The first chapter introduces the two main protagonists, Professor Otto Lidenbrock, a notable mineralogist and geologist, and his orphaned nephew and assistant, Axel, the story’s narrator. They live together in an old house in Hamburg together with the professor’s goddaughter, Gräuben, and the housekeeper, Martha. Otto is a professor at the Johanneum and a curator of the Museum of Mineralogy. He is described as a polyglot and a very knowledgeable scientist, or a savant, who is brusque and impatient. He is not particularly eloquent, and when he lectures he often stumbles over difficult scientific terms, which enrages him and makes the attendees laugh at him.

The story opens with Otto’s unusually early return home on Sunday, May 24, 1863. He summons his nephew to his study, and Axel hurries to obey. 

Otto’s study is filled with mineral and rock specimens and looks like a small museum. Axel recalls fondly cleaning and playing with the rocks as a boy, revealing his own love of mineralogy.

When Axel enters the study, his uncle is looking at an old book. Otto tells his nephew that he has found a 12th-century Icelandic runic manuscript.