Oliver Twist
Stage 6
activities answers
Before Reading
chApters 5 to 8 while reading
1 Why . . .? Because he wasn’t sure that it was Oliver
who had stolen from him.
2 Who . . . what . . .? Mr Fang, and he was a
disagreeable, bad-tempered man.
3 Who . . .? The bookshop owner.
4 Why . . .? Because Oliver might say something which
would get them into trouble.
5 Who . . .? She pretended to be Oliver’s sister.
6 What . . .? About Oliver – Mr Grimwig thought
Oliver was deceiving Mr Brownlow, while Mr
Brownlow trusted Oliver.
7 Who . . .? Nancy and Bill Sikes.
8 What . . .? Five pounds.
9 Why . . .? Because he wanted to involve him in a
serious crime and thus prevent him from telling the
police about Fagin and his gang.
10 What . . .? That, some years before, she had stolen a
gold object from a dying woman, who had just given
birth to a boy later named Oliver.
11 What . . .? He wanted Fagin to turn Oliver into a
thief, get him arrested, and sent out of the country
for the rest of his life.
12 What . . .? The servants from the house pursued
the robbers, but Sikes and Toby dropped Oliver’s
unconscious body in a field, and disappeared into
the fog and the darkness.
13 Who . . .? Oliver.
Before reading activities (page 106)
Activity 1 before reading
1 No 2 Yes 3 Yes 4 No 5 Yes
Activity 2 before reading
Encourage students to speculate and to make
guesses, but do not tell them the answers. They will
find out as they read that the answers are numbers
3, 4 and 8.
While Reading
© Oxford University Press
chApters 1 to 4 while reading
1 Oliver’s mother, Agnes, to the doctor and nurse,
about her newborn son, Oliver.
2 The doctor to the nurse, about Oliver’s mother being
unmarried.
3 Mrs Mann to Mr Bumble, about the children in her
care at the ‘baby farm’.
4 Oliver to the master in the workhouse, about
another bowl of soup.
5 A charity board member to the rest of the board,
about his opinion that Oliver would eventually be
hanged.
6 Mr Sowerberry to Mr Bumble, about his right to
use poor people in his work because he helped to
support them anyway through his taxes.
7 Oliver to Mr Bumble, about himself.
8 Mrs Sowerberry to Oliver, about the place in the
undertaker’s shop where he was to sleep.
9 Noah Claypole to Oliver, about Oliver’s mother
being a ‘wicked woman’.
10 Mr Bumble to Mrs Sowerberry, about the reason for
Oliver’s unexpected violence.
11 Fagin to Oliver, about all the silk handkerchieves
hanging near the fire.
12 Fagin to himself, about some of his gang who had
been arrested and hanged, but who had not revealed
any of Fagin’s secrets.
13 The Artful Dodger to Oliver and Charley Bates,
about the old man that he and Charley were about
to rob.
14 The old gentleman to the crowd, about Oliver lying
hurt on the ground after the chase.
Before reADing chApter 9
Encourage students to speculate and to make
guesses, but do not tell them the answer. They will
find out as they read that the answer is number 3.
chApters 9 to 11 while reading
1 F Rose was Mrs Maylie’s niece.
2 F Dr Losberne succeeded in persuading Mrs Maylie’s
servants that Oliver was not one of the burglars.
3 T
4 F Harry Maylie wanted to marry Rose in spite of
her doubtful birth.
5 F Monks met Mr Bumble in a pub and bought
some information from him.
6 T
7 T
8 F Monks had taken money that Oliver should have
inherited.
9 F Nancy made Rose promise not to do anything to
hurt Bill Sikes.
Before reADing chApter 5
Encourage students to speculate and to make
guesses, but do not tell them the answers. They
will find out as they read that the ‘yes’ answers are
numbers 2 and 5.
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Before reADing chApter 12
chApters 12 to 14 while reading
1 He offered to introduce them to the ‘right’ people,
and tempted them by offering them an easy life as
members of his gang.
