Early Life and Education

Born in London in 1660, Daniel Defoe emerged from a pre-industrial world into a life that would shape English literature forever. His family, originally called "Foe," represented core values of respectability, honesty, discipline, and self-sufficiency that would later influence his daniel defoe: opere più importanti.

Highlight: Defoe added "de" to his surname to appear more sophisticated, reflecting the social aspirations of his time.

Definition: Dissenters were Protestants who opposed the Church of England's practices, considering them too similar to Roman Catholicism.

His early life was marked by two significant events: the Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of London in 1666, which forced his family to flee to the countryside. These experiences would later inspire his work "A Journal of the Plague Year."

Example: The Great Fire of London burned for four days, leaving an indelible mark on the city and young Defoe's memory.

His education was comprehensive, studying at a boarding school in Dorking and later at Reverend Charles Morton's Dissenting Academy, where he received a modern curriculum that significantly influenced his intellectual development.

Quote: "His father wanted him to become a minister, but while this never materialized, he received an excellent education that shaped his future writing career."