Title and Publication Date:
Oliver Twist, first published in serial form in Bentley's Miscellany, later published as a book in 1838.
Author:
Charles Dickens
Setting:
Workhouse for the poor, streets of London
Plot:
Oliver flees the dreadful conditions of the workhouse, only to find more cruelty on the crime-ridden streets of London. Along the way he joins a band of pick pockets and fellow misfits, only to discover that his conscience plays a large role in his life. Ultimately, Oliver's adventures reveal a surprising secret about his true identity.
Questions to Answer:
What does Dickens suggest about English society in the early nineteenth century?
Does this society resemble our society in any way?
How does Oliver Twist change in the course of the book?
How does his background shape Oliver's personality?
How would you answer that question about other characters?
What symbolic role does the city play?
What about the bridge?
