What's the hook?
This powerful social commentary on nineteenth century life gives a realistic and grisly portrait of this period.
What are the themes?
Friendship and individual vs society.
Teaching points?
Provides numerous opportunities for drama activities, creative writing and shared and guided reading.
This book is part of a book series called New Longman Literature 11-14 .
. This book is part of a reading scheme, meaning that it is a book aimed at children who are learning to read.
There are 552 pages in this book. This book was published 2001 by Pearson Education Limited .
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic who is generally regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian period. Andrew Bennett is Senior Advisor/Inspector for the Borough of Blackpool. He is a Principal Moderator for GCSE English for a major examining board and was formerly Head of English, Deputy Headteacher and Headteacher. He is author of Collins Study & Revision Guide: GCSE English.
This book contains the following story:
Oliver Twist
Orphaned Oliver spends nine years in an orphanage before being sent to a workhouse where he is bullied. Desperate to be rid of him the workhouse seek an apprenticeship and Oliver is sent to an undertakers. He falls out with his employers and runs away to London where he joins Fagin's gang of criminals, is caught and accused of pick pocketing but then rescued by kind Mr Brownlow. Unfortunately for Oliver, Fagin won't have that and recaptures him. Whilst on another job Oliver is saved a second time by Mrs Maylie. Fagin - in league with Oliver's (unknown) half brother - seeks to capture him again so his true identity cannot be revealed. But eventually he is outwitted, Oliver is reunited with Mr Brownlow and discovers his true inheritance.
