
D) She forces David to obey Mr. Murdstone
Answer: A) The Murdstones overrule her decisions and control David’s upbringing

22. What symbol in the chapter represents Clara’s loss of freedom?
A) The jingling keys of Miss Murdstone
B) The rook’s nests
C) The locked parlor door
D) The unopened windows
Answer: A) The jingling keys of Miss Murdstone

23. How does David describe the house after the Murdstones’ arrival?
A) Like a cheerful home
B) Like a prison
C) Like a school
D) Like an inn
Answer: B) Like a prison

24. What recurring motif from earlier chapters is reinforced here?
A) Wind among the elm trees symbolizing unease
B) The sea symbolizing freedom
C) The caul symbolizing protection
D) Miss Betsey’s fairy-like presence
Answer: A) Wind among the elm trees symbolizing unease

25. What literary device is used in describing the oppressive atmosphere of the house?
A) Personification (house seems to frown)
B) Hyperbole (exaggerated praise)
C) Irony (comic relief)
D) Metaphor (house as a prison)
Answer: D) Metaphor (house as a prison)

26. How does Mr. Murdstone react to David’s tears during lessons?
A) He comforts him
B) He calls them signs of weakness
C) He allows him a break
D) He ignores them entirely
Answer: B) He calls them signs of weakness

27. What phrase does Mr. Murdstone frequently repeat regarding discipline?
A) “Be firm!”
B) “Obey without question!”
C) “No meandering!”
D) “Respect your elders!”
Answer: A) “Be firm!”

28. What effect do the Murdstones’ strict rules have on Clara Copperfield?
A) She becomes happier
B) She becomes timid and tearful
C) She rebels against them
D) She leaves the house
Answer: B) She becomes timid and tearful

29. How does Peggotty cope with the hostile new environment?
A) She silently protects David and Clara
B) She quarrels openly with the Murdstones
C) She resigns from service
D) She seeks help from Miss Betsey
Answer: A) She silently protects David and Clara

30. What does David sense about Mr. Murdstone’s treatment of Clara?
A) He treats her with exaggerated kindness
B) He bullies her subtly
C) He ignores her completely
D) He supports her decisions always
Answer: B) He bullies her subtly

31. What new fear develops in David during this chapter?
A) Fear of the dark
B) Fear of making mistakes in front of Mr. Murdstone
C) Fear of Peggotty leaving
D) Fear of the sea
Answer: B) Fear of making mistakes in front of Mr. Murdstone

32. How does Dickens evoke sympathy for young David?
A) By describing his loneliness and silent suffering
B) By showing his rebellious nature
C) By praising his courage
D) By ignoring his inner feelings
Answer: A) By describing his loneliness and silent suffering

33. Which theme becomes central in this chapter?
A) Childhood innocence versus adult tyranny
B) Wealth and inheritance
C) Travel and adventure
D) Humor in family life
Answer: A) Childhood innocence versus adult tyranny

34. How do the Murdstones treat David’s studies?
A) Harshly, with constant criticism
B) Encouragingly, praising his efforts
C) Indifferently, ignoring his progress
D) Generously, rewarding him with gifts
Answer: A) Harshly, with constant criticism

35. What is Clara’s reaction when David is scolded harshly?
A) She cries but dares not protest
B) She angrily defends him
C) She scolds him herself
D) She sends him to Peggotty
Answer: A) She cries but dares not protest

36. How does Miss Murdstone enforce household rules?
A) By constant watchfulness and key jingling
B) By writing notes to Clara
C) By bribing David
D) By physically punishing him
Answer: A) By constant watchfulness and key jingling

37. What symbolizes Clara’s helplessness under Mr. Murdstone’s authority?
A) Her loss of cheerful songs and laughter
B) Her cutting off friendships
C) Her absence from meals
D) Her silence during punishments
Answer: A) Her loss of cheerful songs and laughter

38. How is David’s playtime affected by the Murdstones’ rules?
A) Greatly reduced, almost eliminated
B) Expanded with new toys
C) Encouraged to be outdoors
D) Shared happily with Miss Murdstone
Answer: A) Greatly reduced, almost eliminated

39. What new atmosphere dominates the Copperfield household?
A) Warmth and love
B) Fear and oppression
C) Humor and lightness
D) Joy and celebration
Answer: B) Fear and oppression

40. How does Dickens contrast Peggotty’s loyalty with the Murdstones’ cruelty?
A) Peggotty’s silent kindness vs. Murdstones’ loud harshness
B) Peggotty’s humor vs. Murdstones’ gloom
C) Peggotty’s absence vs. Murdstones’ presence
D) Peggotty’s wealth vs. Murdstones’ poverty
Answer: A) Peggotty’s silent kindness vs. Murdstones’ loud harshness

