Oliver Twist

 BEFORE GOING TO THE THEATRE

THE STORY

Oliver Twist is born in a workhouse in England, in the early 1800s. His mother dies

after giving birth to him. He spends his first nine years in Mrs Mann’s workhouse,

where he isn’t clothed or fed properly and is treated badly. On Oliver’s ninth

birthday, Mr Bumble, the Director of the Board responsible for workhouses, takes

Oliver back to the workhouse where he was born. Here, he and the other boys are

fed each day on porridge. One day, Oliver is chosen to ask for more to eat and having

done so, is beaten and locked in a room for a week. Oliver is sold to an undertaker.

In this new home, he must eat the dog’s leftovers and sleep in the shop with the

coffins. He is treated very badly and runs away. He decides to make his way to

London where Oliver discovers that Rose is his aunt. Mr Brownlow adopts Oliver as

his son and they move to live near Rose, her husband, Harry, and Mrs Maylie.

1.  In pairs, students ask and answer the following questions. Or, you can ask the questions and

elicit the answers from the whole class.

a) What is a working-class family?

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b) What do you know about the life of a working-class child in England in the 19th

century?

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c) What do you think happened to poor orphans in the 19th century?

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Exercise 2

Here are four sentences from Oliver Twist. What do you think happens next? Finish the

sentences in your own words.

a) Oliver was a frightened boy because . . .

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b) Fagin needed Oliver’s help in order to…

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c) Oliver was trembling from cold and exhaustion and was in terrible pain because . . .

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d) You are a poor orphan. Where would you live? What would you do?

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AFTER GOING TO THE THEATRE

9. Hello again! Did you enjoy the show? Let’s see if you remember the story:

a) When does the story begin?

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b) Where does the story take place?

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c) Where does Oliver live?

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d) How old do you think Oliver is?

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 AFTER GOING TO THE THEATRE

9. Hello again! Did you enjoy the show? Let’s see if you remember the story:

a) When does the story begin?

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b) Where does the story take place?

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c) Where does Oliver live?

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d) How old do you think Oliver is?

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Somebody has mixed up the various parts of the story of Oliver Twist. Can you you put them

in the right order?

…..Bill Sikes wants Oliver to help him steal from Mr. Brownlow’s house.

…..After being arrested for theft, Oliver meets Mr Bownlow at the police station.

…..Fagin teaches Oliver how to steal.

…..Mr Brownlow decides to help Oliver.

…..Mr Brownlow decides to adopt Oliver and Nancy.

…..Oliver becomes friends with Nancy.

…..Oliver becomes Mr. Sowerberry’s apprentice.

…..Oliver grows up in a workhouse where he is bullied.

…..Oliver meets a gang of juvenile delinquents with Fagin at its head.

……Oliver runs away and goes to London.

…….Sikes and Oliver are chased by the police over the rooftops of London.

12. Decide if the sentences are True or False:

PHRASE                                                                             TRUE OR FALSE

Oliver Twist comes from a big family.

Oliver Twist was born in a hospital.

Oliver Twist had a difficult childhood.

Shakespeare wrote Oliver Twist.

Fagin didn’t help poor children.