📖 Extract from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Read the following extract carefully before answering the questions below.

The room in which the boys were fed was a large stone hall, with a copper at one end, out of which the master, dressed in an apron for the purpose, and assisted by one or two women, ladled the gruel at meal-times. Of this festive composition each boy had one porringer, and no more — except on occasions of great public rejoicing, when he had two ounces and a quarter of bread besides.

The bowls never wanted washing. The boys polished them with their spoons till they shone again; and when they had performed this operation (which never took very long, the spoons being nearly as large as the bowls), they would sit staring at the copper with such eager eyes as if they could have devoured the very bricks of which it was composed.

Boys have generally excellent appetites. Oliver Twist and his companions had suffered the tortures of slow starvation for three months at last. They talked it over amongst themselves, and at last Oliver Twist was selected. On the evening appointed, Oliver rose from the table, and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said, somewhat alarmed at his own temerity:

"Please, sir, I want some more."

The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear.

"What!" said the master at length, in a faint voice.

"Please, sir," replied Oliver, "I want some more."

The master aimed a blow at Oliver's head with the ladle, pinioned him in his arms, and shrieked aloud for the beadle. The board were sitting in solemn conclave when Mr Bumble rushed into the room in great excitement, and addressing the gentleman in the high chair, said: "Mr Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked for more!"

There was a general start. Horror was depicted on every countenance.

"For more!" said Mr Limbkins. "Compose yourself, Bumble, and answer me distinctly. Do I understand that he asked for more, after he had eaten the supper allotted by the dietary?"

"He did, sir," replied Bumble.

"That boy will be hung," said the gentleman in the white waistcoat. "I know that boy will be hung."

🔍 Part 1: Retrieval Questions

Answer these questions using evidence from the extract.

💭 Part 2: Inference Questions

Use clues from the text and your own thinking to answer these questions in full sentences.

✏️ Part 3: Creative Writing Task

Task: Imagine you are one of the other boys watching Oliver walk up to the master with his bowl. Write a diary entry for that evening describing what you saw, how you felt, and what you think will happen to Oliver next.

Aim to write at least two paragraphs. Try to use some of Dickens' techniques — vivid descriptions, strong emotions, and a sense of atmosphere.