Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In this lesson, we will look at how Dickens was a social critic. In our reading, Oliver is selected for a risky task - he must ask for more gruel from the workhouse master. We will then analyse what social problems Dickens is critiquing through this scene.

Licence

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5 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following options are characteristics of a novel?
Correct answer: A novel is a long story involving imaginary characters and events.
A novel is a true story.
A novel is watched by an audience in a theatre.
Q2.
What group of people does Oliver appear before in this extract?
His family
The police
Correct answer: The workhouse board
Q3.
Who takes Oliver to this meeting?
A policeman
His mother
Correct answer: Mr Bumble
The parish surgeon
Q4.
What does one of the workhouse board members call Oliver?
Correct answer: A 'fool'
A lovely boy
A pitiful boy
An obedient boy
Q5.
What does the word 'vulnerable' mean?
Correct answer: Someone or something that can be easily harmed.
Someone or something that harms others.
Someone or something that is small.
Someone or something that is young.

5 Questions

Q1.
Where is Oliver during this lesson's extract?
Correct answer: A workhouse for young boys
In his house
Prison
Q2.
Oliver asks for more _____
Correct answer: Gruel
Pizza
Sausages
Q3.
What prediction does the workhouse board member make about Oliver?
Correct answer: He will be hung.
He will become a moral gentleman.
He will make many friends
Q4.
What is a social critic?
Correct answer: A person who criticises the problems in society with the aim of making it fairer.
A person who is very negative
A person who is very social
Someone who criticises books
Q5.
What social problems does Dickens criticise throughout his novel? (tick all that apply)
Correct answer: Society's lack of care for the poor
The laziness of poor people
The selfishness of the poor
Correct answer: The selfishness of the rich and powerful
Correct answer: The terrible living conditions of the workhouses

Lesson appears in

UnitEnglish / Oliver Twist: Oliver and the Workhouse

English