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Week 1

1) Summary

Oliver Twist is an orphan living in England in the 1830s. Oliver Twist is mistreated and underfed in the orphanage. Once he is old enough, he is sent to the workhouse, where there is a program in place by which the orphans will slowly be starved. Oliver Twist asks for more food one day, and it is decided that he is a disobedient child. He is sent out to work for a coffin maker. After a month's trial, he is apprenticed to the undertaker. This makes the other boy who works for the undertaker mad, and he insults Oliver's mother. Oliver attacks this boy in response, and is beaten by the undertaker. Oliver runs away the next day to London. On his way to London, Oliver meets the Artful Dodger, a child who acts like an adult, and who offers to take Oliver to a place where he can stay for nothing. Oliver goes along with the Artful Dodger, and meets Fagin. For the next while, Oliver plays a game with Fagin where he pretends to pick Fagin's pocket.

2) Teacher Question & Answer

Q: Why does Oliver attack Noah Claypole, and how does this cause the events in chapters 8 and 9?

A: Oliver attacks Noah Claypole because Noah insulted his mother, after trying to offend and upset Oliver in many other ways. Once Noah discovered that insulting Oliver's mother made Oliver mad, he continued insulting her until Oliver attacked Noah. On page 35, Noah tells Oliver that his mother was "a right-down bad 'un". This caused Oliver to attack Noah.

Once Oliver attacked Noah, Noah began yelling for help. Mrs. Sowerberry and the maid came in and began beating Oliver. When Oliver quit fighting, he was locked up until Mr. Sowerberry came home. Oliver was beat again by him, and, in the morning, he ran away. This caused Oliver to meet the Artful Dodger who took him to Fagin's shop.

3) Discussion Question

Do you think that Oliver is being treated fairly? Why? And what countries, if any, still treat children similarly to this?

4) Collaborative Response

Oliver was not being treated fairly - if he was, he would have enough food and wouldn't be beat. He also is a bit young for making coffins. In Syria, children are used as slaves and are forced to do work. They are also mistreated because they aren't seen as people.

5) Character Tweet

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Week 2

1) Summary

Oliver Twist asks Fagin if he can do some work and get some fresh air so Fagin sends him out with Bates and the Dodger. When Oliver watches Bates and the Dodger pick an old gentleman's pocket, he is horrified and begins to run away. The gentleman (Mr. Brownlow) notices and begins to chase Oliver. He is soon caught and taken to the police station. Mr. Brownlow takes Oliver to his house once Oliver is proved innocent. Meanwhile, Fagin and Sikes decide that they need to find Oliver.

Mr. Brownlow believes that Oliver is innocent while his friend, Mr. Grimwig, thinks otherwise. To see which of them is right, Mr. Brownlow sends Oliver on an errand to return a book and some money. While out on this errand, Oliver is recaptured by Nancy and Sikes. Fagin and the rest of the thieves try to convince Oliver that being a thief is the best way to live.

2) Teacher Question & Answer

Why is it important that, once Oliver has escaped from Fagin and Sikes, that he is recaptured?

Because Fagin and Sikes are thieves and pickpockets, they are concerned that Oliver will lead the police to their hideout and cause them to be arrested. They know that Oliver knows what they are doing because Fagin has been trying to teach Oliver how to pick people's pockets since they first day he arrived at the robbers den. Also, Oliver was sent out with the Artful Dodger and Bates and watched them pick Mr. Brownlow's pocket.

3) Discussion Question

If you were in Oliver Twist's shoes (being involved in a gang of pickpockets), would you give in and become a pickpocket as well or would you continue doing what is right? Why?

4) Collaborative Response

It would depend on the circumstances - if you were being beaten, it would probably be easier to just give in and become a criminal. However, in the long run, it would be better to refuse to become a criminal.

5) Character Tweet

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Week 3

1) Summary of the reading

Sikes and Fagin meet in a house and are discussing a planned robbery for which they need a small boy. They decide that Oliver is the boy they want to use as he is the right size to sneak into the house. Also, Fagin thinks that, if Oliver is once a thief, he will be a thief for the rest of his life. Fagin returns to his own house and finds Oliver sleeping. When Oliver wakes up, Fagin gives him a book about crimes to read and warns him to always obey Sikes. Later, Nancy comes to take Oliver to Sikes' house, where Sikes teaches Oliver how to load a pistol. In the next chapter, Sikes and Oliver travel and eventually reach a house, where they have supper then head out again through the town until they reach another house. They break in and place Oliver inside to open the door for them. However, Oliver is discovered and shot, and Sikes and Toby carry him away. The story switches back to the poorhouse where Oliver was raised, and the matron discovers that something of Oliver's was stolen from his mother. Then it moves to Fagin's store and Toby enters and tells Fagin that the robbery failed and they realize that Sikes hadn't made it back. Fagin heads off to Sikes' house to check and he isn't there either. On his way back to his own house, Fagin meets a man called Monks who checks up on Oliver.

