One of your topic tasks is to find out more about the Andover Workhouse Scandal. This story was extremely shocking at the time and interested many people, including the author Charles Dickens. He was so affected by the tale that he used it as a basis of one of his most famous stories: Oliver Twist.
There are many different versions of the story, including lots of films, but for this activity we would like you to listen to some parts of the BBC audiobook version using the links below:
Part 1: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/english-ks2-oliver-twist-episode-1/zrpw47h Part 2: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/english-ks2-oliver-twist-episode-2/zr9vpg8
If you can’t access the link, then you can read the transcript instead.
As you are listening or reading, jot down any words you are unfamiliar with and then see if you can find out what they mean. The original book was first published over 150 years ago, so there may be some words that we don’t use commonly nowadays.
These questions and tasks are based on part 1:
Once you have understood the story, have a think about these questions: ● Why is Oliver taken to the workhouse at the age of 9? ● How does Oliver get his name? ● What trade is Oliver taught whilst in the workhouse? ● What are the boys fed in the workhouse? What is this? ● Why do the boys all have such clean bowls? ● Why is Oliver punished so harshly for asking for more? ● How much money is Oliver advertised for? ● How is Oliver useful to Mr Sowerberry the undertaker? ● Why does Oliver leave the undertaker’s? ● How far is Oliver from London? Why does he choose to go there?
Once you have read, discussed and answered these questions, have a go at the tasks below: ● Write diary entries for Noah Claypole. Describe your feelings about the arrival of Oliver, his progress, and your plans for revenge. ● Imagine that Mr Sowerberry has informed the local police about the disappearance of Oliver. Create a wanted or missing poster that contains enough information to successfully locate him. ● Imagine that you are a workhouse inspector. Write a report about the conditions that you have found when inspecting Oliver’s workhouse. What would the children say about living there if you interviewed them? These questions and tasks are based on part 2:
Once you have understood the story, have a think about these questions: ● Dodger is described as “one of the queerest looking boys that Oliver had ever seen”. What makes him look so odd? ● What is a beak? ● Why do you think Dodger takes Oliver to Fagin? ● What is Dodger’s real name? ● What do Dodger and Oliver need to do in order to get into Fagin’s house? ● What impression do you get of Fagin? ● Where does Fagin keep his box? What is in it? ● Why is Fagin angry with Oliver when he wakes up? Why does his mood change? ● How does Fagin refer to Oliver? ● Why do Fagin, Dodger and Charley play a game together? ● For what reason is Oliver set to work unpicking the letter from the handkerchiefs?
Once you have read, discussed and answered these questions, have a go at the tasks below: ● Write a diary entry for the old gentleman, describing how you are robbed, and your feelings when the apparent robber is caught. ● Create an internal monologue for Oliver when he realises that Dodger and Charley have robbed the old gentleman and run away. ● Write a newspaper report describing the capture of a young pickpocket. ● Summarise and order the key events of parts one and two using the ordering sheet.