2 Because her manner was different; she often left
home alone, and she seemed less interested in the
gang.
3 Because she said they had been loyal to her, and so
she would stay loyal to them.
4 There was a bright red mark high up on his throat.
5 Because Fagin was suspicious of her, he told
Noah Claypole to spy on her. Noah overheard the
conversation by London Bridge, and reported back
to Fagin, who then told Sikes in such a way as to
make him mad with fury. Sikes immediately rushed
home and beat poor Nancy to death.
6 He tried to escape from the house in Rotherhithe
by tying a rope round the chimney and lowering
himself from the roof, but something frightened
him (perhaps a vision of the dead Nancy) as he was
putting the rope over his head, and he slipped and
hanged himself.
7 His half-brother.
8 It was burnt by Monks’ mother, the legal wife of
Oliver’s father.
9 Because he hated him and had sworn to his mother
that he would do Oliver all the harm he could. Also,
his father’s will said that the money would go to
Monks if Oliver turned out to be wicked, so it was
in Monks’ interest to make Oliver a criminal.
10 His aunt.
11 Half was given to Monks, and half to Oliver.
12 Charley Bates, who became an honest farmer; Noah
Claypole, who became a police informer; Bill Sikes,
who killed himself; Nancy, who was murdered by
Sikes; and Fagin, who was hanged.
Suggested answers:
mr grimWig: You see, Brownlow? I told you so!
mr BroWnloW: Don’t be so impatient, Grimwig!
mr grimWig: Impatient? We’ve already waited half an
hour. The bookshop’s only just round the corner!
mr BroWnloW: Perhaps Oliver’s had an accident.
mr grimWig: I don’t think so! You can go to the
hospital and ask there, if you like, but you’ll be
wasting your time!
mr BroWnloW: Perhaps he’s been kidnapped!
mr grimWig: Why would anyone want to kidnap
him? No, I’m sorry, my old friend. That boy is just
a common thief.
mr BroWnloW: No, I don’t believe you! He can’t
be!
mr grimWig: He can, and he is. He deceived you very
cleverly.
mr BroWnloW: He had such a sweet, innocent face!
mr grimWig: He certainly looked sweet and innocent,
I agree. But that’s how he tricked you!
mr BroWnloW: So you think he’s gone back to his
thieving friends, do you?
mr grimWig: I’m sure of it. At this moment they’ll all
be sharing out the clothes and money you gave him,
and laughing at you!
Activity 1 after reading
Correct order in the story:
4, 8, 2, 7, 5, 6, 3, 1
1 Fagin is thinking about Nancy and Bill Sikes. He
shows his evil, suspicious mind, by suspecting Nancy
of finding another lover. He is also observant, as he
has noticed the recent changes in her behaviour.
2 Mr Bumble is thinking about Mr Brownlow, and
wishing he had told a different story about Oliver, in
order to claim a larger reward. This shows him to be
selfish, greedy, and a liar.
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© Oxford University Press
Activity 2 after reading
After Reading
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activities answers
3 Rose Maylie is thinking about Nancy, showing pity
for a girl in a dangerous, difficult situation. She does
not really understand the ties that bind Nancy to
Bill Sikes and the gang, and hopes to save Nancy
from her life of crime.
4 Oliver is thinking about the Artful Dodger, and
feeling extremely grateful to him for saving him
from starvation, and for offering to help him. This
shows Oliver’s innocent and trusting nature.
5 Bill Sikes is thinking about Fagin, and complaining
about Fagin’s failure to help him while he’s been ill.
It shows his lack of trust in his partner, his brutality,
and how he uses threats and violence to get whatever
he wants.
6 Nancy is thinking about Oliver, and Monks’ and
Fagin’s plan to turn him into a criminal. Despite
being a member of the gang, and thus a criminal
herself, this shows her awareness of the evil life she
leads, her kind-heartedness, and her courage in
deciding to take risks to try and save Oliver.