2) Teacher Question & Answer

Q: Why do you think that Fagin is so concerned about Bill Sikes? Do you think that Fagin is more worried about the absence of Sikes or Oliver?

A: I think that Fagin is concerned about Sikes because he is Fagin's best housebreaker. He also obviously has some information that could cause Fagin harm. Sikes has already told Fagin previously that if he is captured by the police, he will tell the police about Fagin, so Fagin is probably pretty worried about what Sikes might say.

I think that Fagin is likely more worried about Sikes' absence because Sikes knows more about what Fagin does than Oliver knows. This means that, if Sikes is captured by the police, it is likely that Fagin will be soon caught as well. Also, Sikes is more important to Fagin than Oliver is. Oliver refuses to do anything dishonest and doesn't know enough about life yet to escape Fagin for long. Sikes, however, is an important housebreaker and has brought a lot of money to Fagin.

3) Discussion Question

Do you think that it was wise of Oliver to seem to go along with the housebreakers but plan to warn the people who lived in the house?

4) Collaborative Response

I think that that was the best plan. However, it didn't work out in the end because Oliver didn't get a chance to warn the household.

5) Character Tweet

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6) Creative Role activity

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Week 4

1) Summary

Sikes and Toby carry Oliver Twist away from the house they attempted to rob until, with their pursuers close behind, they are forced to set Oliver down. When Oliver regains consciousness, he walks back to the house he tried to rob, not realizing where he is going. He knocked on the door just as Mr. Giles, the butler, is in the middle of telling the story of the robbery. Mr. Giles captures Oliver and he is carried upstairs while another servant, Mr. Brittles is sent for a doctor and a constable. When the doctor arrives, he takes Mrs. Maylie and Rose Maylie up to see Oliver. Rose doesn't want Oliver to be thrown into jail, so the doctor comes up with a plan to save him. Just as Giles and Brittles are about to admit they can't be sure that Oliver was the thief, they hear another carriage pulling up. These are law officers who attempt to prove that Oliver was a thief. However, after it is proved that Giles' gun had no bullet in it, the law officers leave for Kingston, where two men and a boy were picked up under suspicious circumstances to see if they were the thieves. The Maylies leave for the country and the doctor and Oliver follow, first stopping to see Mr. Brownlow. However, he had sold off his goods and gone to the West Indies. Oliver and the doctor headed back to the country to spend time with the Maylies. Several months later, Rose becomes very ill and nearly dies. Then one evening, Oliver sees Fagin and another man watching him and calls for help. Harry Maylie leads the chase but no trace is found of the two men. Later, Harry must leave and so he goes with the doctor after asking Oliver to write him every week and tell him how Rose is doing.

2) Teacher Question & Answer

Q: Why do you think that Fagin is looking for Oliver still? And who do you think the other man with Fagin is?

A: I think that Fagin is still looking for Oliver because he is worried that Oliver knows to much about his 'business' and where he lives. He is probably worried that Oliver may cause him to be captured by the police. I think that the man with Fagin is the same man that Oliver ran into in the yard of the inn and who had a fit. I believe that he is a friend of Fagin, possibly the man who tells Fagin what to do.

3) Discussion Question

Do you think that Oliver should be worried that Fagin keeps appearing wherever he is?

4) Collaborative Response

I think that it would be a little creepy. Obviously Fagin is following him for a reason. I would be especially worried because Fagin is a criminal and Oliver knew about what he was doing. I would probably assume that he was following me for that reason and Fagin likely wouldn't care what he did as long as he knew that Oliver couldn't tell anyone about what Fagin does.

5) Character Tweet

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Week 5

1) Summary

Mr. Bumble has become master of the workhouse. He meets Monks in a pub and he is asked for some information about Oliver Twist's mother.Mr. Bumble tells Monks that the only person who knows is his wife and they will meet him the next night. Monks pays Mrs. Bumble 25 pounds for all the information she knows, which includes a locket. Monks drops the locket into the river and tells Mr. and Mrs. Bumble not to speak of their interview. The scene switches to Sikes' new apartment which is much smaller. He is sick and begins arguing with Nancy, who faints. At this point, Fagin enters the house with some food for Sikes. He helps Nancy and then takes her back to his house for some money for Sikes. While she is there, Monks comes in and talks with Fagin alone. Nancy listens in and then returns to Sikes' house with the money. The next day, Nancy finds Rose Maylie and tells her everything she learnt from listening to Fagin's conversation with Monks. She told Rose that Monks was Oliver's brother and that, by disposing of Oliver's proof of his parents, had ensured that Oliver's inheritance would become his own. Before leaving, Nancy and Rose agree that every Sunday night, Nancy would walk on London Bridge from 11 to 12.