41. What effect do the Murdstones have on David’s self-esteem?
A) It grows stronger
B) It weakens significantly
C) It stays the same
D) It improves slowly
Answer: B) It weakens significantly

42. What does David long for during this chapter?
A) Return to Yarmouth and Peggotty’s family
B) Miss Betsey’s protection
C) A chance to run away
D) School adventures
Answer: A) Return to Yarmouth and Peggotty’s family

43. What memory of Yarmouth contrasts with David’s present misery?
A) Warm boathouse evenings with Little Em’ly
B) Harsh weather and hunger
C) Lonely walks by the sea
D) Mrs. Gummidge’s complaints
Answer: A) Warm boathouse evenings with Little Em’ly

44. What does Mr. Murdstone’s name itself symbolically suggest?
A) Softness and kindness
B) Hardness and cruelty (“stone”)
C) Wealth and luxury
D) A sense of humor
Answer: B) Hardness and cruelty (“stone”)

45. What animal imagery does Dickens use for Miss Murdstone?
A) A lioness
B) A dragon
C) A metallic bird of prey
D) A serpent
Answer: C) A metallic bird of prey

46. How does David describe Miss Murdstone’s voice?
A) Soft and melodious
B) Harsh and metallic
C) Sweet and kind
D) Rough but funny
Answer: B) Harsh and metallic

47. What recurring sound haunts David during the Murdstones’ stay?
A) The jingling of keys
B) The church bell
C) The sea waves
D) The wind in the elms
Answer: A) The jingling of keys

48. What foreshadowing does this chapter provide?
A) Future abuse and David’s escape to school
B) Clara’s death in the next chapter
C) Peggotty’s marriage to Daniel Peggotty
D) David’s rise to wealth
Answer: A) Future abuse and David’s escape to school

49. What moral lesson is Dickens beginning to draw through David’s suffering?
A) The cruelty of unchecked authority
B) The joy of childhood freedom
C) The nobility of the aristocracy
D) The humor in strict families
Answer: A) The cruelty of unchecked authority

50. How does Chapter III end emotionally for David?
A) In hopeful anticipation
B) In deepening fear and loneliness
C) In joyful reunion with Peggotty
D) In relief that the Murdstones leave
Answer: B) In deepening fear and loneliness

51. What new form of instruction does Mr. Murdstone impose on David?
A) Strict daily lessons with constant memorization
B) Play-based learning
C) Outdoor exploration
D) Travel schooling
Answer: A) Strict daily lessons with constant memorization

52. What is the primary emotion David feels toward the Murdstones’ teaching style?
A) Admiration
B) Fear
C) Joy
D) Indifference
Answer: B) Fear

53. How does Miss Murdstone contribute to David’s lessons?
A) She supervises with silent watchfulness and harsh remarks
B) She reads stories to him kindly
C) She rewards him with sweets
D) She ignores him completely
Answer: A) She supervises with silent watchfulness and harsh remarks

54. How does Clara react when David struggles with lessons?
A) She comforts him quietly but fears Mr. Murdstone’s anger
B) She scolds him
C) She sends him to play
D) She ignores him
Answer: A) She comforts him quietly but fears Mr. Murdstone’s anger

55. What phrase do the Murdstones use to justify their harsh treatment?
A) “Firmness is love”
B) “Children must obey”
C) “Cruel to be kind”
D) “No meandering”
Answer: A) “Firmness is love”

56. What personal freedom does David lose after his mother’s remarriage?
A) Ability to roam the garden freely
B) Time spent with Peggotty
C) Access to books and play
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above

57. What physical punishment is foreshadowed in this chapter?
A) Beating with a cane
B) Confinement to a dark room
C) Sending David away to school as punishment
D) Starving him at dinner
Answer: C) Sending David away to school as punishment

58. How does David internally cope with the harsh new environment?
A) By daydreaming of Yarmouth and Little Em’ly
B) By plotting revenge
C) By running away secretly at night
D) By becoming rebellious
Answer: A) By daydreaming of Yarmouth and Little Em’ly

59. How is Clara’s voice described when she tries to reason with Mr. Murdstone?
A) Firm and commanding
B) Pleading and childlike
C) Harsh and angry
D) Indifferent
Answer: B) Pleading and childlike

60. What does David compare the house’s silence to after the Murdstones arrive?
A) A graveyard
B) A prison cell
C) A storm waiting to break
D) A lonely church
Answer: B) A prison cell

61. What change occurs in Clara’s personal appearance under Mr. Murdstone’s control?
A) She stops wearing bright colors and becomes subdued
B) She becomes more elegant and stylish
C) She cuts her hair short
D) She wears keys like Miss Murdstone
Answer: A) She stops wearing bright colors and becomes subdued