7 Dr Losberne is thinking about Rose’s urgent request
for help in preventing Oliver’s arrest for burglary.
This shows he is a kind-hearted man, and also one
able to take quick decisions and quick action.
8 Mr Brownlow is thinking about Oliver, and feeling
doubtful that Oliver was in fact the thief. This
shows his kind, generous nature, and his tendency to
believe the best of everybody.
Encourage students to speculate and to make
guesses, but do not tell them the answers. They
will find out as they read that all three answers are
‘yes’.
activities answers
Activity 3 after reading
Activity 6 after reading
3+7 16+5 9+11 2+6+12 15+10 14+1+13 8+4
Yesterday police managed to arrest almost all the
members of a much-feared gang of robbers, who have
stolen large amounts of money and valuables. The
gang-leader, a man called Fagin, was caught at his
home at two o’clock in the afternoon, and is expected
to hang for his crimes. For years the police have
been trying to catch him and his gang, but until now
they have not been able to collect enough evidence
to convict them. However, one of the robbers has
now given information about many of the gang’s
crimes, including the brutal murder of a young
woman last Tuesday, which has shocked the whole of
London. Police believe, from information received,
that the murderer was the young woman’s lover, a
gang member called Bill Sikes. Sikes was eventually
trapped in a ruined house at Rotherhithe, where he
accidentally hanged himself while trying to escape
from the crowd pursuing him. Other members of the
gang were taken to prison to await trial, after being
arrested at the Rotherhithe house.
Suggested answers:
mr BroWnloW: Well, Grimwig, you were wrong about
young Oliver, weren’t you? Come now, admit it!
mr grimWig: Ah, but I wasn’t wrong, Brownlow.
I said that Oliver wouldn’t come back from
the bookshop, and I was right – he didn’t come
back!
mr BroWnloW: But that was because he was
kidnapped!
mr grimWig: Well, all right then. I admit he’s a
good, honest boy. And now, what are you going
to do with him?
mr BroWnloW: I’m going to adopt him as my son.
mr grimWig: Excellent! And where will the two of
you live – in London?
mr BroWnloW: No, in the country – close to the
Maylies’ house.
mr grimWig: And may I visit you from time to
time?
mr BroWnloW: Of course, Grimwig. You’ll always be
welcome.
Activity 4 after reading
Activity 7 after reading
Open answers. The headline which covers most
aspects of the report is probably Fagin’s Gang
Arrested, but students may think that one of the
more sensationalist headlines would be more
interesting.
Open answers. Encourage discussion of students’
opinions on these moral issues arising from the
story, relating the situations to a modern context
where appropriate.
© Oxford University Press
Activity 5 after reading
My dear Harry,
I have some most exciting news to tell you! It
concerns the young orphan boy, Oliver Twist. Our
good, kind friend, Mr Brownlow, has discovered a
lot more about his family. Apparently, Oliver’s father
did not get on well with his wife, and separated from
her. Their son was called Monks. After ten years of
separation, Oliver’s father fell in love with a sweet
girl called Agnes, and gave her a wedding ring and a
gold locket as proof of his love. Just before he died,
he discovered she was pregnant, and left most of his
money to her in his will. Monks’ mother found this
will (document) and burnt it, so that she and her son
could inherit all the money, and Monks later found
and destroyed the ring and locket. Poor Agnes died
in the workhouse, giving birth to a son. It was the
beadle, Mr Bumble, who gave him the name of Oliver
Twist. I am really delighted (happy) for little Oliver!
Now he will have half his father’s fortune (money),
and will never live in poverty again.
But we also learnt that poor Agnes had a younger
sister, and that sister is Rose! So she is not illegitimate.
Her parents were highly respectable people, and she no
longer needs to be ashamed of her birth. So perhaps,
dear Harry, she will give you a different answer now.
Your loving Mother
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