2) Teacher Question & Answer

Q: Were you surprised to learn that Monks is Oliver's brother? Why do you think Monks is so determined that Oliver should become a criminal?

A: I was very surprised to learn that Monks was actually Oliver's brother. I think that Monks might be trying to make Oliver a criminal so that, even if Oliver eventually discovers his rightful inheritance, he won't be able to claim it because he is a criminal. This would allow Monks to make sure that the money he inherited would be his no matter what.

3) Discussion Question

Charles Dickens was an English writer. He wrote famous novels, some of which are Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Nicholas Nickleby and Oliver Twist. He is regarded as a literary genius.

He left school at a young age to work in a factory after his father was arrested and placed in a debtor’s prison. Although he had little education, he published 15 novels, 5 novellas, and many short stories. He also edited a weekly journal for 20 years.

Dickens first began to be recognized after his publication of the serial The Pickwick Papers. He had become an international literary celebrity within a few years and is still famous for his humor and keen observations.

I have several interesting facts about Dickens. In June of 1862, he was offered 10 000 pounds for a reading tour of Australia, but eventually turned it down.

Dickens was a hugely successful reader. In one evening, he raised 3 000 pounds for the Great Omond Street Hospital. After several readings, he had made enough to put the hospital on sound footings.

He was once involved in a train crash in which the first seven carriages drove off a bridge. The carriage Dickens was in was the only first-class carriage to remain on the tracks. He spent the time waiting for the rescuers tending to the wounded. Before leaving the scene of the crash, he returned to his carriage to retrieve his manuscript of Our Mutual Friend.

Dickens was planning his second tour to the United States when the Civil War broke out and he didn’t begin the tour until 1867, 2 years after the war was over. By the end of his tour, he could barely eat anything and was basically surviving on champagne and eggs scrambled in sherry.

On the 23^rd of April 1868, he left the US, barely escaping a Federal Tax against the proceeds from his tour, which amounted to 19 000 pounds.

4) Collaborative Response

N/A

5) Character Tweet

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Week 6

1) Summary

While Rose tried to decide who to tell what she had learned from Nancy, Oliver comes running in and tells her that he had seen Mr. Brownlow and that he now had his address. Rose explains to Mr. Brownlow and Mr. Grimwig that Oliver was innocent. They are both delighted to hear that he is not a criminal. Meanwhile, in another room, Rose is telling Mr. Brownlow and Mr. Losberne what she had learned from Nancy. They decide to try to learn as much as possible from Nancy about Monks in hopes of finding out what Oliver's inheritance is. The book switches to Noah and Charlotte, who are running away from the Sowerberry's. They arrive at the Cripple Inn, where Fagin is. Fagin offers Noah a job and Noah accepts it. The Artful Dodger has been arrested and is going to be imprisoned so Fagin sends Noah to go check up on him. At this point, Nancy is trying to leave the house while Fagin and Sikes are having a conversation. However, Sikes catches her and prevents her leaving the house. Fagin thinks that she no longer likes Sikes and attempts to get her to poison Sikes because he knows too much about Fagin. Fagin gets Noah to follow her and find out what she was doing.

2) Teacher Question & Answer

Q: Why does Fagin want to know what Nancy is doing on Sunday evenings? Also, why does he want to possibly poison Sikes?

A: Fagin wants to know what Nancy is doing in the evenings so he can possibly blackmail her if he needs to by threatening to tell Sikes what she is doing. Fagin also wants to poison Sikes because he knows too much about Fagin's business.

3) Discussion Question

One of the main themes of Oliver Twist is the importance of good upbringings. This is demonstrated in the first meeting between Rose and Nancy. Why do you think Charles Dickens chose to compare Nancy and Rose?

4) Collaborative Response

I think that Charles Dickens chose to compare Rose and Nancy because their upbringings were so different. However, although there was so much difference between them (Rose was a gentlewoman and Nancy was a criminal) there were some similarities as well. In my opinion, Charles Dickens wished to highlight the fact that, if more people were like Rose (considerate of others and willing to help), there would be less girls who turned out like Nancy.