62. What symbol of lost happiness is repeatedly mentioned in this chapter?
A) The rook’s nests in the garden
B) The locked parlor doors
C) The unused nursery toys
D) The silent piano
Answer: A) The rook’s nests in the garden

63. How do the Murdstones treat Peggotty’s loyalty to Clara?
A) With suspicion and hostility
B) With gratitude
C) With indifference
D) With mockery
Answer: A) With suspicion and hostility

64. What social critique does Dickens imply through the Murdstones’ cruelty?
A) The harsh treatment of stepchildren in Victorian families
B) The kindness of wealthy families
C) The joy of remarriage for widows
D) The fairness of domestic discipline
Answer: A) The harsh treatment of stepchildren in Victorian families

65. What role does Peggotty play for David amid this harshness?
A) Silent supporter and comforter
B) Harsh disciplinarian
C) Spy for the Murdstones
D) Indifferent servant
Answer: A) Silent supporter and comforter

66. How does Mr. Murdstone react to Clara’s attempts to shield David?
A) He warns her to be firm or be considered weak
B) He appreciates her kindness
C) He allows her leniency occasionally
D) He ignores her completely
Answer: A) He warns her to be firm or be considered weak

67. What literary device is used to describe the oppressive feeling of the house?
A) Personification (house seems to frown)
B) Hyperbole (exaggerating misery)
C) Simile (house like a prison)
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above

68. What is David’s primary coping mechanism during scolding?
A) Silent crying
B) Daydreaming of happier times
C) Running to Peggotty’s room
D) Hiding in the garden
Answer: B) Daydreaming of happier times

69. What early sign of trauma does David exhibit in this chapter?
A) Nightmares about Mr. Murdstone
B) Stammering speech
C) Fear of answering questions
D) Aggressive outbursts
Answer: C) Fear of answering questions

70. How does Dickens make the reader empathize with David?
A) By narrating his emotions from a child’s perspective
B) By focusing only on adult conversations
C) By exaggerating Mr. Murdstone’s kindness
D) By ignoring David’s feelings
Answer: A) By narrating his emotions from a child’s perspective

71. What broader theme of the novel does this chapter deepen?
A) The struggle of innocence under oppression
B) The triumph of wealth
C) The humor of childhood mischief
D) The rewards of strict discipline
Answer: A) The struggle of innocence under oppression

72. Which character becomes a silent witness to the Murdstones’ cruelty?
A) Peggotty
B) Miss Betsey
C) Daniel Peggotty
D) Ham Peggotty
Answer: A) Peggotty

73. How is Clara’s relationship with David affected by the Murdstones’ influence?
A) It becomes strained and distant
B) It grows stronger in defiance
C) It remains unaffected
D) It becomes playful and warm
Answer: A) It becomes strained and distant

74. What lesson does David begin to learn about adult authority?
A) It can be unjust and abusive
B) It is always kind and protective
C) It is best to ignore it
D) It should never be questioned
Answer: A) It can be unjust and abusive

75. What recurring sound now symbolizes David’s dread?
A) The wind in the elm trees
B) Miss Murdstone’s jingling keys
C) Church bells at noon
D) The sea waves at Yarmouth
Answer: B) Miss Murdstone’s jingling keys

76. What personal quality does Mr. Murdstone claim David lacks?
A) Firmness
B) Intelligence
C) Honesty
D) Obedience
Answer: A) Firmness

77. How does Mr. Murdstone attempt to instill “firmness” in David?
A) Through harsh discipline and fear
B) Through encouraging play
C) Through rewards and praise
D) Through storytelling
Answer: A) Through harsh discipline and fear

78. What does Clara’s helplessness foreshadow later in the novel?
A) Her early death and David’s orphanhood
B) Her rebellion against Mr. Murdstone
C) Her moving away to Yarmouth
D) Her reunion with Miss Betsey
Answer: A) Her early death and David’s orphanhood

79. How does David mentally escape from his harsh reality?
A) By recalling memories of Peggotty’s boathouse
B) By running to Miss Betsey
C) By secretly reading novels
D) By planning to flee to London
Answer: A) By recalling memories of Peggotty’s boathouse

80. How does Dickens highlight the psychological impact of abuse?
A) By showing David’s quiet suffering and loss of confidence
B) By depicting frequent physical fights
C) By romanticizing strict parenting
D) By ignoring emotional consequences
Answer: A) By showing David’s quiet suffering and loss of confidence

81. Which image best represents David’s isolation in this chapter?
A) Locked doors and jingling keys
B) The sea waves of Yarmouth
C) The empty rook’s nests
D) Miss Betsey’s cottage
Answer: A) Locked doors and jingling keys

