Name:__________________

Period: ______________
Oliver Twist: Viewer Response Sheet
1. What is the setting (approximate time and place) for this movie?

2. From what you have observed and discussed, describe Olivers early life up until he joins
up with Fagin and the juvenile street gang.

3. Why are there so many poor people on the streets at this period of time in Britain?

4. The Poor Laws were established in Britain in the early 1830s. What was the purpose of
these laws?

5. Describe scenes in the video that demonstrate the city officials and general populations
attitude toward orphans, the poor, and the under privileged.

6. What might be the reason that many young boys (and certainly some girls) ended up in a
situation like Olivers with the street gang?

7. How does Fagin maintain control over his gang of young boys?

Name:__________________
Period: ______________
8. Is Fagin a completely bad man, or does he demonstrate some qualities that are not
completely criminal?

9. Bill Sykes is clearly the most evil character in the movie. What might be the purpose of
Charles Dickens having this character play a major role?

10. Using what youve learned from our unit on the social problems of the Industrial
Revolution, and your observations from the video, write a paragraph summary
concerning the main themes that Charles Dickens is trying to get across in his novel.
Think in terms of the human conditions in the industrialized cities of that era, and how
society looked at the poor and under privileged.