Scarica Oliver Twist Text Analysis e più Esercizi in PDF di Cultura Inglese I solo su Docsity! TEXT ANALYSIS 1. What were Oliver's origins? Oliver is a foundling. His parents are unknown (ll. 6-10). Why has Mr Bumble come to see him? Oliver is now nine years old and he is considered too old to stay at the orphanage any longer. So he is to be taken back to the workhouse where he was born and he will have to work. 2. The only sentence Oliver utters does not reflect his real feelings. Why? The question "Will she go with me?" (ll. 42-43) would suggest that Oliver is sorry at leaving Mrs Mann. ln fact, it is the opposite, since his only desire is to escape from Mrs Mann’s dreadful house. To the child Mr Bumble represents the power of the institutions and he is afraid of him; however, he lies to him because, after seeing Mrs Mann menacing him with her fist in the background, he fears her reaction. What phrases make us guess Oliver's sufferings in Mrs Mann's house? "the outer coat of dirt, which encrusted his face and hands" (ll. 27-28); "Oliver was about to say that he would go along with anybody with great readiness" (ll. 36-37); "He took the hint at once, for the fist had been too often impressed upon his body not to be deeply impressed upon his recollection" (ll. 39-41). 3. Which words and expressions do you think are meant to stress Oliver's situation? The paragraph is an example of Dickens's sentimentality: “Hunger and recent ill-usage are great assistants if you want to cry; and Oliver cried very naturally indeed" (ll. 48-49); "he burst into an agony of childish grief" (ll. 55-56); "Wretched as were the little companions in misery he was leaving behind, they were the only friends he had ever known" (ll. 56-58). But also of Dickens's humour: "his benevolent protectress" (ll. 29-30); "Oliver made a bow, which was divided... cocked hat on the table" (ll. 32-33); "It was no very difficult matter for the boy to call tears into his eyes" (ll. 47-48); "Mrs Mann gave him a thousand embraces, and, what Oliver wanted a great deal more, a piece of bread and butter" (ll. 49- 51). 4. Undeline them. Mrs Mann: "Bless him!" interposed Mrs Mann, inflaming her left eye with the corner of her apron (ll. 4-5); "You, Mr Bumble! " (l. 14); "Why you're quite a literary character, sir!" (l. 20); "Mrs Mann gave him... a piece of bread and butter, lest he should seem too hungry when he got to the workhouse" (ll. 49-52). Mr Bumble: The beadle drew himself up with great pride, and said, "l inwented it" (l. 13); "Well, well," said the beadle, evidently gratified with the compliment (I. 21). 5. What do you think was Dickens's intention in writing this passage? By illustrating Oliver's miserable conditions Dickens wants to describe the inhumane treatment orphans received by institutions, here represented by wicked and grotesque characters as Mrs Mann and Mr Bumble. He stresses the hypocrisy and false concern with the children of the institutions, which under formal respect of procedures hid the cruelty of those who should have taken care of them. Do you think the structure and style are effective? The passage is effective; in fact we have a well balanced interplay between Dickens's moral seriousness and the humorous treatment of the situation.