82. How does Peggotty react when she sees David punished?
A) She comforts him secretly
B) She scolds him afterward
C) She reports him to Miss Murdstone
D) She ignores him to avoid trouble
Answer: A) She comforts him secretly

83. What foreshadowing does Dickens use to prepare readers for David’s school life?
A) Mention of future sending away as punishment
B) Clara’s conversation with Miss Betsey
C) A letter from Daniel Peggotty
D) David’s dream about boarding school
Answer: A) Mention of future sending away as punishment

84. How do the Murdstones justify their treatment of Clara?
A) They claim it is “for her own good” and to teach firmness
B) They admit they are cruel
C) They say she is spoiled and deserves it
D) They never justify it at all
Answer: A) They claim it is “for her own good” and to teach firmness

85. What does David secretly wish for during the hardest moments?
A) To live with Peggotty’s family permanently
B) To join the Murdstones in their discipline
C) To grow up quickly and escape
D) To become rich and powerful
Answer: A) To live with Peggotty’s family permanently

86. What broader Victorian issue does Dickens critique in this chapter?
A) The harsh treatment of stepchildren and women in patriarchal households
B) The abundance of free education
C) The equality of industrial laborers
D) The fairness of orphan laws
Answer: A) The harsh treatment of stepchildren and women in patriarchal households

87. Which symbol begins to represent David’s lost innocence?
A) The broken toys in the nursery
B) The silent piano
C) The once lively rookery
D) The unused garden gate
Answer: C) The once lively rookery

88. What future conflict is hinted between David and Mr. Murdstone?
A) David’s eventual rebellion against his authority
B) David running away to sea
C) David befriending Miss Murdstone
D) David inheriting Mr. Murdstone’s property
Answer: A) David’s eventual rebellion against his authority

89. How does Dickens maintain some humor amid the darkness?
A) Through Peggotty’s blunt remarks and expressions
B) Through Clara’s jokes
C) Through Miss Murdstone’s singing
D) Through Mr. Murdstone’s clumsiness
Answer: A) Through Peggotty’s blunt remarks and expressions

90. How does David describe the emotional climate of the house after the marriage?
A) Perpetual winter
B) Endless storm
C) Summer sunshine
D) Gentle springtime
Answer: A) Perpetual winter

91. What emotional bond remains unbroken for David despite everything?
A) His love for Peggotty
B) His admiration for Mr. Murdstone
C) His trust in Miss Murdstone
D) His joy in the rookery
Answer: A) His love for Peggotty

92. How does Dickens foreshadow David’s future resilience?
A) Through his imagination and daydreams
B) Through his physical strength
C) Through Miss Betsey’s support
D) Through Mr. Murdstone’s praise
Answer: A) Through his imagination and daydreams

93. What moral question is raised by Mr. Murdstone’s “firmness”?
A) Is cruelty disguised as discipline justifiable?
B) Is childhood happiness necessary?
C) Should children be treated as equals?
D) Should widows remarry quickly?
Answer: A) Is cruelty disguised as discipline justifiable?

94. How does Peggotty’s quiet defiance inspire David?
A) It gives him secret courage
B) It angers him toward her
C) It makes him obey the Murdstones
D) It frightens him further
Answer: A) It gives him secret courage

95. What theme is reinforced by the locked doors and keys?
A) Control and loss of freedom
B) Protection and safety
C) Curiosity and adventure
D) Wealth and property
Answer: A) Control and loss of freedom

96. What psychological toll does the constant scolding take on David?
A) He becomes timid and self-doubting
B) He becomes mischievous
C) He becomes rebellious
D) He ignores authority entirely
Answer: A) He becomes timid and self-doubting

97. How does Dickens show Clara’s inner conflict?
A) Through her tears and helpless attempts to please both sides
B) Through her open rebellion
C) Through her cheerful songs
D) Through her silence about David
Answer: A) Through her tears and helpless attempts to please both sides

98. What aspect of childhood does this chapter portray most strongly?
A) Vulnerability to adult power
B) Constant adventure and joy
C) Independence and rebellion
D) Financial responsibility
Answer: A) Vulnerability to adult power

99. What narrative tone dominates this chapter?
A) Somber and oppressive
B) Comedic and lighthearted
C) Neutral and detached
D) Optimistic and cheerful
Answer: A) Somber and oppressive

100. How does the chapter set the stage for future events?
A) By establishing the Murdstones’ tyranny and foreshadowing David’s eventual escape
B) By resolving all family conflicts peacefully
C) By preparing David for a joyful education
D) By ending the story of Peggotty entirely
Answer: A) By establishing the Murdstones’ tyranny and foreshadowing David’s eventual escape