5) Character Tweet

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6) Creative Role activity

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Week 7

1) Summary

Nancy meets Rose and Mr. Brownlow on the bridge. Unbeknown to her, she is being followed by Noah Claypole, who has been told to do so by Fagin. Once she gets close enough to Rose to speak, she tells Rose and Mr. Brownlow that she wants to speak somewhere private, and leads them to a staircase leading down to the river. Noah finds a spot to listen in from and hears the following facts: Nancy was scared all day and that was why she didn't want to talk on the bridge. She tells them about the Three Cripples Inn, and how to find Monks. Mr. Brownlow tries to convince her to come back with him and Rose, or at least to take some money. Nancy refuses both offers, but does take an item from Rose to remember her by. Once Rose and Mr. Brownlow have left, Nancy leaves as well, still followed by Noah. Noah tells Fagin what he has learned, and Fagin repeats it to Sikes. Sikes becomes very angry and leaves. When he reaches his home, he murders Nancy and then leaves London. He wanders around the countryside, sure that he is being followed by Nancy's ghost. He eventually returns to London.

2) Teacher Question & Answer

Why does Nancy want something to remember Rose by?

Nancy wants to remember Rose because she was the only lady that ever treated Nancy kindly, even though she was a thief. Nancy is thankful that she met Rose and wants to keep something so she can remember that there was one person who treated her kindly.

3) Discussion Question

Infographic

4) Collaborative Response

N/A

5) Character Tweet

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Week 8

1) Summary

Monks is captured by Mr. Brownlow, who knew his father. Monks' real name is Edward Leeford. His father died without making a will, so his fortune went to his first wife and Monks. Monks confesses his guilt when he is faced by Mr. Brownlow who knows everything that he has done. At this point, Mr. Losberne informs Mr. Brownlow that they have close to capturing Sikes. The scene switches to another robber's den, where Toby Crackit, Tom Chitling, and Kags are discussing the recent events. Fagin and Noah Claypole had been arrested and Bets had become insane when she saw Nancy, and was taken to a mental asylum. Everyone at the Three Cripples Inn has been arrested. There is a knock on the door and Sikes walks in. Later, when Bates also comes in, he sees Sikes and starts shouting and calling him a monster. He attacks Sikes but, as Sikes begins to gain the upper hand, Crackit stops the fight and tells them that the police have arrived. The house is well-reinforced, so Sikes is not concerned. As the crowd tries to break into the house, Sikes attempts to drop down into the water behind the house. Bates informs the crowd of this attempt. As the police break into the house, Sikes slips off the roof and hangs himself accidentally.

2) Teacher Question & Answer

Q: What do you predict Bates will do now?

A: I predict that, if Bates is captured, he will give evidence against Fagin's gang and then will get off with a lighter sentence. Once he is done serving his time in jail, I think that Bates will decide that a life of crime is not actually worth it and will attempt to become an honest citizen. I think that Bates will succeed in this, although it will take a lot of work.

3) Discussion Question

Context Presentation

4) Collaborative Response

N/A

5) Character Tweet

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Week 9

1) Summary

2 days later, they all go down to where Oliver was born. They arrive at the hotel, where Mr. Grimwig is waiting for them. They then enter a room and Leeford (Monks) comes in as well. Leeford confesses everything and how he had sworn to hunt Oliver down. The Bumbles also come in and confess that they had sold Oliver's locket. Leeford also explains that Rose is the Naval officer's second daughter. Harry Maylie and Rose get engaged and Oliver discovers that Dick is dead. Fagin is put on trial and is found guilty and the sentence is death by hanging. Fagin loses his mind but is still killed. 3 months later, Harry and Rose get married. Oliver and Monks split the inheritance and Monks moves to the New World, where he ends up in jail and dies. Mr. Brownlow adopts Oliver and lives near the Maylies. Noah and Charlotte get off with light sentences but continue a dishonest life. Mr. and Mrs. Bumble end up as paupers in the workhouse they used to run. Charlie Bates becomes and honest, happy grazier after a lot of hard work. The Maylies, Oliver, Mr. Brownlow, Mr. Losberne, Mrs. Bedwin and Mr. Grimwig all live happily ever after.

2) Teacher Question & Answer

Q: What do you think about Noah and Charlotte's decision to continue a dishonest life?

A: I think that their dishonesty will eventually catch up with them, like it caught up to Fagin. Also, they won't ever really succeed in life if they are trying to make a living off of lying. At this point though,it doesn't seem like they will ever be honest.

3) Discussion Question

4) Collaborative Response

5) Character Tweet

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6) Creative Role activity

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